The study explored the cultural care beliefs, values and attitudes among Shangaans relating to hypertension. The study aimed to describe the cultural values, beliefs and practices such as taboos, rituals and religion within the world view of the Shangaan. The study was undertaken in the Mopani region of the Greater Giyani area, with the purpose of making recommendations on patient care. Data collection was done by conducting focus group and individual interviews. The five themes that emerged were: + Hypertension + The traditional healer: the instrumental role + Traditional medicine versus Western medicine + Magico-religious healings + Experiences of hypertensive patients with regard to traditional healers and hypertension / Health Studies / M. A. (Health Studies)

The study explored the cultural care beliefs, values and attitudes among Shangaans relating to hypertension. The study aimed to describe the cultural values, beliefs and practices such as taboos, rituals and religion within the world view of the Shangaan. The study was undertaken in the Mopani region of the Greater Giyani area, with the purpose of making recommendations on patient care. Data collection was done by conducting focus group and individual interviews. The five themes that emerged were: + Hypertension + The traditional healer: the instrumental role + Traditional medicine versus Western medicine + Magico-religious healings + Experiences of hypertensive patients with regard to traditional healers and hypertension / Health Studies / M. A. (Health Studies)

MA (Xitsonga) / Senthara ya M.E.R. Mathivha ya Tindzimu ta Afrika, Vutshila ni Ndhvuko / The study examines the taboos of death and their significance in the context of Xitsonga culture in the Hlanganani Area of the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province of South Africa. The study deals with social taboos pertaining to death and how Vatsonga perceive their dead. The principal aim of the study is to highlight the significance of taboos pertaining to death, the burial and the post-burial rites/rituals amongst Vatsonga in the Hlanganani Area. The study guarantees the continuity and resilience of the post-burial rituals. Accordingly, the study shows that the taboos are largely reflected through language. The study will recommend that the taboos as the important components of Xitsonga culture must be incorporated in the South African education system. More importantly, the study shows that language and culture are interlinked and cannot be separated. The researcher will employ the Renaissance Theory. The Renaissance Theory argues that a number of indigenous cultural identities, values and norms which used to be functional for society in the past can still be used today if properly utilised because they are the building blocks of indigenous existentiality. It is an emerging postcolonial philosophy which envisions reclaiming the glories of the African past. It posits that to think of the African life is to think of the unity of the shared perennial communitarian values. Data will collected through interviews and focus groups.