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Transition from the Opium of Religion to Religion as Opioids: Abuse of Religious Teachings in the New Prophetic Churches in South Africa
Get PDFThe New Prophetic Churches is a religion in the mix, demonstrated by their points of contact with classical Pentecostalism, the prosperity gospel, African independent churches, and African traditional religion. New Prophetic Churches have points of contact with classical Pentecostalism with reference to the doctrine of baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. They are also influenced by the African traditional religions with reference to their connection with the spirit world. In addition, they have points of contact with the African independent churches concerning the use of healing and deliver-ance products. Furthermore, they have points of contact with the prosperity gospel in teaching the message of material blessing. The original form of these influences is presented in this article as opium religion, whereas the corrupted form of these influences is presented as opioid forms of religion. The latter refers to a somewhat dangerous mix of religious teachings, advo-cated by self-appointed spiritual leaders within the New Prophetic Churches. These spiritual leaders have concocted this mixture contrary to the original purpose of such teachings with the intention to satisfy their commercial de-sires to the detriment of the spiritual wellbeing of their followers and the sa-credness of religious teachings, particularly Christian teachings. Relying on a literary analysis, this article challenges the religious teachings of opioid reli-gions that undermine the original good intentions with which these teachings are mixed. It suggests that any religious teaching in the Christian tradition should be consistent with the eternal purpose of God’s mission, identity in Christ, and the fundamental tenets of the Christian tradition
Considering the Utilisation of Green Spaces in Potchefstroom, South Africa: A Tale of Three Parks
Get PDFPublic green spaces, commonly known as parks, play an important socio-psychological, physical, and ecological role within cities. They are believed to support active lifestyles, promote citizenship, reduce air pollution, and offer recreational opportunities and psychological restoration. As a result, parks are designed to serve multiple functions. However, previous studies have found that the quality of parks fluctuates depending on the wealth of residents. This variation in quality (supply of park area or facilities) is expected to affect the utilisation (potential demand) of parks, which in turn reduces the benefits derived from these spaces. This paper sought to investigate if the quality of green spaces affects the utilisation of parks in Potchefstroom, South Africa. It observed three parksin three suburbs in the city to compare the quality provided. Furthermore, qualitative data was collected at each park through 30 semi-structured interviews to determine if the utilisation of the parks was affected by their quality. The analysis indicated that there are marked discrepancies in the quality of parks based on the wealth of the residential areas. However, this did not affect the utilisation of the parks. On the contrary, the study found that poor quality parks in lower-income areas were used more frequently, although not in the traditional sense. The study’s findings shed light on the green infrastructure inequality in South African cities and display the alternative usages of open spaces. The study calls for a review on how green spaces are planned in South Africa and how municipal finances could be used more efficiently and effectively to plan these spaces
A Thematic Analysis of N.G. Sibiya’s Selected Essays in Amalangabi
Get PDFThe aim of this paper is to critically examine themes that are found in N.G. Sibiya’s selected essays in Amalangabi (1993). It was discovered that Sibiya highlights some thought-provoking issues in his essays, but to the best of the researcher’s knowledge, nothing or less has been done so far about Sibiya’s work on the essay genre. It is this scholarly gap that this study is attempting to fill. The study is done through the post-colonial approach since the selected themes touch on social aspects. The themes ‘Discrimination against people with stutters’, ‘Stereotypes against people with stutters’, and ‘Patience produces good results’ are examined from the essays ‘Amalimi’ and ‘Ukulinda’
Assessment of Stakeholder Involvement and Borehole Water Projects Delivery in Kogi West Senatorial District, Nigeria
Get PDFThere is huge challenges in the supply of clean water for household consumption in many countries, in particular, Nigeria. Kogi West Senatorial District (KWSD) has witnessed more borehole projects in Nigeria but the challenge of clean water still persists. This has necessitated more research into the field of water resources to combat such challenges in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study assessed the effects of stakeholders’ involvement in KWSD, Nigeria, with a view to improving the delivery of borehole water projects in the study area. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 267 stakeholders comprising Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA) staff, community leaders and community members that were selected using simple random sampling technique. The study objective was assessed with inferential statistics (Partial Least Square in Structural Equation Modelling). The results disclose the direct path coefficients for Initiation stage (bIS), Planning stage (bPS), Execution stage (“bES”), Monitoring and closure stage (bMS), Post construction stage (bPCS), Budget (cBG), Time Delivery (cTD) and Stakeholder’s Satisfaction (cSS). The results illustrated positives and significant relationship with bES -> cBG (β = 0.422, t = 5.708), bES -> cSS (β = 0.495, t = 6.366), bES -> cTD (β = 0.493, t = 7.422), bMS -> cBG (β = 0.164, t = 2.643), bPCS -> cTD (β = 0.257, t = 5.7084.440), and negative significant relationship with bMS -> cTD (β = -0.184, t = 2.547) and bPS -> cSS (β = - 0.182, t = 2.586). The study concludes that stakeholders’ involvement is a strong predictor of viable Borehole water projects delivery in the study area
A preliminary report of the excavation at Spitzkloof D rockshelter, Namaqualand, South Africa
Get PDFThis paper describes the first excavations of Spitzkloof D rockshelter located in the semi-arid desert of northern Namaqualand, South Africa. The site is in a dry river valley 30 km south of the Orange River, which currently acts as a lifeline for pastoralists with mixed sheep and goat herds. A surface survey of the site revealed pottery, lithics, domesticate remains, ostrich eggshell (OES) fragments and jewellery, glass beads and iron fragments. The stratigraphy is complex reflecting multiple occupations with six layers consisting of large hearths, ash deposits, and multiple pits, some with potential votive (faunal) offerings in their base. Faunal analysis reveals a broad subsistence strategy consisting of low-intensity sheep-keeping combined with the hunting of wild species found on the landscape today. The presence of Equus zebra, a locally extinct water obligate species, suggests occupation during a climatic period that was more humid than today. Radiocarbon dates from the upper layers confirm a Little Ice Age occupation between AD 1667-1936, when the region was cooler and wetter, and a peak in radiocarbon dates indicates a population pulse in the region. Glass trade beads, iron implements, OES beads, as well as fish remains and a limpet shell, potentially indicate that the people occupying Spitzkloof D were part of an extensive trade/interaction network. Future analysis will include increasing sample sizes through continued excavation, detailed lithic analysis, and further radiocarbon dating
Problematizing the Diversity Debit Hypothesis
Get PDFOne of the most studied hypotheses in political economy and development literature posits that social heterogeneity is negatively associated with favorable societal and political outcomes. This study problematizes the diversity debit hypothesis. It overviews its theoretical underpinning and uncovers its roots to be in rational choice theory and the homo economicus framework of human behavior. As such, scholarly accounts of diversity debit have attributed it to the agency (or lack thereof) of minority groups and their impaired ability to engage in collective mobilization to pressure elites for concessions. Through case studies of three most-different countries: the US, Turkey, and Vietnam, this study discovers that even when mass mobilization has been waged by minority groups either along ethnic or cross-ethnic boundaries, it has not led to favorable outcomes. Diversity debit has subsisted and will likely continue to exist not as a result of individual failure, but due to the interaction of structural (neoliberal capitalistic) forces with the agency of either government-led actions (antagonization and discrimination of minority groups) and corporate profiteering
Deprivation of Land Tenure to Daughters of Mother Earth: The Case of Eswatini
Get PDFThe judicial system in Eswatini operates on the basis of Roman-Dutch common law and Swazi customary law and administers land occupancy through the dual landholding system of freehold title and Swazi nation land. Tenure over Swazi nation land is governed by Swazi customary law and not defined by legislation. Instead, land is controlled and held in trust by the King and is allocated by chiefs according to traditional non-codified provisions. Whilst Section 211 of the Swazi Constitution (2005) provides that “a citizen of Swaziland, without regard to gender, shall have equal access to land for normal domestic purposes”, traditional leaders, who routinely run the administration of the Swazi nation land and customary land tenure, often ignore it. Ordinarily, only male household heads are eligible to secure land through the customary process known as “kukhonta” that initiates males into the chiefdom and marks their commitment and allegiance to the chief. Under Swazi law and custom, a women can only be granted land rights by the chief through her husband, male relatives, or male children. This paper argues that women are alienated from the land rights that Mother Earth has bequeathed to all humanity despite the similarities of women’s lived experiences and that of the environment. Three (3) scenarios found through library research are cited as examples of Swati women’s lived experiences with regard to land accessibility. The paper concludes by noting that the implementation of Agenda 2030 for sustainable development, and particularly Sustainable Development Goal number 5 (SDG 5), which is geared towards establishing gender equality and empowering all women and girls, can amongst other initiatives be achieved through equal land rights granted to all the children of Mother Earth. However, unless and until societal constructs on land acquisition and ownership are reinterpreted, Emaswati women will continue to receive only the breadcrumbs that fall from the master’s table
Balancing an Unequal Partnership for Studying Ugandan Queer Refugees’ Appropriation of Bible Stories
Get PDFThis roundtable was first convened as part of the 6th Es’kia Colloquium hosted by the Department of African Literature at Wits University, South Africa on the 15th and 16th September 2022. The discussion engages questions regarding knowledge production, method and (inter)textualities in relation to the book, Sacred Queer Stories: Ugandan LGBTQ+ Refugee Lives and the Bible (2021), co-authored by Adriaan van Klinken and Johanna Stiebert with Brian Sebyala aand Fredrick Hudson.
Work Life Balance (Myth or Fact) Black Female Academics: A Case of Gauteng, South Africa
Get PDFWork-Life balance is a priority at many institutions of higher learning everywhere but especially for Black female academics from South Africa. Employers acknowledge the value employees who can straddle work and non-work domains but is it balance or integration and supportive workplaces that is required. This article authored by a male social worker seeks to explore the experiences of Black female academics at a university in Gauteng, regarding their work-life balance using the intersectionality framework. This qualitative exploratory case study included ten respondents, who were purposively sampled. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the necessary data. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the collected data. The study revealed the following main findings: Firstly, Black female academics are confronted by both personal and professional challenges that hinder them from achieving a work-life balance. Identified personal challenges included family responsibilities, patriarchal and cultural practices. While work overload, lack of recognition and lack of respect by male senior colleagues were identified as work-related challenges
An Analysis of the Contributions of Black Academics to Epistemology and Decolonisation in Higher Education in South Africa, 1940s-1990s
Get PDFThis paper looked at the contributions of black academics in the humanities and social sciences and uses their autobiographies as an analytical tool to help us understand their contribution to epistemology in the African higher education space. It also looks at debates on decolonisation and how their work has shaped these debates. Autobiography is one lens of doing critical analysis and understanding the progression of a scholar. This paper analyses different scholars in different generations and hopes to contribute to the search for genealogies of intergenerational Black South African scholars whose work has been forgotten and marginalised in the academic project in the humanities and social sciences curriculum in South Africa and beyond. Using autobiography as a critical method, the paper shows how black scholars from different generations navigated institutions of higher learning to achieve excellent results and produce knowledge that challenged racialised inferiority and white supremacy. The findings suggest that there is a body of work by black scholars and shows that where support is given, black scholars can shape discourse and take leadership positions in the academy