Bridging the divide: recognition of indigenous mutual aid group work practices

Abstract

Colonisation and apartheid profoundly disrupted African cultural, social, and economic systems, separating communities from indigenous identities, languages, and practices of mutuality. These historical processes entrenched inequality through economic exploitation, displacement, and the imposition of culturally inappropriate policies, while generating dependency and feelings of inferiority. Yet, African communities have demonstrated resilience, preserving traditions through the principles of Ubuntu and mutual aid. Such practices, stokvels, burial societies, and other indigenous forms of collective support, have long enabled communities to respond to crises, marginalisation, and unmet needs, fostering both individual and collective well-being. Despite their significance, these practices remain underexplored within professional social work, which continues to be dominated by Western theories and models of intervention. This article examines the role of indigenous mutual aid group practices in the South African context and considers their relationship with the African worldview of Ubuntu. It argues for the recognition of indigenous knowledge as central to indigenising social work and proposes culturally appropriate approaches that integrate mutual aid groups into a developmental welfare framework.