Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
South Africa Highly Cited Researchers Citation in South Africa Rankings 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) highlight the most cited and influential researchers across a vast range of scientific fields, covering 197 main and sub-disciplines, including the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings. This service, offered exclusively by AD Scientific Index, aims to provide a balanced perspective by excluding data from CERN and other statistical sources that disproportionately favor certain researchers, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. This unique approach addresses the advantages researchers with multi-author publications and CERN involvement hold over others. Furthermore, citation rankings help uncover rule violations and unethical practices within the research community. For more detailed citation analyses, explore the Scientists Last 6 Years Citation Index, Universities Total Citations Rankings 2025, and Universities Last 6 Years Citations Rankings 2025.
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :1
African politics
history
colonialism
race
enlightenment
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
66,006
40,446
0.613
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :2
Macroecomomics
forecasting
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
37,589
29,221
0.777
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :3
Maternal and child health
life course development
child and adolescent development
global mental health
global health
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
26,102
16,105
0.617
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :4
Infectious Diseases
HIV
Tuberculosis
Health Economics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,490
9,198
0.361
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :5
Tourism and Development
Local Economic Development
Small Enterprise Development
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
24,990
10,520
0.421
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :6
Social psychology
race and ethnic studies
research methods
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
22,458
8,781
0.391
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :7
Water resources management
Water accounting
Water Footprint
Food
Irrigation
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
22,297
9,098
0.408
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :8
Disability studies
public mental health
cultural aspects of health care
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,396
10,797
0.505
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :9
Philosophy and methodology of the social sciences
higher education knowledge production
sociology of science
scientometrics a
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,308
6,051
0.313
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :10
Positive Organizations
Capabilities
Engagement
Flourishing
Well-being
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,303
9,891
0.512
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :11
Criminology
policing
environmental security
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,457
4,702
0.269
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :12
political economy
political ecology
geography
social movements
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,799
5,196
0.309
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :13
Neuropsychology
Psychoanalysis
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,727
6,218
0.372
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :14
HIV/ AIDS
adherence
mental health
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,214
7,836
0.483
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :15
Gender gender-based violence rape HIV
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
15,815
8,431
0.533
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :16
Macroeconomic Policy
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
15,572
11,479
0.737
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :17
Environmental
Health
& Development Economics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
15,261
11,693
0.766
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :18
gender
violence
sexual health
social epidemiology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
15,047
6,073
0.404
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :19
Masculinities
Violence
Fatherhood
Southern Theory
Academic Staff Support
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,787
5,938
0.402
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :20
Career (construction) counselling
narrative career counselling
life designing
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,468
7,015
0.485
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :21
operational research
decision analysis
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,198
4,318
0.304
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :22
Forensic anthropology
biological anthropology
skeletal biology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
13,572
5,075
0.374
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :23
gender and diversity
postcolonial
management in Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
13,311
5,786
0.435
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :24
Building
Construction Digitalisation
Value Management
Quantity Surveying
Construction Industry Development
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12,656
11,980
0.947
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :25
Research
Public Health
Psychology
Gender
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12,504
4,308
0.345
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
6,396
19
5
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Achille Mbembe
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
66,006
40,446
0.613
African politics
history
colonialism
race
enlightenment
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
15,751
44
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Rangan Gupta
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
37,589
29,221
0.777
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
27,691
77
9
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Mark Tomlinson
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
26,102
16,105
0.617
Maternal and child health
life course development
child and adolescent development
global mental health
global health
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
28,667
84
15
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Ian Sanne
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
25,490
9,198
0.361
Infectious Diseases
HIV
Tuberculosis
Health Economics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
29,510
90
5
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Christian Rogerson
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
24,990
10,520
0.421
Tourism and Development
Local Economic Development
Small Enterprise Development
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
34,427
105
6
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Kevin Durrheim
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
22,458
8,781
0.391
Social psychology
race and ethnic studies
research methods
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
34,770
107
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Ashok Chapagain
University of the Free State
Bloemfontein, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
22,297
9,098
0.408
Water resources management
Water accounting
Water Footprint
Food
Irrigation
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
36,871
110
16
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Leslie Swartz
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,396
10,797
0.505
Disability studies
public mental health
cultural aspects of health care
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
42,523
132
23
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Johann Mouton
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,308
6,051
0.313
Philosophy and methodology of the social sciences
higher education knowledge production
sociology of science
scientometrics a
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
42,533
133
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Sebastiaan Rothmann
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,303
9,891
0.512
Positive Organizations
Capabilities
Engagement
Flourishing
Well-being
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
48,840
156
32
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Clifford Shearing
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
17,457
4,702
0.269
Criminology
policing
environmental security
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
51,353
165
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Patrick Bond
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,799
5,196
0.309
political economy
political ecology
geography
social movements
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
51,650
167
35
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Mark Solms
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,727
6,218
0.372
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
53,911
179
30
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Ashraf Kagee
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
16,214
7,836
0.483
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
55,754
186
5
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Naeemah Abrahams
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
15,815
8,431
0.533
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
56,869
190
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Nicholas M Odhiambo
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
15,572
11,479
0.737
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
58,390
194
6
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
AS Oyekale
North West University
Potchefstroom, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
15,261
11,693
0.766
Environmental
Health
& Development Economics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
59,549
199
6
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Kristin L Dunkle
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
15,047
6,073
0.404
gender
violence
sexual health
social epidemiology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
60,858
204
41
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Robert Morrell
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,787
5,938
0.402
Masculinities
Violence
Fatherhood
Southern Theory
Academic Staff Support
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
62,637
211
17
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Kobus Maree
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,468
7,015
0.485
Career (construction) counselling
narrative career counselling
life designing
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
64,251
221
44
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Theodor Stewart
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
14,198
4,318
0.304
operational research
decision analysis
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
68,110
231
34
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Maryna Steyn
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
13,572
5,075
0.374
Forensic anthropology
biological anthropology
skeletal biology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
69,835
237
19
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Stella M Nkomo
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
13,311
5,786
0.435
gender and diversity
postcolonial
management in Africa
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
74,422
247
12
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Clinton Aigbavboa
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg, South Africa
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12,656
11,980
0.947
Building
Construction Digitalisation
Value Management
Quantity Surveying
Construction Industry Development
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
75,531
253
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Nompumelelo Zungu
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
12,504
4,308
0.345