MA (Psychology) / Department of Psychology / See the attached abstract below

MSc (Microbiology) / Department of Microbiology / BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants form an important part of the Southern African cultural heritage. Indigenous populations, for example the Vha-Venda people, tend to use medicinal plants in formulations rather than western medicines for health and survival. In order to certify and give scientific credibility to the use of medicinal plants formulations used by Vha-Venda people for the treatment of diseases, several assays were carried out. The present study was aimed at assessing phytochemical content, antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of four indigenous Venda medicinal plants in a formulation and compare their activity with each plant used individually. METHODS: Peltophorum africanum (roots), Pterocarpus angolensis (bark), Terminalia sericea (roots) and Ximenia caffra (roots) were collected from the Thohoyandou area. The collected plant parts were extracted with methanol and water respectively. Individual plant extracts and Five designed formulations were tested for their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 (Methicillin Resistant), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 33591(Methicillin Susceptible), beta lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumonia (ATCC 700603) and extended spectrum beta lactamase producing E. coli (ATCC 35218), four clinical isolates of Candida spp and Cryptococcus neoformans using the Broth dilution method. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts was determined by culturing the contents of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) on nutrient agar. Similarly, minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) was also determined by culturing contents of MIC in sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). Extracts were further assessed for their total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and Qualitative phytochemical analysis. The antioxidant ability of the plants extracts and formulations to scavenge free radical DPPH was also determined. The plant formulations were assessed for their anti-HIV activity using the reverse transcriptase colorimetric assay kit. Cytotoxicity against human lymphatic endothelial cells (HLEC) was determined using MTT assay. RESULTS: Methanolic and aqueous extracts of T. sericea exhibited the best antifungal and antibacterial activities whilst P. angolensis and X. caffra showed poor activities. Methanolic plant formulations showed good activities compared to aqueous formulations. However, Fractional Inhibition Concentration Index showed that there was 1 synergistic interaction, 25 additive interactions and 14 antagonistic interactions between the plant extracts. The methanolic formulation 3 showed the best overall phenolic content at 11.85±0.109 mgGAE/g whilst aqueous X. caffra extract showed the least content at 4.546±0.104 mgGAE/g. Higher total flavonoid contents were seen in methanolic formulation 4 at 2.75±0.02 mgQE/g. Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, tannins, saponins and steroids in 80% of the tested plant extracts and formulations. All plant extracts and formulations exhibited good antioxidant activity against DPPH. The methanolic formulation showed the best antioxidant activity with IC50 of 0.094 ± 0.33μg/ml. For anti- HIV inhibition, all formulations at 200μg/ml exhibited higher percentage of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibition with methanolic mixture 3 being the best overall at 97.5% activity whilst aqueous mixture5 was the least active with 63.03% inhibition activity. Moreover, the best anti-HIV activity at 100μg/ml was exhibited by methanolic mixture 3 at 71% inhibition. Furthermore, aqueous X. caffra, mixture 2 inhibited 26% and 51% at 12.5mg/ml and 3.125mg/ml respectively. Peltophorum africanum and mixture 5 inhibited 34%, 54% and 43% at 3.125mg/ml, 6.25mg/ml and 12.5 mg/ml respectively of Human Lymphatic Endothelial cells growth. CONCLUSIONS: The results from the study indicated that most of the commonly used traditional medicinal Plants in the Venda region when mixed together have merit for use in traditional medical practice as they have shown good antimicrobial activities, good antioxidant xviii activities, good phytochemical activities and good cell proliferation activity. However some formulations showed antagonistic interaction against bacteria. Some Individual medicinal plants showed toxicity at higher concentrations against immune cells. Whereas formulations promoted cell proliferation, therefore, the use of such individual plants in the treatment of infections should be highly monitored as they may pose a health threat to normal immune cells. Generally, plants are potential pharmacological agents which needs to be preserved and harvested with care. / NRF

MAAS / Centre for African Studies / Healing practices and health related rituals play a vital role in most religious groups including African Traditional Religion, Christianity, Islamic and Hinduism. This phenomenon of healing has been a challenge to religious institutions as well as African based churches. This study examined and analysed the healing practices within mega-churches in relation to the health related aspects. It appears that healing practices performed in those churches make them popular and enhance their growth in membership numerically. The study focuses on the philosophy and theological understanding of both mega-churches and mainstream churches. It is ostensible that healing, as a phenomenon, cannot be separated from core African culture, values and practices. Current church healing practices seems to be a more practical and accessible alternative way to deal with sickness as medical facilities has become inexorably costly especially to poor community who have no access to efficient medical amenities. Underprivileged members of society are drawn to religious healing practices because healers such as prophets, pastors and apostles dangle the capacity to heal people from all kind of ailments. Poor communities become a target because they are victims of government and the department of health malfunctions which are depicted by the poor and below standard medical services in those underprivileged communities. Most people in those communities believe that the above-mentioned emerging prophets and apostles from mega-churches are anointed and possess special power to heal them as well as to redeem them from life’s harsh realities. In the context of current healing practices, the researcher discovered that there is a need to probe and analyse the aforesaid practices particularly whereby healing seekers seems to have not receive what they anticipated from those mega-churches. The study exposes inappropriate healing dynamics conceived in the selected mega-churches within African tradition context. This study followed a qualitative approach, in which participants from both mega-churches and mainline churches were interviewed. The study further points out some perceived challenges affecting current healing practices in the selected mega-churches of Vhembe district of Limpopo Province. The study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis strategy to analyse the data for the study. / NRF

This research sought to investigate the impact of a belief in witchcraft as an explanation for all the ills in the Hlubi community and South African societies in general - which becomes a good tool for inadequate governments. Our approach in this study has been interdisciplinary and the utilization of comparative analysis and a combination of phenomenological and qualitative research models. Economic problems create social tensions and are manifested in various ways, including witchcraft craze. The Hlubi scenario found parallels in Europe and America. Witchcraft and ancestors are considered to be the main causes of diseases but nature and ecological or environmental dangers are other factors. Pragmatic and obvious response to such phobias is seen in the protective and preventive devices provided by isangoma, amaqhira, amaxhwere, inyanga and faith healers. It is hypothesized that as long as all existential needs exist in Hlubi society witchcraft will continue to be with us, perhaps forever. / Religious Studies & Arabic / DLITT ET PHIL (REL STUD)

This qualitative study explored traditional healers’ perceptions on collaborating with bio medical professionals. Purposive sampling was used to select study participants, and individual in-depth interviews were used to collect data. Thematic data analysis was conducted. The main findings of the study were that healers are very popular and highly respected amongst African communities. Traditional healers experienced mistrust and disrespect by biomedical health professionals who demonstrated ignorance on traditional medicine. Lack of motivation, incentives and financial support to conduct collaboration activities was another key finding including lack of clear policies and management structures for collaboration. Due to concern for their patients, healers resorted to practising covert collaboration such as not using official referral slips. Positively, healers experienced transformation in terms of knowledge gained from the training on basic HIV-TB epidemiology. There was clear evidence of high ethical practices amongst healers where they put their patients’ welfare ahead of their business interests / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

South Africa is called "the rainbow nation" because it has so many different cultures. These have an impact on the provision of primary health care. The purpose of this research is to foster good relationships between community health nurses and traditional healers and to explore, identify and describe the attitude of community health nurses towards the integration of traditional healers into primary health care. A non-experimental, explorative and descriptive research strategy was designed to explore the working relationship between community health nurses and traditional healers. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Quantitative as well as qualitative data analysis techniques were adopted to interpret the findings. The results indicated that respondents demonstrated positive attitudes towards working with traditional healers, especially in the provision of primary health care. Positive opinions, ideas and views were provided about the integration of traditional healers into primary health care. Respect, recognition and sensitivity were emphasized by respondents. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) is in danger of being obliterated due to a number of factors, such as the lack of interest from younger generations, low life expectancy where people die before transferring it to the next generation and it not being documented. This is due to the fact that IK, by its very nature, is generally known to have been passed on from generation to generation through oral tradition. This qualitative study utilised the organisational knowledge conversion theory to investigate the acquisition, transfer and preservation of IK by traditional healers in the Limpopo Province of South Africa with the view to develop a framework to provide understanding on how IK is acquired, transferred and preserved by traditional healers. The study adopted hermeneutic phenomenology research method and utilised snowball sampling technique to determine the population of this study which consisted of indigenous healers from the Limpopo Province. Data were collected through interviews with traditional healers, observations, as well as document analysis. Data were analysed and interpreted thematically according to the objectives of the study. The study revealed that knowledge of traditional healing is mainly acquired through observations, imitations, following orders and performing tasks practically. In addition to that, collaboration was highlighted as one of the driving forces behind effective transfer and acquisition of knowledge among healers. The major finding to this study was that ancestors are believed to be the ones preserving this knowledge of traditional healing and they pass it down to the chosen ones through dreams, visions and so on. The study concludes that traditional healers also preserved their knowledge orally and commonly shared and acquire knowledge during interactions with other healers. Furthermore, traditional healing is marginalised and not properly regulated in South Africa. It is recommended that key stakeholders should play an active role in ensuring that traditional healing is incorporated into the country’s healthcare system. This way traditional healing can help reduce a heavy burden on public health sector in terms of treating patients. A further study on integrating traditional healing into mainstream healthcare system in South Africa is recommended. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

This research sought to investigate the impact of a belief in witchcraft as an explanation for all the ills in the Hlubi community and South African societies in general - which becomes a good tool for inadequate governments. Our approach in this study has been interdisciplinary and the utilization of comparative analysis and a combination of phenomenological and qualitative research models. Economic problems create social tensions and are manifested in various ways, including witchcraft craze. The Hlubi scenario found parallels in Europe and America. Witchcraft and ancestors are considered to be the main causes of diseases but nature and ecological or environmental dangers are other factors. Pragmatic and obvious response to such phobias is seen in the protective and preventive devices provided by isangoma, amaqhira, amaxhwere, inyanga and faith healers. It is hypothesized that as long as all existential needs exist in Hlubi society witchcraft will continue to be with us, perhaps forever. / Religious Studies and Arabic / DLITT ET PHIL (REL STUD)

South Africa is called "the rainbow nation" because it has so many different cultures. These have an impact on the provision of primary health care. The purpose of this research is to foster good relationships between community health nurses and traditional healers and to explore, identify and describe the attitude of community health nurses towards the integration of traditional healers into primary health care. A non-experimental, explorative and descriptive research strategy was designed to explore the working relationship between community health nurses and traditional healers. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Quantitative as well as qualitative data analysis techniques were adopted to interpret the findings. The results indicated that respondents demonstrated positive attitudes towards working with traditional healers, especially in the provision of primary health care. Positive opinions, ideas and views were provided about the integration of traditional healers into primary health care. Respect, recognition and sensitivity were emphasized by respondents. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

This qualitative study explored traditional healers’ perceptions on collaborating with bio medical professionals. Purposive sampling was used to select study participants, and individual in-depth interviews were used to collect data. Thematic data analysis was conducted. The main findings of the study were that healers are very popular and highly respected amongst African communities. Traditional healers experienced mistrust and disrespect by biomedical health professionals who demonstrated ignorance on traditional medicine. Lack of motivation, incentives and financial support to conduct collaboration activities was another key finding including lack of clear policies and management structures for collaboration. Due to concern for their patients, healers resorted to practising covert collaboration such as not using official referral slips. Positively, healers experienced transformation in terms of knowledge gained from the training on basic HIV-TB epidemiology. There was clear evidence of high ethical practices amongst healers where they put their patients’ welfare ahead of their business interests / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)