In post-apartheid South Africa, working through the distortions of identity and history of the formerly colonized, as well as the traumas suffered by black South Africans as a result of the alienation of land by European settlers is an ongoing project of the state. The state's attempts to formulate an appropriate national myth with founding heroes and significant events that resonate with the majority has resulted in the promotion of certain figures as heroes. Not all black South Africans who are exhorted to identify with these figures consider them heroes. Some trace the beginnings of the fragmentation of their historical identities to the conquest actions of these figures. Shaka kaSenzangakhona, founder of the Zulu kingdom, is one such figure who is being promoted as the heritage of all Zulus by the state, especially at the level of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, for purposes of constructing a heritage for the province and of encouraging tourism. This promotion of Shaka is seen by some as the perpetuation under the post-1994 dispensation of the suppression of their histories and the disallowing of engagement with a longer history than the reorganization of chieftainship from 1927 and the seizure of land belonging to Africans from 1913. Hence has sprung up groups convening around pre-Zulu kinship identities since the early 1990's in which people attempt to find answers to the question "Who am I?" For most people, this question is driven by a sense that their conceptions of the country's past and of their historical selves (i.e. of the experiences of their predecessors that have brought them to where they are in the present) have been either influenced, mis(in)formed or distorted by the national master narratives that crystallized under European colonial rule and apartheid, even as they were simultaneously being resisted. Informed in part the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of the late 1990's and the state's attempts to "redress the imbalances of the past," many feel they need to work through the meanings of the past in their personal lives in order to inhabit the present with a fuller sense of how they have come to be who they are and so that they can imagine and create different futures for themselves. In this project I examine the attempt of people who trace their history to the Ndwandwe kingdom that was destroyed by Shaka's Zulu forces in the 1820's who have organized themselves into an association named the uBumbano lwamaZwide (Unity Association of the Zwides) to engage with questions of identity and the meanings of the past. The association comprises a group of activists in different parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces who have been meeting since 2003 to attempt to bring together on a large scale people of Ndwandwe, Nxumalo and other historically-associated clans to recall and/or construct a heroic past in post-apartheid South Africa. Implicitly, and sometimes explicitly, the assembly of the Ndwandwe calls into question the definition as Zulu of those Ndwandwe whose forebears were incorporated into the Zulu kingdom in the 1820's.I analyze the use of the idiom of heritage as well as a traditional idiom of kinship that has come to be handed down as a Zulu language for mediating social relations by the uBumbano in ways that challenge the centrality given to Shaka in narrations of the past. I argue that the uBumbano is using these idioms against how they are commonly understood - heritage as a mode of engaging with the past for its feel-good features and kinship as a Zulu idiom in KwaZulu-Natal province. Through an analysis of three closely related oral artistic forms - the izibongo (personal praises) of Shaka in his promotion and the ihubo lesizwe (`national' hymn), izithakazelo (kinship group or clan address names) of the Ndwandwe as well as the personal praises of Zwide, the last Ndwandwe ruler before the fall of the kingdom - I argue that the uBumbano is deploying these forms in subtle ways to overturn the dominance of Shaka in public discourse. Moreover, I contend, the uBumbano is turning on its head the permission to recall their ancestors under the authority of the Zulu ruling elite that Ndwandwe people who were incorporated into the Zulu kingdom have been permitted for almost two centuries. I demonstrate how the language of being an isizwe (`nation') was permitted and perpetuated a Ndwandwe identity that has held the potential to be asserted more forcefully to overturn its secondary position to an overarching Zulu identity.

MSc (Dent), Orthodontics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / This study evaluated the influence of age on the perception of facial attractiveness in three samples of South Africans. Eight digitally morphed lateral facial profiles were created by means of computer animation software and presented, in sequential order, to 1798 school learners, 694 university students and 323 school teachers. Each participant was asked to complete a questionnaire in addition to choosing a single face he/she perceived to be the most attractive. Statistical tests included frequency distributions, percentages, cross-tabulations, odds ratios and the Pearson Chi-square test. Results demonstrated that age was a factor in the perception of facial attractiveness particularly amongst individuals of school-going age. Thereafter, increasing age did not exert a significant influence on the perception of profile preference. There was a definite trend towards the preference for less protrusive facial profiles. Nevertheless, due consideration should be given to the individuality associated with aesthetic choices as a significant proportion of raters did indicate a preference for profiles exhibiting mild protrusion. Furthermore, race and cultural background do appear to play a significant role in the perception of facial profile preferences. It is suggested that future studies of a similar nature be undertaken in order to provide the data to permit comparison with the results reported in this study.

MMed, Chemical Pathology, Faculty of health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2009 / Background The 4-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (4-v MDRD) and Cockcroft-Gault (CG) equations are commonly used for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR); however, neither of these equations has been validated in an indigenous African population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the 4-v MDRD and CG equations for estimating GFR in black South Africans against measured GFR and to assess the appropriateness for the local population of the ethnicity factor established for African Americans in the 4-v MDRD equation. Methods We enrolled 100 patients in the study. The plasma clearance of chromium-51–EDTA (51Cr- EDTA) was used to measure GFR, and serum creatinine was measured using an isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) traceable assay. We estimated GFR using both the reexpressed 4-v MDRD and CG equations and compared it to measured GFR using 4 modalities: correlation coefficient, weighted Deming regression analysis, percentage bias, and proportion of estimated GFR within 30% of measured GFR (P30). Results The Spearman correlation coefficient between measured and estimated GFR for both equations was similar (4-v MDRD R2 = 0.80 and CG R2 = 0.79). Using the 4-v MDRD equation with the ethnicity factor of 1.212 as established for African Americans resulted in a median positive bias of 13.1 (95% CI 5.5 to 18.3) mL/min/1.73m2. Without the ethnicity factor median bias was 1.9 (95% CI -0.8 to 4.5) mL/min/1.73m2. Conclusion The 4-v MDRD equation, without the ethnicity factor of 1.212, can be used for estimating GFR in black South Africans.

The use of outcome measures by occupational therapists to establish the effectiveness of treatment is important. The Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JHFT) was identified as a standardised assessment suitable for the evaluation of outcomes related to the treatment of hand function. This study established norms for this test on 120 normal, ethnically diverse South Africans between the ages of 20 and 59 years. Statistically significant differences were found between the original norms published by Jebsen et al (1) and the South African sample for males and females, dominant and non-dominant hands and ethnic groupings. It is postulated that gender and cultural factors may influence the speed with which different groups complete functional tasks and these must be factored in when using the JHFT as an outcome measure in South Africa. The test appears to have limited application as a norm referenced test in South Africa, but may be valuable in determining progress in therapy or research.

Thesis (M.A.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2004. / Bibliography: leaves 345-359.

D. Lit. et Phil. / The process of change can be complex and the introduction of affirmative action in South Africa against an apartheid backdrop is undoubtedly one such change. In 1998 the Employment Equity Act was passed. The purpose of the Act was to achieve equity in the workplace by promoting equal opportunity and fair treatment in employment through the elimination of unfair discrimination and; implementing affirmative action measures to redress the disadvantages in employment experienced by designated groups, in order to ensure their equitable representation iIi all occupational categories and levels in the workforce (Government Gazette, 1998). Whilst the concept is not new and has been extensively researched in several countries, it was introduced under unique circumstances in South Africa (Luhabe, 1993). There is therefore, a need for the generation of additional theories that are relevant and applicable to South Africa's unique circumstances -theories that are grounded in, and account for this area in South Africa. As Stamp (1999) put it, a grounded theory that is generated form the ground up". The present study aimed to generate theory from the lived experiences of black affi'rmative action participants in South African organisations. The study intended to look at how affirmative action is experienced by beneficiaries without prior judgement from previous literature on the subject. It aimed not to verify past theories but to understand the situation as it is experienced. Hence, the grounded theory method of analysis was chosen by the researcher. Grounded theory is a qualitative method that generates theory by the systematic collection and analysis of data (Glaser,1992). The grounded theory method of research aims to generate new theory that is grounded in the data of a substantive area. It therefore aims to create theory from the central themes and categories that emerge form the data.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common forms of neoplasia in Western populations but is uncommon in sub-Saharan Africa. In developing countries such as South Africa, differences in lifestyles and environment exist between the various population groups. These differences and the diverse patterns of cancer that exist, provide an ideal opportunity to study the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. In South Africa, the incidence of CRC in black patients is approximately ten fold lower than that of white South African patients. The majority of black South African CRC patients presents with tumours without macroscopic polyps. Recently five genes involved in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) have been implicated in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). In this retrospective study, paraffin-embedded normal and tumour tissues from 109 black, and 110 Caucasian CRC patients were studied. To screen for the possible involvement of DNA mismatch repair genes, the presence of microsatellite instability (MSI) was investigated. In total 40 patients presented with MSI-H tumours, 27/109 (24,8%) tumours from black patients and 13/110 (11,8%) tumours from Caucasian patients. The proportion of MSI-H tumours from black patients attending Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (CHB) (12,2%; 5/41) and that of Caucasian patients is in accordance to published results on sporadic tumours. However the finding that 32,4% of black patients attending Kalafong and Pretoria Academic Hospitals, have tumours with MSI-H is much higher than is commonly reported in Western populations and is significantly higher than that of the Caucasian patients (p = 0.002; χ2-test). It has been observed that patients who present at CHB live mainly in urban Johannesburg/Soweto, in comparison to those seen at KPH who are mostly from peri-urban and rural areas. Failure of PCR amplification, owing to the absence of high quality tissue, allowed 32 of the 40 MSI-H tumours to be fully screened for mutations in hMLH1 and hMSH2 using exon-by-exon PCR single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Sixteen pathogenic mutations were found in 14 tumours, 10/22 (45%) from black patients and 4/10 (40%) from caucasian patients. Five tumours presented with two mutations each, one is a compound heterozygote and the other four tumours are double heterozygotes. Ten of the sixteen mutations identified, are novel. Five (5/32; 16%) of the pathogenic mutations are germline in origin, four (4/22; 18%) of which were detected in tumours from black patients. Thus HNPCC was diagnosed in ~0,93% (1/107) of Caucasian and 3,85% (4/104) of black patients via germline mutations. The frequency of recognised DNA repair gene mutations in black patients with HNPCC is four times higher than that in Caucasian patients with HNPCC. This is consistent with the notion that penetrance of HNPCC cancer is independent of environmental factors which is true as the frequency of HNPCC in a low incidence population (black South Africans) is much higher than that of a high incidence population (Caucasian South Africans). A missense mutation in hMSH2 (codon 127) was identified in three black patients. It is listed in the ICG-HNPCC database as a pathogenic mutation (in a Nigerian family). However, further investigation demonstrated that this is a polymorphic change exclusive to black Africans. Somatic mutations were detected in 6 (27%) tumours from black and 3 (30%) tumours from Caucasian patients. In conclusion, the observed microsatellite instability and mutations in hMLH1 and hMSH2 thus clearly implicate the involvement of DNA mismatch repair genes in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancers of black and Caucasian South African patients. This study represents the first investigation of DNA mismatch repair genes in tumours from both population groups. It is also the first report of black South Africans with HNPCC. / Dissertation (MSc (Human Genetics))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Genetics / unrestricted

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massey University, Auckland, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 287-317).

Thesis (MSc.(Anatomy)--Faculty of Health Sciences)-University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Financial literacy has been identified in previous studies as an area that has not been researched extensively in South Africa. This is particularly true for Black South Africans who have been previously disadvantaged and excluded from the mainstream economy and financial services in the apartheid regime. Lower savings and over-indebtedness amongst this group can be attributable to the lower financial literacy levels emanating from the inequalities of the past. This study aims to assess the financial literacy of Black South Africans with a commercial tertiary qualification working in Pretoria and Johannesburg based on descriptive research and structured questionnaires. The study first establishes that although people with a commercial tertiary qualification are more financially literate than those with non-commercial tertiary qualification, Black South Africans are nevertheless less financially literate than their Coloured, Indian and White contemporaries. Secondly, those who have savings have higher financial literacy than those who do not have savings. / Mini Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Financial Management / MCom / Unrestricted