A bibliometric study of the South African Journal of Science

We present a bibliometric analysis of the South African Journal of Science (SAJS) from its inception in 1903 to 2024. Using data from the Web of Science, the South African Knowledgebase and a custom SAJS archive, we examined publication output, authorship and collaboration trends, citation impact, thematic changes, and demographic representation. Journal metrics from the Journal Citation Reports were also evaluated. The results show a gradual increase in research outputs published in SAJS, with a stabilisation in later years. A marked increase in the proportion of multi-authored papers is observed from the late 1960s, reflecting the growing collaboration and institutionalisation of South African science. Thematic analysis using the Web of Science citation topics shows the truly multidisciplinary nature of SAJS. Articles have been published across all the macro scientific fields, with the major contributions coming from agriculture, environmental science, earth sciences, clinical and life sciences, and the social sciences. Demographic analysis shows that while female authorships in SAJS remain below national targets, the proportion has steadily increased in line with broader transformation in the higher education sector. Overall, both the Journal Impact Factor and field-normalised Journal Citation Index have shown consistent and significant improvement since 2017. Despite these metrics appearing modest relative to leading global publications, they demonstrate the growing impact and reach of SAJS.