On 23 October 2025, Thandiwe Matthews will defend her PhD thesis investigating how systemic inequalities in manifest in contemporary South Africa.
- PhD student
- Date
- Tuesday 23 Sep 2025, 14:30 - 15:30
- Type
- PhD defence
- Spoken Language
- English
- Room
- Aula B
- Location
- International Institute of Social Studies
Using a human rights-based approach, Thandiwe Matthews explores the opportunities and limitations of socio-economic rights as a mechanism of redress for historical injustices that are a direct outcome of colonialism and apartheid in South Africa.
She finds that South Africa's current approach to social assistance overlooks the power dynamics which impact on the realization of socio-economic rights. This oversight hinders the achievement of substantive equality.
Download the abstracts
Doctoral Board
Chair
Doctoral dissertation supervisors
- Professor Karin Arts
- Dr Jeff Handmaker
- Professor Cathi Albertyn, University of the Witwatersrand
Full Doctoral Committee
- Marius Pieterse, University of the Witwatersrand
- Professor Leila Patel, University of Johannesburg
- Professor Barbara Oomen, Utrecht University
- Professor Gloria Wekker, Utrecht University
- Dr Gerard McCarthy, ISS
- Professor Irene van Staveren, ISS
- More information
The Public Defence will take place on Tuesday, 23 September 2025 in the ISS auditorium (Aula B) and the ceremony will begin promptly at 14:30 hrs. The doors will be closed at the start of the Public Defence.
Children below the age of 7 are not allowed in the auditorium during the first part of the ceremony.
The ceremony will be followed by a reception in the Atrium of the ISS.
Professors are invited to join the academic procession.
- Related links
- ISS PhD programme
