This research report focuses on the origin and development of the Medingen Mission Station, near Ga-Kgapane in the Limpopo Province, and the provision of education at this station since its establishment in 1881. After an account of missionary endeavours in South Africa during the second half of the nineteenth century (with the emphasis on the activities of the Berlin Missionary Society), an explanation is provided of how missionaries became involved in the weal and woes of the Balobedu tribe. This is followed by an indication of how Reverend Fritz Reuter took the initiative to provide basic education to the inhabitants of Ga-Kgapane and how education provision developed at Medingen since then. Reasons are advanced for the prominence Medingen Primary School currently enjoys and the study concludes with the assertion that Medingen Mission Station can be regarded as an important, though not exclusive source of the Balobedu’s present-day identity. / Educational Foundations / M.Ed. (History of Education)

Text in Afrikaans / Die verhandeling behels 'n holistiese benadering tot die geskiedenis van die Israelitiese stamme/clans gedurende die 'tyd van die Rigters' (soos in die Ou Testament gereflekteer). Na my mening het 'n holistiese benadering die potensiaal om 'n meer komprehensiewe beeld van die 'Rigtertyd' te verkry. 'n Vierledige ondersoek na die situasie van die Israelitiese stamme/clans word daarom aan die hand van die politieke konteks, die sosio-kulturele en ekonomiese situasie, die godsdienstig-ideologiese aspek en die literere dimensie gedoen. In die laaste hoofstuk is daar gepoog om die verskillende dimensies op mekaar te betrek. Opsommend kan gese word dat byna alle aktiwiteite gedurende hierdie periode ongestruktureerd en sonder orde was, dit wil se daar was anargie in die Beloofde Land. · Elkeen het gedoen wat reg was in sy eie oe' (Rgt 21 :25). / This dissertation deals with a holistic approach towards the history of the Israelite tribes/clans throughout the 'period of the Judges' (as referred to in the Old Testament). In my opinion, a holistic approach has the potential to offer a more comprehensive analysis of the 'period of the Judges'. A fourfold investigation into the situation of the Israelite tribes/clans is carried out involving the political context, the socio-cultural and economic situation, the religious-ideological aspect and the literary dimension. In the last chapter an attempt is made to integrate the different dimensions. To conclude, it can be said that nearly all phenomena in the tribal period was characterized by a lack of structure or order, in other words, there was anarchy in the Promised Land. 'Everyone did what was right in his own eyes' (Jdg 21 :25). / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M.A. (Bybelkunde)