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In 1938 the Faculty of Theology Section B was established at the University of Pretoria, which could be likened to a small fountain. As the fountain flowed through the decades of history, it grew and became a river that made a huge impact on the university, the Church and society. The aim of this article, coinciding with the centenary of the University of Pretoria, is to focus on the positive contribution of the Faculty of Theology towards university, church and society. Like any river it went through different stages. There were times of peace and tranquillity, but also times of raging rapids. At certain stages of growth and development both lecturers and students made a huge impact, playing leading roles in Church and society, clearly voicing the call of the Church. The voice of the Faculty was not always welcome and was at times met by strong reaction, which was possibly one of the reasons for the murder of Prof. J.A. Heyns. In 2000 a new era dawned when the stream that became a river was joined by streams of different denominations. This made the river even stronger, with much more impact. This article tells the story of the origin, growth and struggle of the Dutch Reformed Church at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria from 1938 to 2008.

Transformation in the diverse Afrikaner society in the postapartheid era: Four case studies. Since the end of apartheid in South Africa, Afrikaner people have been faced with disentangling their culture from Afrikaner nationalism. This article argues that the transformation of the Afrikaner people, or the lack thereof, will influence the future and place of Afrikaners in postapartheid South Africa. This article investigates the transformation within the Afrikaner community, considering four case studies: The aftermath of the death of Matlhomola Moshoeu in Coligny, the aftermath of Brendin Horner’s death near Paul Roux, in the court at Senekal, the inequality in SA highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the organisation and movement called Betereinders. Unresolved racial tension was a driving force in Coligny and Senekal. In Coligny, Afrikaner individuals and other community members helped to transform the destruction left by the protests and addressed some burning issues of inequality. In the Senekal protest, some Afrikaners were responsible for most of the destruction. None of the big Afrikaner organisations or churches openly condemned these actions. The pandemic exposed how little economic transformation actually happened on ground level. The Betereinders movement is driven by Afrikaners who believe in a better future for all South Africans. They act, are hands-on, and won’t give up. Unwillingness to face the postapartheid SA and turning a blind eye, have prevented Afrikaners from being part of transformational efforts. However, Afrikaners can, with intentional effort, disentangle their culture from Afrikaner nationalism and are capable of being part of the transformation needed in SA.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The interdisciplinary implications of this article involved the subjects of church history, general history, and a dogmatic approach.

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Church and Society 25 years later: Was ith worth the while? 25 Years have passed since the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church accepted a new policy document: Church and Society in Light of Scripture. This document came into being after a several years of struggle. The reaction to the document led to a schism in the church and the founding of the Afrikaanse Protestantse Kerk. This article asks the question if the trouble Church and Society caused in the church was worth the while and then comes to the conclusion that it definitely was. Looking back after 25 years, Church and Society helped the Dutch Reformed church to get rid of the burden of apartheid and opened new doors on the church's way to the challenges of the new millennium.