South Africans have a somewhat complex relationship with science and technology, vacillating between attitudes of promise (benefits) and reservation (concern). Although there is considerable optimism about the potential benefits of science and technology, a notable portion of the population maintains its reservations. Exploring citizens’ attitudes towards science and technology, this is one of three articles in the June edition of the HSRC Review that draws on data from the HSRC’s 2022 South African Public Relationship with Science Survey.
Human Sciences Research Council (2026) studied this question.