The Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa is the descendant of the Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society, a journal that was published from 1878 by the South African Philosophical Society, a Cape Town group founded in 1877 with the objective of promoting original research about South Africa.
Since 1908 - with the inception of the Royal Society of South Africa as the successor of the Philosophical Society - the impressive Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa has appeared regularly, showcasing the best significant original research from the sub-continent.

After one hundred years of continuous publication, this journal can be mined as a history of science in South Africa. A glance at any contents page of the Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa will provide evidence of the manner in which diverse topics have coalesced to provide a scientific perspective on the region and added to the body of knowledge about it.
Over decades the journal has demonstrated the Royal Society of South Africa's contribution to vibrant intellectual debate and original research among its membership and beyond.

The record is one of innovative engagement with the knowledge industry of South Africa and shows an impressive array of subjects.
All scientific disciplines have been well represented in the Transactions, among them astronomy, archaeology, botany, ethnology, meteorology and climatology, mineralogy and petrology, physics and engineering, geology, palaeontology, irrigation, mathematics, oceanography, physiology and zoology.
The particular strength of the Royal Society of South Africa lies in its multi- and interdisciplinary orientation and the Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa advance such studies by preferring to publish synthetic work in order to promote comparison and synthesis of the information held by specialist workers.
The Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa is internationally accredited. It is devoted to articles based on original research. All material submitted is evaluated by the editorial board and other referees.