Leveraging community partnership: The case of Meraka Cultural Village

Busisiwe Octavia Ntsele & Siphephelo Zubane

Issue: Vol. 7 No.7 2026 Article 24 pp. 2073 – 2092
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267724 Published online 23rd September 2026

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ABSTRACT

Community involvement in post-apartheid South Africa is marked by symbolic engagement and persistent power imbalances that marginalise Indigenous viewpoints and epistemologies. Drawing on decolonial theory, Indigenous Research Methodologies (IRMs), Ubuntu philosophy and Foucauldian discourse analysis, the article discusses how Indigenous epistemology can help reimagine community engagement. In this study, the Meraka Cultural Village in the Free State, South Africa, was used as a case study to demonstrate how practices embedded in the community, rooted locally and involving everyone, can disrupt existing knowledge hierarchies and secure epistemic justice. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and participant observation, and thematically analysed with an emphasis on power/knowledge dynamics. The results indicate that Meraka is a community where members take back control of their lives and the wisdom of the older generation is celebrated, and partnerships between the university and the community are strengthened through respect and sharing. Ubuntu provides a theoretical and practical basis for co-creation, trust, and collective well-being. Notwithstanding the persistence of institutional obstacles and discursive silences, Meraka helps create resistance, reflexivity and alternative ways of engagement that challenge the traditional top-down system. The idea of “pockets of hope” reflects how using Indigenous methods and Ubuntu thinking can bring decolonial prospects into community engagement. This study promotes a shift towards relational ethics and pedagogical transparency, positioning Indigenous individuals as equal partners in knowledge production and societal transformation. This enhances broader dialogues on decolonising academia and advancing socially equitable, inclusive engagement strategies within and beyond South Africa’s higher education framework.

Keywords: Partnership, Community Engagement, Epistemic Justice, Meraka Cultural Village

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ABOUT AUTHOR(S)

Dr. Busisiwe Octavia Ntsele is a postdoctoral fellow at Unisa-TM School, specializing in Public Culture. She has a history in human rights advocacy, sociology, and organizational leadership. She holds a dual PhD from the University of the Free State (UFS) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, completed in 2024. Her PhD research, critical study of community engagement critically examined community engagement at a South African university, using UFS as a case study to explore how community engagement aligns with social justice goals in post-apartheid South Africa. Her work highlights the importance of co-creating knowledge with communities to promote epistemic justice and decolonization in higher education. Dr. Ntsele is passionate about preserving cultural dignity, combating epistemic injustice, and fostering transformative change through engaged scholarship, human rights advocacy, public culture and decolonisation.

Dr. Zubane is a researcher specializing in Security and Intelligence Studies, with a strong background in community development and program management. His expertise encompasses academic research, policy analysis, and the practical implementation of development initiatives. He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Thabo Mbeki School of Public and International Affairs, where his work bridges scholarship and practice in addressing security and developmental challenges on the African continent. With extensive experience as a community development practitioner, Dr. Zubane has served in key roles including Community Coordinator, Programs Coordinator, and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Manager. In these capacities, he has led the design, implementation, and evaluation of community-based projects, ensuring their alignment with development goals and stakeholder expectations. His work has consistently involved engaging diverse communities, fostering partnerships with government and non-governmental organizations, and facilitating capacity-building initiatives. Dr. Zubane’s academic contributions reflect his interdisciplinary approach, integrating security and intelligence studies with broader social and developmental issues. His research and practice offer critical insights for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars working at the intersection of governance, security, and sustainable development.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Ntsele, Busisiwe Octavia, and Siphephelo Zubane. “Leveraging Community Partnership: The Case of Meraka Cultural Village.”E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 7, no.7 (2026): 2073 – 2092. https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20267724