Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Stellenbosch University

Biographies Honours 2019

Basheer Arries

I am a born and bred Worcesterian, aged 25. I have

completed my Bachelor of Arts at the University of the

Western Cape in 2018 where I have majored in

Psychology and Sociology. I then decided to continue and

further my education in Sociology because of the great

insight it offers into an understanding of our social world.

I, however, still have a deep love for Psychology! I enjoy

the outdoors, performing arts (as I am an artist myself),

as well as critical engagements and discussions and

debates; and have been part of the Afrikaans Debat

Vereniging at the University of the Western Cape since

2014.

Thandi Bean

I live by the mantra “treat others how you would like to be

treated". My life experiences have taught me that one

never knows what someone else is going through and

therefore one must be understanding, tolerant and without

judgment. My choice to study Sociology is founded in my

passionate interest of wanting to see and experience the

world through someone else’s eyes. I am deeply fascinated

by topics that are seen as taboo and uncovering narratives

that are silenced. Hence, my thesis is will be constructed

around the Culture of Silence and how this impacts the

experience of male victims of domestic abuse.

Embeth Johannes

I am from the northern suburbs of Cape Town, and I

am doing my Honours in Sociology. I have a

bachelor’s degree in BA Social Dynamics and my

research interests are in the field of gender and

sexuality.

Shane Sass

The reason why I decided to pursue Social

Anthropology on a post-graduate level is that it

allows me to write the narratives of peoples from

all walks of life especially that of the most

marginalised bodies. And this coincide with my

other passion, which is social justice activism. My

research interests currently range from the

economic and social realities that prevents

marginalised bodies from attaining free mobility to

empower themselves on an economic and social

level, to the role black feminists play in political

and public discourses.

Nishai Moodley

I completed my undergraduate in Bachelor of Arts,

Humanities majoring in Anthropology and Linguistics

at Stellenbosch University. I am presently enrolled for

Honours in Anthropology. My research interests

surround citizenship in Africa as the colonial past still

embeds politics and governance and the uprising of

decoloniality and the Anthropocene calls for

population mobility. My research is focused in the

Karoo; the politics, as well as effects of the tender

status in the Bulk Water Supply (BWS) Scheme in the

Northern Cape town, Vanwyksvlei. I am interested in

transformation in South Africa because the novel

nature that is human and creation.

Nicola van der Westhuizen

I am doing my Honours in Sociology. On

top of being a student, I am also a mother

to a beautiful boy. I am interested in

studies concerned with gender and

sexuality, crime and deviance, social

media and politics.

Nomzamo Ntombela

My name is Nomzamo, fondly known as

"Nomzee". I am currently doing my

honours in Anthropology with interests in

culture, gender, politics and the

transnational relations amongst these

spheres.

Lisa Ray Swart

I studied BA Humanities at Stellenbosch

University and majored in Social

Anthropology and Psychology. I am

currently an Honours student in Social

Anthropology and particularly interested

in issues regarding gender and women’s

health.

Sarah Dart

I am an honours student in Sociology,

focusing on Sociology of Work. I have a

passion for understanding the nature of the

working world and am particularly

interested in gender roles in the work place

as well as atypical work.

Warren Pillay

My name is Warren Lee Pillay and I

am currently doing my Honours in

Sociology as well as tutoring for the

second year Sociology programme.

My research interests involve social

policy in post-apartheid South Africa,

particularly within the health,

housing and higher education

spheres.

Bapiwe Gobodo

I am doing my Honours in sociology. I’m

interested in a wide variety of fields including

African Politics, International relations, Crime and

Society and the 4th Industrial Revolution. My

main focus for my research this year is masculinity

and what manhood means for different men

across South Africa and how they come to learn

these different meanings. In my spare time I

watch sports, listen to music and I do some

creative writing.

Damian Johnson

I did a BA (Social Dynamics) at Stellenbosch

University. I am currently an Honours Student in

the Sociology and Social Anthropology

Department. I am interested in a variety of topics,

particularly post-colonial politics in Africa, social

media and symbolism, to name a few.

Tariro Nyamudeza

Everyone calls me “Tarie”. I’m from Zimbabwe, but

it’s my 4th year here in Stellies. I studied a BA in

Humanities with Sociology and Psychology as my

majors and English Studies as my minor. I’m

currently an Honours student in Sociology, and

quite interested in the army issues, hence my

theses project on the “Militarisation of Society”

basing my research on Zimbabwe. Other than the

whole lot of reading, I play Maties women’s rugby,

which balances out my life lol.

Simonn Meyer

I am currently pursuing my Honours

degree in Sociology at the University of

Stellenbosch. I am interested in Queer

theory, Religious studies and Political

sociology.

Rogan Oelofse

I did my undergraduate at Stellenbosch University, where I

completed a BA in Social Dynamics. I am currently

registered as an honours student in Anthropology. I am

particularly interested in themes of work and personhood.

I enjoy philosophy and I like to illustrate in my free-time.