Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of Ph. D (Public Managment), Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / Using historic and ethnographic data collected from KwaZulu-Natal, this study examines food consumption from the Zulu Cosmology epistemic point of view. The study highlights as a prosocial behaviour that reduces the importance of self in favour of pro social norms of sharing and selflessness. In other words, personhood is understood as a process and the product of interconnectedness experienced in social spaces. Pro-social behaviour is therefore seen as a determinant of harmonious and social cohesive communities. The study concluded that social cohesive communities develop a set of cultural protocols and boundaries that reward prosocial norms and punish antisocial behaviour. Social cohesion as a concept was also found to be inseparable from the notion of shared values, identities and norms. The study delved deeper and found that the land, the livestock and the cultural rituals to honour the living and the dead defined a unique interconnectedness of the Zulu person to his culture. Eating and eaten products were part of a uniting culture that linked a Zulu man, woman, girls, old men and women to other people, their animals and their land. Zulu people lived for, and with, other people in peace. No man or family would go hungry. Immediately that becomes known, another man would give the destitute man a few cattle to start his own flock and feed his family. This and other eating rituals contributed to a strong, peaceful and social cohesive nation of King Shaka ka Senzangakhona. On the basis of the understanding of the cultural rituals, their link with the land and animal the study concluded that land restitution and agrarian policies can be enhanced by taking into consideration their need for land to cultivate vegetables and fruits that have cultural meaning, policies that enable to have livestock as well as space to practise their culture. The study is envisaged to inspire social welfare and community development policies that instil the prosocial values of Ubuntu and interconnectedness. / D

Text in Afrikaans / Vanuit sekere kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes, word literatuurstudie van Kwa Sizabantoe Sending gedoen (KSB). Die rede is om 'n gefundeerde antwoord te vind vir die verskille in opinies oor KSB. In Hoofstuk 1 word die probleem geskets en na die verslag van die Evangeiiese Atiiansie gekyk. Dan volg iniigting oor die navorser sowel as die werkswyses wat gevolg word. Hoofstuk 3 gee 'n samevatting van die geskiedenis van KSB en die Stegen-famiiie. Hoofstuk 4 behandel die unieke literatuurbronne waaroor die navorser beskik. Die Evangeiiese Alliansie beweer dat daar 'n misbruik van bonatuurlike geestelike ervarings op KSB is, Die gevolg is elitistiese en paternalistiese optredes. Dit gee aanleiding tot interne spanninge en probleme. Hierdie bewering word in bespreek in Hoofstukke 5 - 7 . Hoofstuk 8 gee opsomming en bespreking van die bevindinge. In Hoofstuk 9 word gepoog om 'n basisteorie te formuleer en om 'n oplossing voor te stel. / Using certain qualitative methods, a literature study is done on Kwa Siza Bantu Mission (KSB). The reason is to come to a conclusive answer to the difference in opinions with regards to KSB. Chapter 1 gives an overview of the problem as well as the result of the inquiry of the Evangelical Alliance into KSB. Information on the researcher as well as his research methods follow. Chapter 3 is a summery of the history of KSB and the Stegen family. In Chapter 4 a review is made of the unique literature. From Chapter 5 - 7 a statement of the Evangelical Alliance is discussed. The statement implies that the misuse of supernatural experiences, iead to paternalistic or elitistic methods resulting in tensions and divisions. Chapter 8 discusses the findings and Chapter 9 tries to formulate a base-theory and suggests some solutions to the problems of KSB, / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

The world has become more and more religiously plural. It is therefore essential to acknowledge the meaningful aspects in the essence of all religions, including African Religion. The dissertation seeks to highlight the concept, ”continuity of life” in African Religion. Special emphasis is placed on the Zulus due to the vastness of the African continent. Three areas are investigated to show that there is the belief in life after death in African Religion, as it is the case with all great world religions, such as Judaism, Islam and Christianity. These are the sacredness of life, marriage with the gift of children as a blessing from the ancestors, as well as rites and ceremonies associated with death which show that the dead are still alive in a mysterious form. The conclusion is therefore that African Religion has a world status and should be included amongst the great world religions. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M. Th. (Biblical Studies)

The commandment to honour one's father and mother is not limited to honouring parents while they are living. In Zulu culture, for both the traditionalist and Christian Zulu, honouring parents, whether alive or dead, is to relate to them with great respect. Unfortunately, this respect for the ancestors has been misunderstood by many and labeled as "worship" or, more recently, as "veneration". Affixing a religious connotation ("worship", etc.) to the relationship led to the expectation that Zulu Christians would reject their ancestors and all the rites and practices associated with them. In spite of injunctions from the Church, a marked shift is occurring among Zulu Christians as many reincorporate their ancestors into their family process. This dissertation, an exploratory study, addresses this process of reincorporation by offering a new, non-religious interpretation of the relationship. Historically, the Zulu have sought and welcomed the presence of the ancestors during stressful family transitions such as marriage, birth, puberty and death. If the Church focused on the increased anxiety and destabilization associated with these family transitions, new insights could be gained into the functional importance of the ancestors (as anxiety binders) in the family process. The application of Bowen theory, a new paradigm for practical theology, to the research data provides new perspectives and understanding into the functional importance of the ancestors for Zulu families. Central to Bowen theory is the concept of the family as an emotional unit that includes all generations, including the ancestors. This concept correlates closely with the Zulu understanding of kinship. The concepts of multigenerational transmission process and triangulation in Bowen theory offer effective theoretical bases for interpreting the ongoing relationship Zulu families have with their ancestors. This dissertation critiques certain Church practices and offers a practical theological response that can inform and enrich the Church's pastoral care. By developing a practical theology of relationships'one informed by Bowen theory, Scripture and the traditions of the Church'the Church can assist Zulu Christians pastorally as they reincorporate their ancestors into their family process. / Practical Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

Life is the common denominator for all beings. Unless individuals are taught to be careful about how they deal with it, great harm could be caused to the whole ontological order. Life therefore is a public property for which precepts had to be established to guard against any misuse. This guarantees that life and its processes are used to everyone's advantage. The Community has put itself in position as the monitor of the processes of life. To it belongs the right to distribute, regulate and even withdraw life as different situations would warrant. The community is both the promulgator and the judge over vital matters. The individuals are taught to be conscientious in dealing with life. In making choices the individuals have to be conscious of the historical experiences of the community and be disposed to being influenced by it. Hence the Community becomes the Conscience and Guide. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M.Th. (Religious Studies)

Text in Afrikaans / Vanuit sekere kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes, word literatuurstudie van Kwa Sizabantoe Sending gedoen (KSB). Die rede is om 'n gefundeerde antwoord te vind vir die verskille in opinies oor KSB. In Hoofstuk 1 word die probleem geskets en na die verslag van die Evangeiiese Atiiansie gekyk. Dan volg iniigting oor die navorser sowel as die werkswyses wat gevolg word. Hoofstuk 3 gee 'n samevatting van die geskiedenis van KSB en die Stegen-famiiie. Hoofstuk 4 behandel die unieke literatuurbronne waaroor die navorser beskik. Die Evangeiiese Alliansie beweer dat daar 'n misbruik van bonatuurlike geestelike ervarings op KSB is, Die gevolg is elitistiese en paternalistiese optredes. Dit gee aanleiding tot interne spanninge en probleme. Hierdie bewering word in bespreek in Hoofstukke 5 - 7 . Hoofstuk 8 gee opsomming en bespreking van die bevindinge. In Hoofstuk 9 word gepoog om 'n basisteorie te formuleer en om 'n oplossing voor te stel. / Using certain qualitative methods, a literature study is done on Kwa Siza Bantu Mission (KSB). The reason is to come to a conclusive answer to the difference in opinions with regards to KSB. Chapter 1 gives an overview of the problem as well as the result of the inquiry of the Evangelical Alliance into KSB. Information on the researcher as well as his research methods follow. Chapter 3 is a summery of the history of KSB and the Stegen family. In Chapter 4 a review is made of the unique literature. From Chapter 5 - 7 a statement of the Evangelical Alliance is discussed. The statement implies that the misuse of supernatural experiences, iead to paternalistic or elitistic methods resulting in tensions and divisions. Chapter 8 discusses the findings and Chapter 9 tries to formulate a base-theory and suggests some solutions to the problems of KSB, / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

The world has become more and more religiously plural. It is therefore essential to acknowledge the meaningful aspects in the essence of all religions, including African Religion. The dissertation seeks to highlight the concept, ”continuity of life” in African Religion. Special emphasis is placed on the Zulus due to the vastness of the African continent. Three areas are investigated to show that there is the belief in life after death in African Religion, as it is the case with all great world religions, such as Judaism, Islam and Christianity. These are the sacredness of life, marriage with the gift of children as a blessing from the ancestors, as well as rites and ceremonies associated with death which show that the dead are still alive in a mysterious form. The conclusion is therefore that African Religion has a world status and should be included amongst the great world religions. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M. Th. (Biblical Studies)

The commandment to honour one's father and mother is not limited to honouring parents while they are living. In Zulu culture, for both the traditionalist and Christian Zulu, honouring parents, whether alive or dead, is to relate to them with great respect. Unfortunately, this respect for the ancestors has been misunderstood by many and labeled as "worship" or, more recently, as "veneration". Affixing a religious connotation ("worship", etc.) to the relationship led to the expectation that Zulu Christians would reject their ancestors and all the rites and practices associated with them. In spite of injunctions from the Church, a marked shift is occurring among Zulu Christians as many reincorporate their ancestors into their family process. This dissertation, an exploratory study, addresses this process of reincorporation by offering a new, non-religious interpretation of the relationship. Historically, the Zulu have sought and welcomed the presence of the ancestors during stressful family transitions such as marriage, birth, puberty and death. If the Church focused on the increased anxiety and destabilization associated with these family transitions, new insights could be gained into the functional importance of the ancestors (as anxiety binders) in the family process. The application of Bowen theory, a new paradigm for practical theology, to the research data provides new perspectives and understanding into the functional importance of the ancestors for Zulu families. Central to Bowen theory is the concept of the family as an emotional unit that includes all generations, including the ancestors. This concept correlates closely with the Zulu understanding of kinship. The concepts of multigenerational transmission process and triangulation in Bowen theory offer effective theoretical bases for interpreting the ongoing relationship Zulu families have with their ancestors. This dissertation critiques certain Church practices and offers a practical theological response that can inform and enrich the Church's pastoral care. By developing a practical theology of relationships'one informed by Bowen theory, Scripture and the traditions of the Church'the Church can assist Zulu Christians pastorally as they reincorporate their ancestors into their family process. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Practical Theology)

Life is the common denominator for all beings. Unless individuals are taught to be careful about how they deal with it, great harm could be caused to the whole ontological order. Life therefore is a public property for which precepts had to be established to guard against any misuse. This guarantees that life and its processes are used to everyone's advantage. The Community has put itself in position as the monitor of the processes of life. To it belongs the right to distribute, regulate and even withdraw life as different situations would warrant. The community is both the promulgator and the judge over vital matters. The individuals are taught to be conscientious in dealing with life. In making choices the individuals have to be conscious of the historical experiences of the community and be disposed to being influenced by it. Hence the Community becomes the Conscience and Guide. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M.Th. (Religious Studies)