Abstract
This paper draws from research that applied Systems Thinking to the development of suitable
social structures that may aid or enhance social learning within the South African context. The
South African social system is rigid and top-down. Communities use protest as a bottom-up
form of participation to control the lack of procedural clarity that hinders sustainable social
transformation. A qualitative research approach was adopted using Grounded Theory
methodology to investigate the social system structure in South Africa. Thirty-five (35)
participants were interviewed and three focus groups were convened. The analysis showed that
the South African social system structure is characterised by a lack of openness, inflexibility,
non-adaptability and an inability to learn. Based on the findings, recommendations are shared
on the validity of an appropriate social system structure for South Africa that may facilitate
stakeholder/citizen participation in social transformational activities.