Social Transformation specialises in the creation, development, management and evaluation of the transformational and social development roles and responsibilities of the government, the business sector, and communities in developing societies, thereby contributing significantly towards social transformation within these societies. Through different modes of research, the mission is to render a meaningful contribution towards the improvement of a sustainable quality of life and transformation in South Africa and other African countries.

The Focus Area Social Transformation was established in 2000 and was initially known as Sustainable Social Development. Currently, the research focus is on social sustainability issues aligning with the sustainable development goals that can impact social transformation.

Vision: Focus Area Social Transformation (FAST) aspires to become the leading research entity engaging with sustainability challenges faced by society, locally and globally.

Mission: Focus Area Social Transformation (FAST) commits to catalysing rigorous research that critically addresses the complex sustainability challenges facing South African, African, and global communities. We strive to create and disseminate knowledge that informs policy and practice, empowers communities, and could potentially contribute to the advancement of more globally oriented social outcomes, such as those encapsulated in the sustainable development goals.

Researchers in the focus area are mainly from the School of Communication, School of Government Studies, School of Philosophy and School of Social Sciences. This provides the opportunity for inter-disciplinary, multi-disciplinary and transdisciplinary research between various subject fields, amongst other, Anthropology, Communication, History, Philosophy, Political Studies, Public Administration and Sociology. The research focus is structured around four themes pertaining to social sustainability: Social and Reparative Justice, Gender and Sexuality, Management for Sustainability and Social Sustainability.