Relations between social theory and the development process: Case study of a technology transformation programme in Transkei, South Africa

In 1983, the former government of Transkei, South Africa established the Transkei Appropriate Technology Unit (TATU) to develop a rural technology transformation programme. The programme sought to build on existing indigenous technologies to achieve improvements in various income generating and non-income generating projects. This paper attempts to study the TATU programme in terms of how the social improvement processes are structured and how they can be restructured for the better. Towards this end, this paper draws from structuration theory and critical theory to illuminate the theoretical and methodological problems in the development process associated with the TATU programme. It is highlighted in the paper that structuration theory provides a useful framework for understanding the existing state of affairs in the adoption of technologies whilst critical theory complements structuration theory in revealing problems and constraints as well as providing useful insights for positive change.