,

SOCIOLOGY 102: [SOCY102]

Introduction to South African Society 2023
REGISTERED STUDENT

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE A REGISTERED STUDENT AND THAT YOU ARE
OFFICIALLY REGISTERED FOR THE MODULE INTRODUCTION TO SOUTH AFRICAN
SOCIETY [SOCY102]. ATTENDANCE AT LECTURES AND WRITING OF ASSESSMENTS
MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE REGISTERD FOR THE MODULE. NEITHER THE UNIVERSITY
NOR THE LECTURERS AND TUTORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR REGISTERATION OR
NON-REGISTRATION STATUS.

DO NOT INFORM ADMIN, THE LECTURERS OR THE TUTORS DURING THE MIDDLE OR AT
THE END OF THE SEMESTER THAT YOU ARE NOT A REGISTERED STUDENT. IF YOU HAVE
ANY QUERIES OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR REGISTRATION – PLEASE ATTEND TO IT
BEFORE THE END OF JULY 2023.

LECTURERS and Course Coordinators

1. Dr Soomaya Khan (Lecturer and Course Coordinator)
Email: [email protected]

2. Ms Evelyn Muzvidziwa (Lecturer and Course Coordinator)

Email: [email protected]

3. Dr. Adedamola Akinlade (Lecturer and Course Coordinator)

Email: [email protected]

4. Mr. Kwandakwethu Zulu (Lecturer and Course Coordinator)

Email: [email protected]

The course coordinators and lecturers have the overall responsibility for the running and
management of the course. Any problems which cannot be resolved by your tutors, the
Administration Office or the Senior Tutor will be brought to the Lecturers/Course Coordinators.

STREAMS, LECTURE TIMES AND VENUE

SOCY102 H2 (F) (R1) Introduction to South

African Society

Page 1 of 8
 ,
–

Tuesday 13:15 14:00 L6

Wednesday 10:30 12:10 Sh1
SOCY102 H2 (B) (R2) Introduction to South
African Society
Tuesday 14:10 15:50 CC 1
Thursday 10:30 12:10 CC 1
SOCY102 H2 (E) (R3) Introduction to South
African Society
Monday 10:30 12:10 L5
Thursday 13:15 14:00 L5

SOCY102 H2 (D) (R4) Introduction to South

African Society
Tuesday 10:30 12:10 CC 1
Thursday 14:10 15:50 L4

SOCY102 H2 (F) (R5) Introduction to South

African Society
Mondays 8:40am 10:20am
L6
Thursdays 12:20pm 1:15pm
L6.

RULES & IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE:

a) Once a lecture begins you are expected to keep quiet, listen, and/or take down notes. You are
INVITED to ask questions of clarity or raise issues related to the content. We will do our best to
accommodate your participation.
b) At all times we hope that we can all maintain cordial and respectful conduct and behaviours.
c) In this course we will be discussing some very sensitive and controversial issues. You are expected to
show maturity and have respect for other students’ feelings and points of view.

TUTORS
Tutors will be available to assist students. More information on tutors will be made available on
Learn23. The tutor’s contact details will also be made available.

COURSE UPDATES AND NOTICES AND YOUR UKZN EMAIL

ACCOUNT
We will send you messages via your UKZN student email account. Please ensure that your UKZN
student email account is valid, activated and working. Given the size of the class it is IMPOSSIBLE to
use your private email addresses. YOU WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE A REGISTERED STUDENT.

LEARN2023
For the duration of the semester the Sociology 102 module will be activated on the Learn2023 site. A
copy of this course outline will be uploaded. Each lecturer will decide on how they will or will not use

Page 2 of 8
 ,
–

this site. Some of the readings for your essays and lectures (if not in the main text) will be uploaded on
this site. You are encouraged to read beyond this material and the prescribed book.

PRESCRIBED BOOK AND LIBRARY ORIENTATION

It is your responsibility to read the prescribed book, to take notes during the lecture and attend lectures
regularly. The university does not supply each student with any textbooks. The main texts are:

1. Macionis, JJ, & Plummer, K 2012, Sociology: Uel, Pearson Education Canada, Harlow, United
Kingdom. Available from: ProQuest Ebook Central. [16 September 16, 2020]
Link: https://ukzn.on.worldcat.org/oclc/727658518

You can access the prescribed EBooks via opening the hyperlinks below them.

There are a total of 6 themes covered from the EBooks indicated above in SOCY102:

1. Inequality, social divisions and social stratification

2. Race
3. Gender
4. Communication and New Media
5. Class and Capitalism
6. Environment

NB: Lecturers teaching in each of the themes will indicate specific chapters and books where themes
were taken from.

COURSE ASSESSMENTS
PLAN AHEAD AND STAY AHEAD!

In this module, you have THREE assessments that contribute to your Final Mark. So please take note
of these (see table below).
ASSESSMENTS MARKS DUE DATE AND TIME
Friday 19 August. Time will be announced.
Assessment 1: Essay 100

Friday 16 September. Time will be

Assessment 2: MCQs 100 announced.

Exam 100 Date and Time to be announced.

Total Mark out of 300/3 This will be your FINAL MODULE MARK
FINAL MARK
e.g. 210/3=70% for SOCY102
LATE SUBMISSION OF AN ESSAY
Some things to remember when handing in your assignment:
i. Students will incur a 5% deduction for every day they do not submit their work after the due
date.

Page 3 of 8
 ,
–

So when are late essays accepted and the rules ‘bent?’

You can be excused on medical or compassionate grounds but must provide official documentation to
your tutor. The documents must be submitted within a WEEK of the submission date. Any
documentation received after the marked essays have been handed back will not be considered. It is your
responsibility to pay attention to your work!
As an adult learner, you are now responsible for managing your time and diarising all-important
assessment dates/ times/ venues for this and other modules and tutorials. This means that you need to
keep this course outline and keep up to date with notices of changes to the Sociology 102 programme.

REFERENCING AND PLAGIARISM

The purpose of proper referencing is to provide the reader with a clear idea of where you obtained your
information, quote, idea, etc. The main library has a large selection of Sociology or related books on its
shelves and an electronic journal database; please feel free to consult these. When an assignment is
handed in, details about the sources of information (references) used need to be provided. There are two
parts to referencing an assignment:
• within-text referencing: details of sources of information used are written within the body of the
assignment
• list of works cited: details of sources of information used, which appear at the end of the assignment.
NB: Plagiarism is a serious offence and under no circumstance is any form of plagiarism acceptable. All
instances of plagiarism will be dealt with through the requisite University channels. If the formal process
yields a ‘guilty’ outcome this will form part of your university record. Please use HARVARD. These
details can be found on the UKZN library website.

STUDENTS ARE STRONGLY DISCOURAGED FROM CITING WIKIPEDIA AND WEB SITE
PAGES AS SOURCES
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP & WRITING

Some of the basic properties or characteristics for the essay assignment that need to be observed include
the following:
THE STUDENT IS TO
• Write in a formal and impersonal style and tone
• Check the grammar, spelling and punctuation
• Arguments and opinions to be with supported with adequate evidence. No citing of yourself – you
are not yet an expert on any subject matter at this point in your studies!
• Present a clear line of reasoning to support an argument
• Where appropriate and necessary include and acknowledge opposing views
• Cite a variety of credible sources, particularly peer-reviewed articles or books
• Not cite Wikipedia or Website pages
• Use discipline-specific language and terminology in essays and exams. Define the terms you use.
• Avoid colloquial and/or derogatory terms for individuals and groups of people

EXAM AND FINAL MARKS

There will be NO three-hour examination. Students will partake in continuous assessments.

• Continuous assessments: The use of 1 assignments and 2 tests and throughout a unit of study.
It is a form of educational assessment that evaluates a student’s progress throughout a prescribed
module. It is often used as an alternative to the final examination system. Your 3 assessments

Page 4 of 8
 ,
–

(assignment, short questions and mcqs will make up your continuous assessment). This will then
be used to determine your final mark.

DULY PERFORMED (DP) REQUIREMENT AND DP APPEAL

• There is NO DP as there are no class marks.

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES

This module demonstrates that in drawing on key sociological concepts, thinkers and theoretical
perspectives we can produce systematic and critical ways of examining and understanding issues of
stratification, differentiation, divisions and inequality. Students will examine the social actions, forces,
structures, processes or institutions that perpetuate, reify and reinforce exclusionary, prejudicial and
discriminatory behaviours and attitudes. To this end, students will examine why and how race, ethnicity,
gender, class, citizenship, disability, poverty, locale, power and politics, health or economic differences
are rendered socially significant. This is useful to an analysis of the marginalisation, disempowerment
and social exclusion of some group, particularly across South Africa and Africa.

1) To differentiate between common-sense knowledge of stratification, divisions, discrimination and

inequalities; and one based on systematic and critical evidence.
2) To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key sociological concepts, theories and ideas among
different sociological perspectives, theorists and schools of thought.
3) To identify and examine the social forces and structures driving local (and global) patterns of
divisions, discrimination and inequalities.
4) To demonstrate the ability to identify, evaluate and apply the different theoretical perspectives to
describe and analyse social problems of stratification, divisions, discrimination and inequalities in
South Africa and Africa.

COURSE INTRODUCTION
South Africa is most famous for its system of apartheid and, recently, the relatively peaceful transition
into a democratic ‘rainbow nation’. Many international sociology texts use apartheid South Africa as an
illustration of racial inequality, with several providing this as an example of a modern racial caste system
of inequality. Other sociologists would argue that to focus on caste obscures the functions apartheid had
for providing the ruling capitalists with cheap black labour. They, instead, emphasize the importance of
class analysis. As the New South Africa has matured, we have now nearly two decades of hindsight to
consider what the transition from apartheid has meant for patterns of inequality in South Africa in terms
of race, class, gender, ethnicity and race. Anybody can see that poverty is still very much a feature of the
South African social landscape. This was very much evident in the unrests of July 2021 and the April
2022 floods. There is a global rise in inequality, discrimination, social divisions and social
stratification. In this sense South Africa is a microcosm of the world and cannot be understood in
isolation. We must go beneath surface understandings of poverty, discrimination and inequality to
examine the social processes and theories that explain why we have such an inequitable social order.

COURSE SCHEDULE: SEMESTER 2

Page 5 of 8
 ,
–

WEE DATES LECTURER & THEMES

K ASSESSMENT

1 Mon, 25 – Fri, Dr Soomaya Khan INEQUALITY, SOCIAL

29 July DIVISIONS AND
SOCIAL
STRATIFICATION

2 Mon, 01 – Fri, Dr Soomaya Khan INEQUALITY, SOCIAL

05 August DIVISIONS AND
SOCIAL
STRATIFICATION

3 Mon, 08 – Fri, Dr Soomaya Khan RACE

12 August

4 Mon, 15 – Fri, Dr Soomaya Khan RACE

19 August

5 Mon, 22 – Fri, Dr Soomaya Khan GENDER

22 August

6 Mon, 29 August – Dr Soomaya Khan GENDER

Fri, 02 September
7 Mon, 05 Ms Evelyn Muzvidziwa COMMUNICATION AND
September – Fri, NEW MEDIA
09 September

8 Mon, 12 – Fri, Ms Evelyn Muzvidziwa COMMUNICATION AND

16 September NEW MEDIA

9 Mon, 19 – Fri, Ms Evelyn Muzvidziwa ENVIRONMENT

23 September

MONDAY 26 SEPTEMBER – FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER: (MID-TERM BREAK)

10 Mon, 03 – Fri, Ms Evelyn Muzvidziwa ENVIRONMENT

07 October

11 Mon, 10 – Fri, Ms Evelyn Muzvidziwa CLASS AND

14 October CAPITALISM

12 Mon, 17 – Fri, Ms Evelyn Muzvidziwa CLASS AND

21 October CAPITALISM

ASSESSMENTS
ESSAY

Page 6 of 8
 ,
–

You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your grasp of the materials covered in this course
through the submission of an essay and a test. Both these assessments will be submitted on the
LEARN2023 platform and feedback will also be given electronically.

Please refer to the end of this course outline for information pertaining to essay writing as well
information on referencing and formatting styles required. Tutors and lecturers will also be available
to consult with students via email and any additional virtual consultations can be arranged upon
request.

Submission of the essay

 You are expected to submit your essay and assignment on LEARN2023 using the submission
link that will be provided
 You must submit by no later than 11:59pm on the day of submission
 Emailed assignments WILL NOT will not be accepted or marked
 There will be a 5% penalty per day for late submission of assignments

ONLINE TEST

One (1) Online Test will be administered on the LEARN2023 platform on the date specified above.
The test will comprise of Multiple Choice Questions. Instructions for completing the test will be
posted on the LEARN2023 platform prior to the test, and will provide information and guidelines
for taking the test. It is very important that students familiarise themselves with these guidelines
prior to taking the test.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Students from the disability unit: Are reminded to please visit the Disability Unit to inform them of
your needs (that is if you have not done so). This enables the Disability Unit to work together with us to
organise your lecture notes and assessment requirements.
Howard College Edgewood Campus Westville Campus Pietermaritzburg Campus
Shepstone Building New Conference E Block Next to the Main Campus
Level 5 Building- below the Campus Health Clinic 2 Milner Road
Dining Hall Next to Finance
Nevil Balakrishna Roshanthni Subrayen Faaza Shaikh Yanga Fustshane
031 260 3140 031 260 3665 031 260 7706 033 260 2159
031 260 7888 033 260 5065
Mongezi Zondo 031
260 310
Tito Nkonyane
Margie Naidoo 031 260 8725
031 260 1703

Reformatting Office
031 260 3070

Page 7 of 8
 ,
–

MODULE LECTURERS (RULES OF ENGAGEMENT)

a) This module is usually team taught. Each lecturer has their own style of lecturing and engaging with
the class. While we may differ in our approaches the same teaching and learning principles underpin
our responsibilities and roles as lecturer.
b) Because of the huge class number – you will have 6 class reps (3 females and 3 males).

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Ms Aldonna Murugan [email protected]

The above Administrator will deal with most of your administration queries. The Administration Office
is located on the 1st floor of MTB in Howard College. The Administrative office performs several
functions:

• Queries you have regarding the course

• Submission of Medical Certificates
• Information on Tests
• Registration queries if your name does not appear on the class list

The Administration Office will be your first point of contact for most of your queries. If the
Administration Office cannot help you, then you may be referred to a Tutor, the Senior Tutor, the
Lecturer or any of the Course Coordinators.

Page 8 of 8