This study takes place within a school situated on the north eastern side of Soshanguve, a township to the north of the capital city, Pretoria, also called Tshwane. The school draws most of its learners from an area that started as an informal settlement. Certain parts of this settlement are now well structured and it is gradually becoming a formal settlement. The children who form part of this study are those whose parents have migrated from neighbouring provinces such as Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga, as well as from neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Owing to this migration, the community around this school is multilingual. Multilingualism has led to phonic, grammatical, semantic and stylistic language interference. This interference has caused language change, which in turn has led to variations that affect the standard form of Sesotho sa Lebowa, the first language of the school. The school selected for this study has achieved very average matriculation results since its establishment in 1994. Although the school generally achieves a 100% pass rate in the subject Sesotho sa Lebowa, marks are generally low despite the fact that the learners are supposedly first language speakers of Sesotho sa Lebowa. The aim of this study is to investigate the reasons for the poor quality of these results. Matriculation results over the past four years attest to the fact that something needs to be done in order to reverse the negative trend of these results. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Sociolinguistics)

As the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevalence rises, uninfected Basotho face an increased risk of exposure. This necessitates strengthening of strategies that prevent exposure, and where exposure has occurred, measures that prevent infection. One such measure is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). Awareness and knowledge of HIV PEP is therefore of paramount importance. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and utilisation of HIV PEP among adults in Roma, Lesotho. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 96 adult outpatients at St Joseph’s Hospital. Data were collected by means of structured questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 23.0. Results were presented using charts and tables. Awareness of HIV PEP among the respondents was found to be very low and for most respondents’ knowledge of HIV PEP was either non-existent or very poor. Utilisation was also found to be very low. Attitudes towards HIV PEP were, however, found to be favourable. More studies should be conducted throughout the country to further explore Basotho’s knowledge, attitude and use of HIV PEP. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

The archaeological research was conducted at Botshabelo, a nineteenth century Berlin Mission Society station located outside Middelburg, Mpumalanga. It focuses primarily on the collection of residential houses and homesteads in the area known as the Motse, meaning “village” in Sotho. This is where the mission station’s African residents lived. This research seeks to use archaeology, specifically the study of the associated material culture, in order to refine the chronology of changes to settlement in this area, and to explore the ways in which the inhabitants interacted with other sectors of the mission station community and the then wider Transvaal society. Although the mission station and its settlement dates from 1865, the material culture excavated and analysed in this project is primarily from the twentieth century. It is through the careful analysis of these houses and their architecture, together with the associated material culture that the social and cultural values of the people who built and used them can be explored. To date there has been a copious amount of research done on these mission stations in southern Africa, flowing mainly from the disciplines of history and anthropology (Comaroff and Comaroff 1991; Delius 1981; Japha et al 1993; Kirkaldy 2005; Vernal 2009). In contrast, however, there has been relatively little archaeological research carried out on the various mission stations within southern Africa (but see Ashley 2010; Boshoff 2004; Clift 2001; Jeppson 2005; Reid et al 1997). This research project is based in archaeology, and in particular in the discipline of historical archaeology, which can provide the methodologies and approaches that can be used to make sense of the history of the Botshabelo Mission Station and the Motse. This research therefore intends to contribute to the currently under researched field of mission archaeology within South Africa. / Anthropology and Archaeology / M.A. (Archaeology)

Language is a crucial means of gaining comprehension of Physics content as well as providing correct answers to Physics questions and explanations of Physics phenomena. Therefore language determines the academic achievement of Physics learners. Consequently, language diversity plays a pivotal role in the outcomes of education in a multicultural society such as South Africa. The research reports on the role played by language in the academic performance of learners whose language of instruction is different from their home language. A mixed method approach was used in which the participants were assigned to either the control or experimental group. Intervention was provided to the experimental group in form of Physics lessons in the learners’ home language. The mixed method approach was used to elicit responses from a sample of 40 learners on the role of language in the learning and teaching of Physics to learners whose home language is different from the language of learning and teaching. Data was collected from 3 written tests (an English Language Proficiency test, pre- and post- tests) and interview responses. The sample comprised 24 girls and 16 boys aged between 15 and 17 years. Quantitative data was analysed using R- computing while interview responses were analysed using Glᾰser and Laudel’s model. A paired t- test revealed statistically significant difference in the academic performance of the two groups in the post- test in favour of the experimental group which had been afforded intervention. The results of this study show that translanguaging approaches, where languages of input and output are deliberately interchanged, proved to be a valuable pedagogical strategy as learners got the chance to learn in their home language leading to an improvement in their academic performance in Physics. The findings of this research are in line with some previous research which demonstrated that the use of learners’ home language is a social practice that goes beyond the four walls of the classroom. The use of pedagogies that embrace multilingualism is therefore highly recommended in 21st century Physics classes. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Largely based on material recorded during an internationally sponsored inter-university research tour through the Sesotho speaking area of southern Africa in August 2000, this thesis explores the state of the Basotho oral poetry, the dithoko `praise poems', the difela `mine workers' chants' and the diboko `family odes' at the beginning of the 21st century. Unlike the classical dithoko which were inspired by the wars or the battles in which the Basotho fought as well as cannibalism, those composed at the beginning of the 21st century are inspired by socio-economic and political situations of the poets. Lack of wars has resulted in the poets turning the praising to their chiefs and themselves. Changing socio-economic conditions inspired the difela compositions. The diboko though still a living tradition among the rural Basotho are not adhered to by some who are affected by modernism. Performance of the three oral genres has shifted from the natural settings such as the battlefield, working parties, traditional courts, assemblies, etc., to organized annual festivals such as Morija Arts & Cultural Festival which constitute the Basotho's `popular culture'. The subject-matter and themes of the dithoko have shifted from warfare to traditional chiefs, current heroic deeds of the poets, current political situations and religion. The difela are characterized by inclusion of new subject-matter. The diboko still play an important function as carriers of the names of the ancestors, the tribal idiosyncrasy of the clan and the history associated with the clan's establishment. The three Basotho oral genres demonstrate an emergence of a new phenomenon whereby one genre penetrates another, a phenomenon which may be called `migration of texts'. The last chapter explores the insights emanating from the entire research, and discusses suggestions on what should be done to ensure that the Basotho oral genres are maintained and improved. The video footage of the poets recorded at various places of the Free State and Lesotho have contributed to the success of the research. The thesis serves as a contribution to the Basotho's dynamic oral poetry on which scholars will hopefully do further research in the near future. / African Languages / D. Litt et Phil. (African Languages)

The research focuses on the epistemic tension between Western positivist epistemology and African indigenous knowledge systems particularly Shona proverbs. The research argues that Western epistemological hegemony is both unjustified and unacceptable in the context of the pluriversal understanding of knowledge where systems of knowledge are both multiple and diverse. After a critique of Eurocentric thinking, the research defends an African epistemological paradigm that emerges as an alternative framework for the authentic and legitimate study of African knowledge systems and ways of knowing. The approach opens intellectual space for the philosophical study of Shona proverbs. Under Shona environmental philosophy, it shall be argued that ubuntu respects all aspects of the environment, recognizes the dependence of human beings on the environment, sees the land as sacred and affords responsibility for future generations by encouraging the preservation and conservation of resources. Three Shona proverbs have been used to show how the Shona think about preservation of natural resources, conservation of natural resources and the interdependence between humanity and the natural world. In the context of Shona philosophy of law, it is argued that ubuntu provides the basis of a coherent philosophy of law among the Shona. Shona philosophy of law is a reflection of legal elements and the study draws these elements from selected proverbs. These proverbs have been used to show the metaphysical basis of Shona legal philosophy, the role of the law in protecting the dignity of individuals and the importance of the law in peace building within the community. Concerning political philosophy, the study has argued that ubuntu is the political foundation of solidarity, oneness and mutual support in politics. Shona political philosophy stresses coexistence and relatedness (ukama) within the community. Shona political philosophy maintains that authority should be guided by respect, good governance, solidarity and peace. Under Shona philosophy of economics, themes of human dignity, respect for hard work and the need for moderation in the desire for money are discussed in the context of the Shona philosophical worldview. The proverbs under study contribute to alternative ways of philosophical reflection in the context of the pluriversality of knowledge / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D.Litt et Phil. (Philosophy)

From Introduction: Lesotho is a small, mountainous country entirely surrounded by South Africa. The stark nature of its terrain and topography present harsh options to its inhabitants. Much of the country is mountainous, better suited to the keeping of stock than to agriculture. The lowlands, where the soils are more amenable to the plough, are scarred and cut by dongas. The soil is overworked and overcrowded and Lesotho does not grow enough to feed its people who depend on migrancy as a viable alternative to the limited resources of their own land. They stream from the country to seek wage employment in South Africa, for Lesotho has minimal industrial development and cannot provide jobs for her people. The civil service absorbs some of the educated elite, as does teaching, but the majority must sell their sweat in South Africa's service.

This study focuses on the comparison of medical and health terms with special reference to Sesotho sa Leboa and Western languages. The study was conducted in the communities of Zebediela, Groblersdal and Marble Hall. From time immemorial, traditional medical and health terms were associated with certain types of diseases and health problems among Africans. With the introduction of Western civilisation, most of the medical and health terms which were used in the past by the Basotho ba Leboa, are no longer in use, as Western languages are regarded as prestige languages compared to the indigenous African languages. This perception led to a shortage of Sesotho sa Leboa documents that explain medical and health terms. The literature review revealed that traditional medicine is used for healing by many communities. Scholars further revealed that Western health terminology is more developed than traditional health terminology. The study uses the qualitative approach to explain concepts, and coding schemes were used to categorise medical and health terms. Ethnographic and historical theories were used to analyse data. The similarities and differences between the Sesotho sa Leboa terms and their Western counterparts were discussed and assessed. The study found that a relationship exists between diseases and the body parts in both Sesotho sa Leboa and Western terminology, and that the diseases were classified according to the affected body parts. The medical terms of both languages have similar and different semantic properties. Most of the differences were brought about by the cultural differences of the two communities. As the Sesotho sa Leboa medical terms are inimitable, the culture specific terms used in this study are discussed in Sesotho sa Leboa rather than in Western terminology. Conversely, as most of the recent outbreaks of diseases are named in Western terminology, they are translated into Sesotho sa Leboa. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)