Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements Master’s Degree in Technology: Public Management, Durban University of Technology, 2013. / Trauma is worldwide phenomenon that affects many individuals and communities. In the case of South Africa, the apartheid regime has been the major cause of trauma for individuals as well as for communities. Although the Truth and Reconciliation Commission played a kind of healing role for traumatized individuals and communities, many were left unhealed and not reconciled. To bridge the gap left by the TRC in the context of trauma healing, some NGOs, such as the Institute for Healing of Memories, have taken up the task by organizing workshops aimed at healing affected individuals, churches and communities. In addition, they also helped people to forgive one another, reconcile and build peace. This research examines the impact of Healing of Memories workshops carried out in Durban some years ago. The participants reported significant progress towards trauma healing and reconciliation.

Against the background of New Thought history in general, the dissertation researches the origins of the movement in South Africa. On the basis of primary documents, made available by leaders and other informants, questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and participant observation, the roots and history of New Thought in South Africa has been reconstructed. Aspects of New Thought belief, such as God, Jesus, Christ, the Bible, prayer, meditation, wealth, prosperity, death and reincarnation are discussed. It becomes apparent that, with its syncretistic, flexible and open structure, as well as the unique way in which services (weddings, christenings, funerals) are conducted, New Thought offers an alternative to spiritual and religiously minded people in South Africa, and shows potential to play a dynamic role in the cross-cultural bridging that is taking place in a changing South Africa. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M.A. (Religios Studies)

Against the background of New Thought history in general, the dissertation researches the origins of the movement in South Africa. On the basis of primary documents, made available by leaders and other informants, questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and participant observation, the roots and history of New Thought in South Africa has been reconstructed. Aspects of New Thought belief, such as God, Jesus, Christ, the Bible, prayer, meditation, wealth, prosperity, death and reincarnation are discussed. It becomes apparent that, with its syncretistic, flexible and open structure, as well as the unique way in which services (weddings, christenings, funerals) are conducted, New Thought offers an alternative to spiritual and religiously minded people in South Africa, and shows potential to play a dynamic role in the cross-cultural bridging that is taking place in a changing South Africa. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M.A. (Religios Studies)

MAAS / Centre for African Studies / The study sought to explore the use of traditional healing modalities in the provision of mental illness in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province. Traditional medicine has been used for thousands of years by indigenous people in South Africa and Africa as a whole, and demonstrated efficacy in treating a wide range of health issue. Many of the medicines in contemporary biomedical treatment are derived from plants and herbs used by indigenous people throughout the world. The objectives of the study were to describe the profile of the clients that visit the traditional healers, to explain traditional healers’ diagnostic strategies of mental illness, to explain the traditional healing treatment modalities in the treatment of various forms of mental illness and to discuss traditional healers’ prevention methods of mental illness. The study was guided by indigenous theory of health and illness as a theoretical framework, and for supporting the literature, a theory of African perspective theory was used. A qualitative research approach was used in order to have an in-depth understanding of the modalities of traditional healing in the provision of mental health care. Case study approach was used. Participants were selected purposively around Vhembe district in Limpopo province and snowball sampling technique was applied in order to identify and recruit relevant participants. The researcher conducted semi -structured interviews to gather the relevant data. Data analysis was based on the interpretative philosophy that aimed at examining meaning and symbolic content of qualitative data. Thematic analysis method was employed. The findings of the study confirmed that traditional healing is still widely used in the communities in the provision of mental illness and that there are a variety of diagnostic, treatment and prevention methods in the provision of mental illness. The findings also show that as much as there are challenges facing traditional healing in treatment of mental illness, there is a need to introduce their modalities in the healthcare system of South Africa, Africa and the whole world. Programs that aim to educate the communities about traditional healing modalities should also be established by the Department of Health and the relevant stakeholders such as traditional healers’ organizations. / NRF