Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie is 'n verkennende studie wat die Tsonga se persepsies omtrent seksualiteit ondersoek. Daar is gekonsentreer op die etiese en sosio-kulturele aspekte van die seksualiteit ten einde riglyne aan die Christelike kerk te verskaf. Die kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode is gebruik. In hoofstukke twee en drie word breedvoerig verlag gedoen oor die Tsonga se seksuele persepsies en gebruike. Eerstens word gekyk na die nie-Christelike Tsonga en dan na die Christelike Tsonga. Die nie-Christelike Tsonga se seksualiteit is deurspek van rnitiese gebruike en gelowe. Die Christelike Tsonga het minder van die rnitiese maar toon weinig konforrnasie tot die tradisionele Christelike waardes. Uit die tradisionele Afrikareligie is 'n bepaalde etiek oorgeerf. Hierdie etiese beginsels verskil aansienlik van die Christelike etiek. Die Christelike etiek is 'n normatiewe etiek waar die motief vir 'n bepaalde handeling net so belangrik is as die handeling self. Die oorgeerfde Afrika-etiek stel minder belang in die intensies van die persoon wat die handeling uitvoer. Wat saak maak is die gevolge van 'n handeling. Die vraag word gevra waarom die Christelike Tsonga nie nader aan die aanvaarde Christelike norme beweeg het nie. Daar word bevind dat oorgelewerde sosiale tradisies, gebruike en waardes groter invloed op die seksualiteit uitoefen as godsdiens. Die is veral die proses van vervreemding, wat die Tsongakultuur tans ondergaan, wat lei tot 'n toestand van kontakarmoede en 'n gebrek aan singewing. Kan die kerk enige bydrae lewer tot die seksualiteit van die Tsonga? Daar is bevind dat die Christelike sending 'n fasiliterende bydrae daartoe kan lewer dat die Tsonga-gelowige, 'n lokale teologie van die seksualiteit tot stand kan bring. Dit is belangrik dat die Tsongagemeenskap self die teoloog moet wees. Op hierdie manier kan die Christelike godsdiens wel 'n verrykende bydrae lewer tot die seksualiteit by die Tsonga. / This is a investigative study that researches the Tsonga perception of sexuality. Emphasis has been placed on the ethical and socio­ cultural aspects of sexuality in order to provide guidelines to the Christian church. The qualitative method of research was used. In chapters two and three a detailed account of the Tsonga's sexual perceptions and practices is given. Firstly the non-Christian Tsonga was studied and then the Christian Tsonga. The non-Christian Tsonga's sexuality is interspersed with mythical practices and beliefs. The Christian Tsonga have less of the mythical but show little conformation to the traditional Christian values. From the traditional African religions a specific ethic was inherited. These ethical principles differ substantially from the Christian ethics. The Christian ethic is a normative ethic where the motive for an action is as important as the action itself. The inherited African ethic is less interested in the intentions of the person doing the action. The consequence of the action is what matters. The question is asked why the Christian Tsonga did not move closer to the accepted Christian norms. It was found that the inherited social traditions, uses and values exert more influence on the sexuality than the religion. It is above all the process of alienation that the Tsonga culture is presently enduring, that leads to a situation of poor contact and a lack of purpose. Can the church deliver any contribution towards the sexuality of the Tsonga? It was found that the Christian mission could make a facilitating contribution towards the Tsonga believers, enabling them to bring about a local theology of sexuality. It is important that the Tsonga community should be its own theologian. In this manner the Christian religion can make an enriching contribution towards the sexuality of the Tsonga. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / Th. D. (Sendingwetenskap)

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie is 'n verkennende studie wat die Tsonga se persepsies omtrent seksualiteit ondersoek. Daar is gekonsentreer op die etiese en sosio-kulturele aspekte van die seksualiteit ten einde riglyne aan die Christelike kerk te verskaf. Die kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode is gebruik. In hoofstukke twee en drie word breedvoerig verlag gedoen oor die Tsonga se seksuele persepsies en gebruike. Eerstens word gekyk na die nie-Christelike Tsonga en dan na die Christelike Tsonga. Die nie-Christelike Tsonga se seksualiteit is deurspek van rnitiese gebruike en gelowe. Die Christelike Tsonga het minder van die rnitiese maar toon weinig konforrnasie tot die tradisionele Christelike waardes. Uit die tradisionele Afrikareligie is 'n bepaalde etiek oorgeerf. Hierdie etiese beginsels verskil aansienlik van die Christelike etiek. Die Christelike etiek is 'n normatiewe etiek waar die motief vir 'n bepaalde handeling net so belangrik is as die handeling self. Die oorgeerfde Afrika-etiek stel minder belang in die intensies van die persoon wat die handeling uitvoer. Wat saak maak is die gevolge van 'n handeling. Die vraag word gevra waarom die Christelike Tsonga nie nader aan die aanvaarde Christelike norme beweeg het nie. Daar word bevind dat oorgelewerde sosiale tradisies, gebruike en waardes groter invloed op die seksualiteit uitoefen as godsdiens. Die is veral die proses van vervreemding, wat die Tsongakultuur tans ondergaan, wat lei tot 'n toestand van kontakarmoede en 'n gebrek aan singewing. Kan die kerk enige bydrae lewer tot die seksualiteit van die Tsonga? Daar is bevind dat die Christelike sending 'n fasiliterende bydrae daartoe kan lewer dat die Tsonga-gelowige, 'n lokale teologie van die seksualiteit tot stand kan bring. Dit is belangrik dat die Tsongagemeenskap self die teoloog moet wees. Op hierdie manier kan die Christelike godsdiens wel 'n verrykende bydrae lewer tot die seksualiteit by die Tsonga. / This is a investigative study that researches the Tsonga perception of sexuality. Emphasis has been placed on the ethical and socio­ cultural aspects of sexuality in order to provide guidelines to the Christian church. The qualitative method of research was used. In chapters two and three a detailed account of the Tsonga's sexual perceptions and practices is given. Firstly the non-Christian Tsonga was studied and then the Christian Tsonga. The non-Christian Tsonga's sexuality is interspersed with mythical practices and beliefs. The Christian Tsonga have less of the mythical but show little conformation to the traditional Christian values. From the traditional African religions a specific ethic was inherited. These ethical principles differ substantially from the Christian ethics. The Christian ethic is a normative ethic where the motive for an action is as important as the action itself. The inherited African ethic is less interested in the intentions of the person doing the action. The consequence of the action is what matters. The question is asked why the Christian Tsonga did not move closer to the accepted Christian norms. It was found that the inherited social traditions, uses and values exert more influence on the sexuality than the religion. It is above all the process of alienation that the Tsonga culture is presently enduring, that leads to a situation of poor contact and a lack of purpose. Can the church deliver any contribution towards the sexuality of the Tsonga? It was found that the Christian mission could make a facilitating contribution towards the Tsonga believers, enabling them to bring about a local theology of sexuality. It is important that the Tsonga community should be its own theologian. In this manner the Christian religion can make an enriching contribution towards the sexuality of the Tsonga. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / Th. D. (Sendingwetenskap)