PsySSA is proud to announce the PsySSA Annual Psychology Congress 2025 will be taking place from 14–16 October 2025.
Mark your calendars: 14 – 16 October 2025
This highly anticipated event is Under Construction, but exciting details will follow soon!
The 4th Steve Biko/Frantz Fanon Award for Psychological Liberation was conferred upon the South African Legal Team at the International Court of Justice to uphold the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in Gaza. The award was presented at the 30th PsySSA and 10th PAPU Anniversary Opening Ceremony and Gala Dinner on Tuesday, 8 October 2024 by Mr Nkosinathi Biko (Steve Biko Foundation), Dr Mireille Fanon-Mendes France (Frantz Fanon Foundation), Prof Saths Cooper (PAPU) and Prof Mercy Tshilidzi Mulaudzi (PsySSA).
The award was awarded to:
John Dugard, SC
Adila Hassim, SC
Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, SC
Blinne Ni Ghrálaigh, KC
Max du Plessis, SC
Vaughan Lowe, KC
Tshidiso Ramogale
Sarah Pudifin-Jones
Lerato Zikalala
Helena Van Roosbroeck
Rebecca Brown
Susan Power
The aim of this paper is to argue the disruption of psychology from a Western and Eurocentric viewpoint to a psychology that addresses the needs and aspirations of disadvantaged and vulnerable people. From a social justice perspective psychology cannot be business as usual preparing psychologists to think only about lucrative private practices. This negatively impacts on the role of psychologists to contribute to the agency and empowerment of disadvantaged and vulnerable people. Building on this premise I begin with a global conceptualisation of social justice and then zoom into the nature of social justice in South Africa. This is followed by an exploration of social justice within the discipline of psychology and how it would apply to the contexts of disadvantaged and vulnerable people. Then attention is drawn to a specific psychology category demonstrating systemic challenges that inhibit social justice practices in South Africa. Next, I discuss core psychology principles that must be embedded in the preparation of psychologists to make them advocates of social justice to empower disadvantaged and vulnerable people in local communities contributing to a better society. The paper encourages psychologists to think globally and act locally in addressing common problems across the globe.
Prof Jace Pillay is a registered educational and counselling psychologist and the South African Research Chair in Education and Care in Childhood in the Faculty of Education at the University of Johannesburg. In February 2024 he was appointed a UNESCO Chair in Mental Health and Psychological Support for Teachers and Learners in SA. His previous positions at UJ were the Head of the Department of Educational Psychology and Vice Dean in the Faculty of Education. Currently, he heads a research team focusing on the mental health of learners and teachers as well as psychosocial support in schools. As an academic he has published more than 100 journal articles, book chapters and conference proceedings both nationally and internationally. Also, he has supervised numerous postgraduate students and Postdoctoral Research Fellows. Prof Pillay is a keynote and invited speaker in numerous international conferences and has several international research collaborations. In addition to his academic stature, he serves on the Professional Board for Psychology. Also, he serves on the National Steering Committee for Care and Support for Teaching and Learning and chairs the CETA Programme for the Department of Education.
PsySSA is proud to share with you the Final 30th Anniversary Congress Programme. The Congress will be held at Emperor’s Palace, in Johannesburg, South Africa from 8-11 October 2024.
This milestone event, in conjunction with the 10th Anniversary Pan African Psychology Union (PAPU) Congress, features an extensive lineup of sessions from practitioners, scholars, researchers, educators, students, community organisers, activists, artists, and policymakers, each contributing to the rich tapestry of psychological thought, practice, and activism.
This year’s 30th Anniversary Congress is set to be an exhilarating and stimulating experience.
Here’s to 30 years of PsySSA, 10 years of PAPU, and to a milestone Congress!
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Where Olive Trees Weep offers a searing window into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. It explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice.
PsySSA’s 30th and PAPU’s 10th Anniversary Congress
Date: Thursday, 10 October 2024
Time: 08h00 – 10h00 SAST
Venue: Emperors Palace, Venue 8
In 2021, the American Psychological Association apologised for its role and that of American psychology for perpetuating racism, racial discrimination, and the idea that humans are arranged in a hierarchy with white people at the top. Does that not urge us to delink from American psychology? If we are not going to turn away from American psychological research, theories and therapeutic tools, what are going to do about its disciplinary arsenal?
Kopano Ratele is professor of psychology at the University of Stellenbosch and head of the Stellenbosch Centre for Critical and Creative Thought. He served on the second Ministerial Committee on Transformation of South African Universities, and is former director of the South African Medical Research Council-University of South Africa’s Masculinity and Health Research Unit, former president of the Psychological Society of South Africa and the former chairperson of Sonke Gender Justice.
His books include There Was This Goat: Investigating the Truth Commission Testimony of Notrose Nobomvu Konile (2009), Liberating Masculinities (2016), The World Looks Like This From Here: Thoughts on African Psychology (2019) and Why Men Hurt Women and Other Reflections on Love, Violence and Masculinity (2022).