htp://www.ve.org.za Open Access Verbum et Ecclesia ISSN: (Online) 2074-7705, (Print) 1609-9982 Page 1 of 9 Original Research Read online: Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online. Authors: Marichen van der Westhuizen 1 Jacques W. Beukes 2 Thomas Greuel 3 Afliatons: 1 Department of Social Work, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa 2 Department of Practcal Theology and Missiology, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, Tshwane, South Africa 3 Department of Arts, Faculty of Social Work, Evangelische Hochschule Rheinland- Westalen-Lippe, Bochum, Germany Corresponding author: Marichen Van der Westhuizen, mvanderwesthuizen@uwc. ac.za Dates: Received: 10 Sept. 2020 Accepted: 24 Mar. 2021 Published: 11 May 2021 How to cite this artcle: Van der westhuizen, M., Beukes, J.W. & Greuel, T., 2021, ‘Authentc African community development practces in a diverse society: A transdisciplinary approach’, Verbum et Ecclesia 42(1), a2150. htps://doi. org/10.4102/ve.v42i1.2150 Copyright: © 2021. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creatve Commons Atributon License. Introducton Although various socio-economic and political changes can be identifed in South Africa’s 1 26 years into democracy (cf. Beukes 2016; Haddad 2016:7; Koopman 2005:150; Pieterse 2001:75.), Van der Westhuizen, Greuel and Beukes (2017) and Prinsloo (2016) discussed how practices to address social issues in the South African society are not always informed by active participation of the South African people, leading to frustrations and a feeling of not being heard and not being respected. This is evident in various social actions and protests, against, amongst others, poor service delivery, gender-based violence, as well as xenophobic acts of violence and intolerance. Also, the Ipsos’ People’s Poll (2016) found that two-thirds of South African citizens are worried that the country is going in the wrong direction because of matters that undermine democracy. Further illuminating the frustrations of citizens, more than half of South Africans who participated in the above-mentioned survey reported that they do not expect a positive change. This occurs despite the fact that post-apartheid policy documents clearly indicate the inclusion of social development as the approach to ensure that the diverse South African people are empowered and included in processes that are aimed at social justice through improving the lives of all citizens. However, the challenge to move towards a socially just post- apartheid South Africa is unique. The uniqueness of South Africa’s apartheid era lies in the systematic way in which the National Party, which came into power in 1948, formalised segregation through legislation, leading to ‘a particular form of colonialism not experienced by other nations of Africa’ (Haddad 2016:2). Refecting on the impact of the interplay between colonialism and apartheid, Louw (2010) concurred that the South African people experience an added challenge to build a new identity 1.We view South Africa as a specifc context within Africa. The South African people continuously engage in social actions characterised by intolerance, pointing to frustrations and disillusionment in a post-apartheid era. A need to fnd creative ways to engage diverse communities to work together to participate in their own development and well-being was identifed. This article is based on long-term transdisciplinary discourse and work. The aim is to explore how the disciplines of social work, theology and the arts could contribute together towards the development of communities where participation, collaboration and cooperation as key principles of authentic community development are actively implemented. Within a transdisciplinary framework, the disciplines engaged in participatory research projects that resulted in fndings that informed the development of a process where people at grassroots level become aware and more tolerant of each other, begin to work together and as such become involved in their own futures. It is concluded that by encouraging participation, collaboration and cooperation in social change processes, the South African people can be empowered towards working together and becoming involved in their own futures. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The disciplines of social work, theology and the arts entered into a transdisciplinary dialogue and work over the past years. The transdisciplinary team engaged in four participatory research projects to include input from grassroots levels to inform their understanding of how the different disciplines can better contribute towards a process of authentic community development in the diverse South African society. This resulted in the process proposed in this article. Keywords: authentic community development; Africanisation; diverse society; transdisciplinary approach; social work; theology; the arts; social change. Authentc African community development practces in a diverse society: A transdisciplinary approach Read online: Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online.