Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The majority of South Africans still depend on the use of traditional remedies, as these are sometimes the only types of health care systems available, especially within rural communities. South Africa comprises approximately 400 000 traditional healers and an estimated 60 to 80% of individuals consulting such traditional healers. As a result, the over-harvesting of many traditional medicinal plants has become a threat to the country’s species diversity and has resulted in the scarcity of certain medicinal plant species. The non-sustainable use of traditional medicinal plants stems from their intense harvesting from the wild to supply the high demands from urban and rural markets. As a result of the escalating population growth rate; high rural unemployment; and fundamental value attached to traditional medicinal plants (socio-economic factors), the national and regional trade of traditional medicines is currently higher than it has ever been. Another reason for the increased threat to traditional medicinal plants is the degradation and weakening of customary laws that have previously regulated such resources. This study focuses on the use of traditional medicinal plants by the Setswana-speaking community for self-medication and as a form of primary health care. Research was conducted in Kimberley, Northern Cape of South Africa and focuses on the issue of the sustainability of medicinal plant use in the area, specifically on use and users as well as the acquisition of material sold by a single trader and harvesting techniques. This is to determine whether harvesting of medicinal plants is a potential threat to plant communities in the area. To address the shortcomings of medicinal anthropology the study also investigates the impacts of relocation and resettlement of various communities in the area, on plant use, methods of collection, the sustainability of the natural resource, as well as the transmission of Setswana indigenous knowledge inter-generationally. most abundant under high disturbances. Certain species reacted positively to disturbance and were most abundant in disturbed habitats. These included Elephantorrhiza elephantina and a Helichrysum sp. To minimise destructive harvesting in the Kimberley area and to ensure the sustainable harvesting of plant material, it is important that local harvesters are educated on proper harvesting techniques and that local gatherers are educated on sustainability issues as well as other ecologically fundamental issues. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die meeste Suid-Afrikaners is steeds afhanklik van tradisionele geneesmiddels aangesien dit soms, veral in landelike gemeenskappe, die enigste beskikbare gesondheidsorg is. Suid-Afrika het sowat 400 000 tradisionele geneeshere wat deur ’n geraamde 60% tot 80% van individue geraadpleeg word. As gevolg hiervan hou die oorontginning van talle tradisionele medisinale-planthulpbronne ’n bedreiging vir die land se spesiediversiteit in en het dit reeds tot ’n skaarste aan sekere medisinale plante gelei. Tradisionele medisinale plante word tans nievolhoubaar aangewend aangesien dit op groot skaal in die veld geoes word om in die groot vraag van stedelike en landelike markte te voorsien. As gevolg van die stygende bevolkingsgroeikoers, hoë landelike werkloosheidsyfer en die grondliggende waarde wat aan tradisionele medisinale plante geheg word (sosio-ekonomiese faktore), is die nasionale en streekhandel in tradisionele geneesmiddels tans groter as ooit tevore. Nog ’n rede vir die toenemende bedreiging van tradisionele medisinale plante is die verslapping en versagting van gewoonteregwetgewing wat voorheen sodanige hulpbronne gereguleer het. Hierdie studie fokus op die gebruik van tradisionele medisinale plante deur die Setswanagemeenskap vir selfbehandeling en as ’n vorm van primêre gesondheidsorg. Die navorsing vir die studie is in Kimberley in die Noord-Kaapprovinsie van Suid-Afrika gedoen en fokus op die kwessie van volhoubare medisinale-plantgebruik in die gebied, met bepaalde klem op gebruik en gebruikers, die verkryging van middels wat deur ’n enkele handelaar verkoop word, en oestegnieke. Die doel van die navorsing was om te bepaal of die oes van medisinale plante ’n moontlike bedreiging vir plantgemeenskappe in die gebied inhou. Om die tekortkominge van medisinale antropologie aan te pak, ondersoek die studie ook die uitwerking van die verskuiwing en hervestiging van verskeie gemeenskappe in die gebied op plantgebruik, oesmetodes, die volhoubaarheid van die natuurlike hulpbronne, asook die oordrag van inheemse Setswana-kennis oor geslagte heen. Selfbehandeling en die gebruik van tradisionele medisinale plante speel steeds ’n groot rol in Kimberley, aangesien die meeste van die individue wat aan die navorsing deelgeneem het steeds tradisionele geneesmiddels as deel van hulle kultuur en tradisie gebruik. Daar word in ’n uiteenlopende verskeidenheid plantmateriaal handel gedryf. Hoewel sommige van die middels plaaslik ingesamel word, word die meeste van ander dele van die land, en in party gevalle van buurlande soos Lesotho en Swaziland, ingevoer. Hoewel die meeste van die materiaal dus nie plaaslik ingesamel word en dus nie bepaald op hierdie studie betrekking het nie, is dit steeds aanduidend van oes- en volhoubaarheidskwessies in ander dele van die land. Die kruiekenner dryf in sewentig tradisionele medisinale-plantsoorte handel, waarvan party beskermd en erg bedreig is, waaronder Prunus africana en Warburgia salutaris wat slegs in beskermde gebiede in die land voorkom. Prunus africana is ’n gelyste spesie in CITES, aanhangsel 2. Ander bedreigde spesies sluit Ocotea bullata, Bersama lucens, Curtisia dentata en ’n Eugenia-spesie in. Die meeste van die plante wat (in Kimberley) geoes word, is in die vorm van ondergrondse bergingsorgane (uitlopers en bolle). Hoewel hierdie plante van stingelskade en die skade aan ondergrondse bergingsorgane kan herstel, vat hulle swak pos indien hulle oorgebruik en oorontgin word, en kan hulle dus mettertyd al hoe minder voorkom. In hierdie studie word die mettertydse afname in plantbevolkings deur die toename in reisafstande na insamelingspunte aangetoon. Hierdie tendens is egter nie in die handelsprys en -materiaalhoeveelhede oor die afgelope eeu weerspieël nie. Die meeste van die studiedeelnemers het bevestig dat die prys en hoeveelheid van die handelsmateriaal deurentyd betreklik stabiel gebly het. Van die teikenspesies wat vir kwesbaarheid of sensitiwiteit vir ontwrigting ondersoek is, het Withania somnifera, Boophane disticha, Dicoma anomala en Bulbine natalensis die laagste oorlewingspotensiaal en die hoogste ontwrigtingsensitiwiteit getoon. Die meeste van hierdie spesies het in baie klein hoeveelhede op die gekose terreine voorgekom. In die geval van Withania somnifera kon die negatiewe resultate egter met die laereënvalseisoen gedurende daardie betrokke jaar in verband gebring word. Hierdie spesie word oor die algemeen as ’n onkruid in ontwrigte gebiede geklassifiseer en kom meestal onder erg ontwrigte toestande voor. Sekere spesies, soos Elephantorrhiza elephantina en ’n Helichrysum-spesie, het positief op ontwrigting gereageer en het volop in ontwrigte habitatte voorgekom. Om vernietigende oestery in die Kimberley-omgewing te minimaliseer en die volhoubare ontginning van planthulpbronne te verseker, is dit belangrik dat plaaslike plukkers in gepaste oestegnieke, en plaaslike insamelaars oor volhoubaarheidskwessies en ander ekologies belangrike sake opgelei word.

This thesis states that the concepts of MODIMO [GOD] (Setiloane 1976) in Sotho Traditional Religion are different to the concepts of the Christian God. The notions of MODIMO are panentheistic (all pervading), whilst the notions of the Christian God are monotheistic. The notions of MODIMO are impersonal whilst those of the Christian God are personal. The monotheistic notions of the Christian God are Hellenized (p'Bitek 1970). The task of this thesis is to de-Hellenize the notions of MODIMO. The Sotho Traditional Religion attributes of deities emphasize their nature and the pragmatism more than their natural and moral attributes. The notions of the Christian God, on the other hand, are conceived through their moral and natural attributes. In addition, the conceptual content of the attributes of the Christian and Sotho Traditional Religion concepts of deities differ. This investigation seeks to present the Sotho concepts of MODIMO as Basotho would express them, to unearth the Sotho concepts of MODIMO and to present them with the concern and the consciousness of the syncretistic fusion (Kgatla 1992) that has inevitably happened due to contact with missionary Christianity and western culture. One feature of this contact was coercion and domination, as missionary-colonizers imposed their Hellenized concepts of the Christian God, as well as imposing the British capitalist mode of production on the African agrarian and pastoral communities in South Africa. The notion of the cultural superiority of western European culture, in which the missionaries and colonizers were immersed, blinded them. This was because of the 'world' from which they came from. Unfortunately, the Christian God they preached to Africans was a strange deity that had no consideration for African people as 'full' humans. The African concepts of MODIMO have been resilient and it is possible to unearth them. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

In transmitting the Gospel, Western missionaries passed on their portrayal of Christ as a European. Conversion to Christianity was aimed more at promoting Western cultural, moral and spiritual issues. Western culture has thus been an obstacle or hindrance to effective cross-cultural communication of the Christian message. Batswana believers are challenged to peel the Western cultural layers off Christianity, in order to reclaim Christ. Batswana Christians will have to dress Christianity in the Tswana cultural heritage if it is to be of any lasting significance to them. Christian spirituality is centred on Jesus Christ, in the worldview of all Christians. Jesus joins faith and culture together. If Christianity is truly universal, then every culture should surrender to Jesus Christ and not to any other culture. Jesus’ question “who do you say that I am?” (Mk 8: 29), challenges Batswana Christians to write their own fifth Gospel. / Christian Spirituality Church History and Missiology / Thesis (M. Th. (Christian Spirituality))

Thesis (PhD) Stellenbosch University, 2014 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates how the contextual frames of reference (CFRs) of the three extant Setswana Bibles – Moffat, Wookey and BSSA (Bible Society of South Africa) – could have impacted on their renderings of the book of Ruth. The fact that the Bibles were translated within contexts that differed from those of the Hebrew text of Ruth gives rise to the assumption that some of such contexts or frames could have had problematic influences on decision making during translation. Differing frames were assumed to have led to differences (i.e., translation shifts) between the translations and the Hebrew text. Such frames were hypothesised to have emanated from socio-cultural, textual, communication-situational and organisational circumstances pertaining to the making of the Hebrew text and the translations. Since contextual frames of various kinds presumably converged on the Setswana target texts (TTs), this study proposes an integrated multidisciplinary approach to frame analysis, namely, the cognitive CFR model. The framework, which is embedded in biblical interpretation, merges insights from other disciplines including translation studies, cognitive semantics and cultural studies. The translators‟ decisions are evaluated using the heuristic perspective of “an exegetically justifiable rendering.” The study identified indeed countless shifts in the three Setswana translations which resulted from hypothetical socio-cultural, organisational, communicational and textual factors. Moffat‟s shifts revealed a predomination of organisational CFRs throughout the book of Ruth. The organisational CFR also stood out occasionally for Wookey as well. BSSA did not show a predomination of any class of CFRs but manifested the least problematic CFRs. As far as the negative influences of CFRs were concerned, BSSA was the least affected, followed by Wookey and lastly Moffat. The study reveals that it could sometimes be simple, but other times also be difficult or impossible, depending on the pertinent CFR, to provide an exegetically justifiable rendering of an ST unit. Yet, it can be concluded from this study that an awareness of CFRs during translation or analysis of translations can contribute towards the improvement of existing translations or the reduction of problematic shifts in new Bible translation projects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek hoe die kontekstuele verwysingsraamwerke (KVRs) van die drie bestaande Setswana Bybels - Moffat, Wookey en BSA ( Bybelgenootskap van Suid-Afrika) – hulle weergawes van die boek Rut kon beïnvloed het. Die feit dat die Bybels vertaal is binne kontekste wat verskil van dié van die Hebreeuse teks van Rut, dra by tot die aanname dat van die kontekste of raamwerke moontlik ‟n problematiserende invloed op besluitneming tydens die vertalingsprosesse kon hê. Daar is aangeneem dat verskillende raamwerke lei tot verskille (byvoorbeeld: vertaalskuiwe) tussen die vertalings en die Hebreeuse teks. Daar is veronderstel dat sulke raamwerke spruit uit sosio-kulturele, tekstueel-kommunikatiewe en organisatoriese omstandighede van die vertaalproses asook die van die Hebreeuse teks. Aangesien verskillende soorte kontekstuele raamwerke vermoedelik ingespeel het op die Setswana teikentekste (TTs), fokus hierdie studie op 'n geïntegreerde multi-dissiplinêre benadering tot die raamwerk-analise, naamlik die kognitiewe KVR model. Die raamwerk, wat ingebed is in die veld van Bybelse interpretasie, kombineer insigte uit ander dissiplines, insluitend: vertaalkunde, kognitiewe semantiek en kulturele studies. Die vertaler se besluite word geëvalueer met behulp van die heuristiese perspektief van "'n eksegeties begrondbare vertaling." Die studie het inderdaad talle vertaalskuiwe in die drie Setswana vertalings geïdentifiseer wat teruggevoer kon word na hipotetiese sosio-kulturele, organisatoriese-, kommunikatiewe- en tekstuele faktore. Moffat se vertaalskuiwe vertoon ‟n dominansie van organisatoriese KVRs regdeur die boek Rut. Die invloed van organisatoriese KVR‟s is dikwels ook in Wookey geïdentifiseer. BSA vertoon egter nie „n oorheersing van enige klas van KVRs nie. Tewens, dit vertoon die minste problematiese KVRs. Sover die negatiewe invloede van KVRs betref, is BSA die minste geraak, gevolg deur Wookey en laastens Moffat. Die studie toon dat dit soms eenvoudig, maar ander kere ook moeilik of onmoontlik is, afhangend van die pertinente KVR, om 'n eksegeties-regverdigbare vertaling van 'n GT eenheid te bied. Tog, kan dit afgelei word uit hierdie studie dat 'n bewustheid van KVRs tydens vertaling of ontleding van vertalings kan bydra tot die verbetering van reeds bestaande vertalings of die vermindering van problematiese vertaalskuiwe in nuwe Bybelvertalingsprojekte.

Thesis (Ph.D. (English studies)) --University of Limpopo, 2012 / This thesis aims to explore Sol T. Plaatje's use of Setswana and in that way explain primarily the nature and extent of his linguistic contributions to the rise, growth and development of the language as a modern communication means in South Africa. To obtain greater understanding of Plaatje's contribution, his Setswana translation of two Shakespeare plays, his paremiology, patronyms and onomastic examples are investigated through tools adapted from the rhetoric field, literary criticism, discourse analysis, pragmatics, sociolinguistics and language planning. Furthermore, by employing traditional grammar methodologies combined with conceptual frameworks derived from Transformational Generative principles, Plaatje’s work is descriptively exposed. The analysis of certain Plaatjean products seeks to bare the intralinguistic features of the Setswana variety or the Serolong forms he employs in the translations, the Diane proverbs, some folktales of A Sechuana Reader and related prose passages. Instances of the Serolong lect or his idiolect are treated as data bearing textual evidence of his efforts to preserve, elaborate and develop the broader Setswana sociolect that he perceives as in decline under English linguistic imperialism. The role he played in his native language's evolution is traced by trawling through documents and publications that presumably convey Plaatje's development policy and plan for Setswana. The main findings of the textual and/or contrastive analyses on selected portions of his Diane proverb collection and Setswana translations of Shakespeare, i.e. Comedy of Errors and Julius Caesar (renamed Diphosophoso and Dintshontsho tsa bo-Juliuse Kesara), are that his manipulation of Setswana morpho-phonological, lexico-semantic features and syntactic forms is characterized by innovative expression. Plaatje’s use of creative translation strategies including well-formed discourse patterns further reveal of several linguistic changes and advances in early 20th century Setswana. (vii). His usage of the Serolong variety in domains as different as journalism, ethnic history, story-telling, court interpreting, lexicography, onomastics and patronymy, provides evidence of a pioneering exercise of his native tongue’s expressive musculature. As such, the works resonate with his re-vitalization inputs for the sociolect to cope with the communication demands and challenges of a rapidly changing society. Research analysis of the linguistic discourse patterns in his writings thus uncovers the significant contributions he made to Setswana’s evolution, across several literary genres. While recognizing the study’s limitations owing to a focus on Plaatje’s linguistic productions only, the scope helped open up avenues for further and deeper investigation. Firstly, the enquiry appears to confirm the view that he was a language developer with literary and linguistic skills deserving greater recognition and high valorization. Secondly, Plaatje’s endeavours to grow and advance Setswana should serve as a model for contemporary language development policies and plans which African sociolinguists could adopt, adapt and/or emulate. The thesis makes a definite contribution to scholarly debates and discussions centering on the direction of African language planning and development. As such, research of Plaatje’s contributions are recommended for research to break new ground in areas like, orthography modernization, ethnolinguistic lexicology, editing and the writing of thesauruses or dictionaries for marginalized South African languages like Setswana. This is crucial especially because African intellectuals and leaders like Plaatje apparently address the problems facing their native languages from a developmental and socio-political angle. The holistic approach evidenced in Plaatje’s writing of Native Life, Mhudi and, as exhibited in analyses of Diane, Diphoso and Dintsho passages, suggests that modern socio-political solutions are required for linguistic problems. With such goals in mind, future language planners might succeed in rescuing African languages from the same incipient decline Plaatje warned about.

This dissertation brings to the fore the “Characterization of the SULT1A1 polymorphism in a South Africa Tswana population group.” The primary experimental group studied came from South African homogeneous Tswana individuals who participated voluntarily in an ongoing large-scale epidemiological Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus) participates in, as one of the 16 low- middleand high-income countries across the world. The primary aspect investigated was the comprehensive profile of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and copy number variation (CNP) of the SULT1A1 gene. Using the PCRbased RFLP method, SULT1A1 genotypes, and allele frequency distributions in an experimental group of 1 867 individuals were determined. According to the literature this is by far the largest and most homogeneous group from which such information has been acquired to date. The SULT1A1*1, SULT1A1*1/*2 and SULT1A1*2 genotypes were found to be present at a percentage of 43.76, 47.12 and 9.11 respectively. In comparison to similar studies in other population groups, results from this study indicate that there are ethnic differences in the SULT1A1 genotypes incidence. Asian group differs from Caucasian and Tswana groups because of its exceptionally high prevalence of individuals with the SULT1A1*1 genotype and a very low incidence of the SULT1A1*2 genotype. The SULT1A1*1 genotype profiles of Caucasian and Tswana groups were comparable, but notable differences were observed for the SULT1A1*2 genotype. Using a quantitative multiplex PCR method for the CNV study, the numbers of copies of the SULT1A1 gene in the Tswana population were determined, and the results showed 1 to ~5 copies: only 0.65% of the subjects had a single copy, whereas 59.69% of the subjects had 3 or more copies. This result shows a significant discrepancy between the Caucasian-American samples, which showed that only 26% from that group had more than three copies. However, there is a significant relationship with the African-American population, which presented 63% with 3 or more copies. This finding confirms results from a much smaller African-American study, and suggests a possible genetic link between the African Tswana and the heritage of the African-Americans. These findings were submitted for publication to the South African Journal of Science, as that journal specializes in publication of new knowledge that has a regional focus on Africa. Simultaneous phenotypic consequences of the SNP and CNP of the SULT1A1 gene, as well as the thermo-stable and thermo-labile forms of the sulfotransferases were determined. For this, the formation of [35S]-4-nitrophenyl sulphate from 4-nitrophenol and [35S]-3’-phosphoadenosine- 5’-phosphosulfate ([35S]-PAPS) in platelet homogenates were measured, with the data normalized to a common platelet count. This investigation required fresh blood for enzyme activity. These samples came from 98 Caucasian subjects who voluntarily participated in this part of the study. The experimental data presented a unique challenge to develop a statistical model to accommodate the complexity of the distribution of the data in the phenotype and genotype components, which could be achieved by the development of a mixed model. The model indicated that product formation increased through increasing copy number, but did not differ for SULT1A1*1 and SULT1A1*1/*2. However, the rate of increase in product for the thermo-stable forms of the SULTs was greater than that of thermo-labile forms. In contrast, copy number effect for SULT1A1*2 differed considerably from that of the other two genotypes. Since genotype is also a significant factor, it was concluded from Tukey post-hoc tests that the population group means for product formation differ significantly (for all levels). These results are presently being prepared for publication in an accredited international journal. Finally, perturbations in 23 biochemical parameters measured in the PURE study were analyzed as a function of the SULT1A1 SNP and CNP were evaluated. No group separation in this regard could be found. It could be shown however, that sulfonation of the iodothyronines, which are endogenous substrates for the SULTs, was influenced by the SULT1A1 genotype. The relative concentrations in plasma of the sulphonated iodothyronines may be expressed as T2S > T3S >> T4S, which coincides with the substrate preference of the SULT1A1 enzymes. This observation may, however, only be qualitatively interpreted as (1) the targeted metabolomics mass spectrometric method used for the quantitative analysis of these substances needs further development, and (2) the influence of deiodonation was not taken into account in these studies. In conclusion, three perspectives are given at the end of the thesis which might be considered for further investigations. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Biochemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

This dissertation brings to the fore the “Characterization of the SULT1A1 polymorphism in a South Africa Tswana population group.” The primary experimental group studied came from South African homogeneous Tswana individuals who participated voluntarily in an ongoing large-scale epidemiological Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus) participates in, as one of the 16 low- middleand high-income countries across the world. The primary aspect investigated was the comprehensive profile of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and copy number variation (CNP) of the SULT1A1 gene. Using the PCRbased RFLP method, SULT1A1 genotypes, and allele frequency distributions in an experimental group of 1 867 individuals were determined. According to the literature this is by far the largest and most homogeneous group from which such information has been acquired to date. The SULT1A1*1, SULT1A1*1/*2 and SULT1A1*2 genotypes were found to be present at a percentage of 43.76, 47.12 and 9.11 respectively. In comparison to similar studies in other population groups, results from this study indicate that there are ethnic differences in the SULT1A1 genotypes incidence. Asian group differs from Caucasian and Tswana groups because of its exceptionally high prevalence of individuals with the SULT1A1*1 genotype and a very low incidence of the SULT1A1*2 genotype. The SULT1A1*1 genotype profiles of Caucasian and Tswana groups were comparable, but notable differences were observed for the SULT1A1*2 genotype. Using a quantitative multiplex PCR method for the CNV study, the numbers of copies of the SULT1A1 gene in the Tswana population were determined, and the results showed 1 to ~5 copies: only 0.65% of the subjects had a single copy, whereas 59.69% of the subjects had 3 or more copies. This result shows a significant discrepancy between the Caucasian-American samples, which showed that only 26% from that group had more than three copies. However, there is a significant relationship with the African-American population, which presented 63% with 3 or more copies. This finding confirms results from a much smaller African-American study, and suggests a possible genetic link between the African Tswana and the heritage of the African-Americans. These findings were submitted for publication to the South African Journal of Science, as that journal specializes in publication of new knowledge that has a regional focus on Africa. Simultaneous phenotypic consequences of the SNP and CNP of the SULT1A1 gene, as well as the thermo-stable and thermo-labile forms of the sulfotransferases were determined. For this, the formation of [35S]-4-nitrophenyl sulphate from 4-nitrophenol and [35S]-3’-phosphoadenosine- 5’-phosphosulfate ([35S]-PAPS) in platelet homogenates were measured, with the data normalized to a common platelet count. This investigation required fresh blood for enzyme activity. These samples came from 98 Caucasian subjects who voluntarily participated in this part of the study. The experimental data presented a unique challenge to develop a statistical model to accommodate the complexity of the distribution of the data in the phenotype and genotype components, which could be achieved by the development of a mixed model. The model indicated that product formation increased through increasing copy number, but did not differ for SULT1A1*1 and SULT1A1*1/*2. However, the rate of increase in product for the thermo-stable forms of the SULTs was greater than that of thermo-labile forms. In contrast, copy number effect for SULT1A1*2 differed considerably from that of the other two genotypes. Since genotype is also a significant factor, it was concluded from Tukey post-hoc tests that the population group means for product formation differ significantly (for all levels). These results are presently being prepared for publication in an accredited international journal. Finally, perturbations in 23 biochemical parameters measured in the PURE study were analyzed as a function of the SULT1A1 SNP and CNP were evaluated. No group separation in this regard could be found. It could be shown however, that sulfonation of the iodothyronines, which are endogenous substrates for the SULTs, was influenced by the SULT1A1 genotype. The relative concentrations in plasma of the sulphonated iodothyronines may be expressed as T2S > T3S >> T4S, which coincides with the substrate preference of the SULT1A1 enzymes. This observation may, however, only be qualitatively interpreted as (1) the targeted metabolomics mass spectrometric method used for the quantitative analysis of these substances needs further development, and (2) the influence of deiodonation was not taken into account in these studies. In conclusion, three perspectives are given at the end of the thesis which might be considered for further investigations. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Biochemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Bibliography: pages 284-297. / The Hurutshe are a Tswana-speaking chiefdom who lived in the vicinity of the Marico (Madikwe) river on the South African Highveld and emerged as an identifiable community with a distinct political structure about 350 years ago. They enjoyed periods of political and economic dominance in the mid-to late seventeenth century and again in the late eighteenth century. Following the economic and political disruptions attendant upon European commercial activities and the growth of more centralised and powerful African states in South Africa, they were propelled from their homeland in 1822-23. They returned only in 1848 to face the difficulties of Trekker overlordship. After a decade of political and economic pressures the general patterns of precolonial life were restored in their new reserve. A re-integrated Hurutshe social order provided the basis for agricultural innovation and expansion. The encroaching colonial order and the merchant and industrial economy inexorably drew them in to closer relations with these systems, and into direct involvement in the contest between Boer and Britain for control of the South African hinterland. Consequently the nature of reserve life changed as men, women and chiefs extended or took up new occupations and activities which cut across or restructured previous social, political and economic relationships. After the South African War new challenges and opportunities presented themselves as a consequence of the qualitatively different nature of British colonial rule and the increased economic scope afforded to rural African producers. Thus a combination of factors - a favourable environment, a cohesive society and the lack of competitive white agriculture - provided the basis for economic stability and even accumulation among certain categories of Hurutshe producers until well into the twentieth century. Hurutshe society was not untouched however, for subsequent events near the middle of the century were to reveal the depth of social distinctions and antagonisms that undoubtedly had their roots in the earlier years of their history.

This dissertation deals with an ethical analysis of marriage relationships among Tswana speaking Catholics in the light of the understandings of marriage of both the African and Christian traditions. These traditions have certain practices and perspectives that, if they are put together, can enrich marriage in all its aspects. The first two chapters analyse the practices and perspectives of marriage within the African and Christian traditions, while the third compares and contrasts them. The aspects dealt with are a) compatible values from African and Christian marriage and b) incompatible values from African and Christian marriages. In chapter four, the role of the Church in restoring the purpose and the meaning of marriage and what it can do to improve Catholic marriage relationships among Tswana speaking people are discussed and some practical suggestions are proposed. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Theological Ethics)

This dissertation deals with an ethical analysis of marriage relationships among Tswana speaking Catholics in the light of the understandings of marriage of both the African and Christian traditions. These traditions have certain practices and perspectives that, if they are put together, can enrich marriage in all its aspects. The first two chapters analyse the practices and perspectives of marriage within the African and Christian traditions, while the third compares and contrasts them. The aspects dealt with are a) compatible values from African and Christian marriage and b) incompatible values from African and Christian marriages. In chapter four, the role of the Church in restoring the purpose and the meaning of marriage and what it can do to improve Catholic marriage relationships among Tswana speaking people are discussed and some practical suggestions are proposed. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Theological Ethics)