Academic literature on the topic 'Thaba Nchu'

The political situation from which teacher, revolutionary and politician Gauta Lefuo emerged will be considered. Lefuo exerted a significant influence on the political pedagogy of the youth and his colleagues in Botshabelo and surrounding areas such as Thaba Nchu, Verkeerdevlei and Bloemfontein. His role is examined with due regard for the critical part played by his contemporaries in both the educational and political context.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Biomedical Technology)) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2014.
Traditional medicine has been known by mankind since ancient times as a healthcare system. All cultures have used herbs throughout history and it was an integral part of the development of modern civilization. Primitive man observed and appreciated the great diversity of plants available to him. Plants provided food, clothes, shelter and medicine and still play a vital role in rural villages of South Africa. The medicinal uses of plants and animals have been developed through trial and error. Herbal plants produce and contain a wide variety of chemical substances that act upon the body’s immune system. The medicinal properties of Ipomoea oblongata (E.Mey.ex Choisy) in this study was to determine the phytochemical content, antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-diabetic properties of I. oblongata (Mothokho), a medicinal plant used by traditional medical practitioners of Thaba-Nchu in the Free State. The study was carried out in order to validate the ethnomedicinal claims made by the traditional medical practitioners and to evaluate the plant’s potential as a novel therapeutic agent. Twelve traditional medical practitioners of the Kopanang Dingaka Association were interviewed on the knowledge and use of I. oblongata (Mothokho). The phytochemical constituents of the plant were determined using standard screening methods. Testing for antioxidant properties (free radical scavenging activity) was carried out by means of the 2, 2- diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. The Sulforhodamine B assay was used to screen for anti-cancer activity in breast (MCF7), colon (HCT116) and prostate (PC3) cancer cell lines. Glucose uptake in C2C12 muscle cells was used to evaluate the anti- iii diabetic potential of I. oblongata. Methanol extract was fractionated using Ultra-Pure Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) to identify active compounds. The traditional medical practitioners cited the plant roots as the main ingredient in the treatment of respiratory infections, sexually transmitted infections, postnatal womb treatments, inflammation, arthritis, wounds and cancer. The methanol extract of I. oblongata showed remarkable (99.03%, 98.39, 71.31%) antioxidant potential in all triplicates tested which explains its use in oxidative stress-related diseases such as arthritis and cancer. Phytochemical tests showed the presence of carbohydrates, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins. However, the extracts were inactive against the cancer cell lines used. Glucose uptake by the C2C12 muscle cells was increased by over 150% and was comparable to that of insulin and metformin, suggesting good anti-diabetic activity. Predicted compounds found were dihydroquercetin pentaacetate, actinorhodin and actinorhodine, using Chemspider analysis. These are possible compounds that could be found in the Ipomoea oblongata extracts when using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to determine the structure and names of the active compounds. Ethnobotanical uses of Ipomoea oblongata were found to have a link with other ethnobotanical studies to capture the indigenous knowledge, culture and therapeutic uses. The phytochemical results of Ipomoea oblongata can contribute to the knowledge of new drug development as indicated by literature (Harbone; 1973, Soforowa, 1993; De et al., 2010) that plants contain phytochemical contents and phenolic compounds that are valuable as medicinal properties. Methanolic extract of Ipomoea oblongata presented high levels of antioxidant activity respectively, which can become a potential iv antimicrobial agent and remedy oxidative stress related diseases. The anticancer properties were inactive and the cytotoxicity levels were found to below in I. oblongata. Low levels of cytotoxicity allow medicinal plants to be consumed by humans with fewer side effects however doses must be standardized. High levels of glucose uptake in muscle cells were indicated from the aqueous extract of Ipomoea oblongata, therefore showing great potential as an antidiabetic agent. Many medicinal plants have been validated as antidiabetic therapeutic agents in South Africa and the world. New treatment of cancer, diabetes, bacterial and viral infections is required from natural products that are cost effective with minimal side effects that can be used in health care systems. There is a correlation between the medicinal properties found in I. oblongata and the ethnomedicinal uses cited by the traditional medical practitioners. The plant I. oblongata has six ethno-pharmaceutical uses. I. oblongata is a good source of anti-diabetic and antioxidant agents that can be developed further. However the plant is not a good source of anticancer properties. Future research will be into the isolation and identification of the active compounds.

MPH, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
Introduction: South African health system embraces the District Health System model. 1 District health system includes health stations or posts, other health care facilities such as private health practitioners, community based organisations. primary health care clinics and district hospitals. District hospitals provide first level of outpatient or inpatient care for patients who have been referred by their primary care providers. District hospitals usually provide 24 hour care and are integrated into district health system. The above set up is similar in Thaba Nchu Health sub district where Dr.J.S.Moroka Hospital (DJSMH) is a district hospital and therefore, a referral point for 11 clinics within Thaba Nchu sub district and 4 clinics from the neighbouring sub district. In addition, there are 5 general practitioners rooms within Thaba Nchu sub district. The DJSMH is overburdened with increasingly high caseload. Main Aim: To evaluate the referral system in the Thaba Nchu Health Sub-district, Free State Province in terms of the factors that influences its function. Methodology: This was a descriptive study undertaken at Dr.J.S.Moroka Hospital Outpatient and Casualty departments. The study included review of routinely collected hospital information on patients’ records and registers. No intervention was done for this study. Results : The referral system within the sub district is not fully functional. Most patients that are seen in the DJSMH are self referrals. The case load and work load of the two designated areas could be reduced if most of the patients could have started and be seen at the primary health care clinics. Although the registers were helpful in collecting information, the documentation on patients’ records by health workers is not consistent; it is poor and need to be improved. The records have shown that the personnel are doing little in strengthening the referral system within the district. Conclusion: This study was the first of its kind to be done in this DJSMH. Although there are good practices with regard to referral system within the Thaba Nchu subdistrict and Dr. J.S Moroka Hospital, much still has to be done to ensure that the primary health care clinics and hospitals are effectively functioning in rendering services relevant to each level of care. More patients seen in the DJSMH are self referrals that could be managed at the primary health care clinics. The interventions recommended in this study will assist in strengthening the delivery of district health care system and in particular improve the referral system within the sub district.

This thesis concerns the role that the church can play in alleviating poverty in Black rural communities in South Africa, through a case study ofthe Thaba'Nchu community in the Free State Province. The thesis argues that the policies of racial segregation of the apartheid era impacted very strongly on the Black communities in our country. Blacks were dispossessed, marginalized and suffered greatly. It is further argued that the New Dispensation after 1994 did very little to ensure that the poor in places like Thaha'Nchu enjoyed a meaningful standard of life. Poverty has continued to be a large factor in the lives of the rural Black South Africans. This situation obliges the church according to its calling to make a difference in the lives of the rural poor communities such as in Thaba'Nchu. It is argued that the Church does have a contribution to make in development. When poverty and unemployment have entrenched themselves in the community, the Church locally and ecumenically have the capacity and the potential to wage war against the scourge. To combat poverty, a clearly drawn programme of action needs to be formulated. This research proposes a two-pronged strategy where first, hunger gets addressed and second, sustainable income generating projects are initiated to empower the poor.
Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

The Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) has been plagued by a number of problems. One of this problems has been the breakaway of some of its members. Some of these members have joined other churches (Mainstream and African Indigenous Churches) and others have founded their own churches. One of the major reasons for the breakaways is what I have framed lack of "African Spirituality" in the MCSA. By "African Spirituality" I imply that the African way of life does not distinguish between sacred and secular. African spirituality includes the following component elements: Belief in one God, belief in Divinities, Believe in spirits, veneration of ancestors and practice of medicine. My research in the Thaba-Nchu area confirmed the existence of this problem in the Thaba-Nchu Methodist church. There were three categories of respondents in this research: those who left the church are: those who live between two worlds (belonging to the MCSA and attending services in the African Indigenous Churches at the same time); and those who have single membership. The first two categories, unanimously agreed that the lack African spirituality and that is why they left the church or have dual membership. Ways of addressing this problem, i.e., to remedy the situation, have been suggested by the respondents, some scholars and leaders of the MCSA. These suggestions include the following: (i) singing: use of drums, clapping of hands, etc. (ii) special Sundays for prayers of healing: the church is to use people who are gifted in this, e.g. diviners, sangomas and barapelli. (iii) symbolic things like water to be used. It is hoped that if these suggestions were implemented, the problem would be addressed and the breakaways would stop or slow down and those who have dual membership would be satisfied to stick to the Thaba-Nchu Methodist Church alone. To implement these suggestions, the "top down" communication strategy adopted by the MCSA's leadership on this and other problems has to be revised, the language used must be understandable to the ordinary people (the grassroots or the marginalised) and the material must be easily accessible to them.
Thesis (M.Th.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1997.

The new political dispensation post 1994 ushered in progressive policies, such as the Rural Development Framework (RDF). The introduction of the Rural Development Framework was the first progressive step towards addressing the socio-economic developmental problems and challenges faced by rural communities in South Africa. The Rural Development Framework declares that almost three quarters of people who live below the poverty line in South Africa reside in rural areas. Of these, children, youths, the elderly and women are particularly vulnerable. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of the Rural Development Framework on women’s socio-economic development in Thaba Nchu. The researcher used a qualitative approach for the study. The study was applied and used an instrumental case study design. Purposive and snowballing sampling methods were used to select thirty (30) rural women participants for the study. Data was collected by means of focus groups. The findings revealed that while women have benefited from the RDF socio-economic development projects in Thaba Nchu, they have not done so sufficiently to enable them to achieve sustainable livelihoods. The study concluded that there has been a moderate effort on the side of the government to implement the RDF objectives. Furthermore, within the framework of government’s commitment and support, women should be empowered to drive RDF income - generating projects themselves in order to take charge of their socio-economic development and so achieve sustainable livelihoods. Recommendations to enhance rural women’s socio-economic development within the context of the RDF include capacity building and empowerment strategies such as communication structures and business skills that would give them a voice to negotiate improved access to income-generating projects and small business opportunities.
Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2015.
tm2015
Social Work and Criminology
MSW
Unrestricted

Different basin fill models have been proposed for the retroarc foreland basin within which the Karoo Supergroup of South Africa was deposited. The most recent of these proposals suggests that the Karoo Basin behaved as a partitioned entity and that reciprocal infill occurred either side of a hinge line in the centre of the basin. Detailed sedimentological, palaeontological, stratigraphic and geophysical information for the Beaufort Group in the eastern central Free State in the vicinity of Thaba Nchu is presented here enhances aspects of this model. It is shown that the fossils assignable to the Dicynodon, Lystrosaurus and Cynognathus assemblage zones occur within the sandstones and mudrocks of the Balfour, Katberg and Burgersdorp formations in the study area. Using this combined data set it is shown that parts of the Beaufort Group stratigraphic succession which are present in the southern part of the Karoo Basin are absent in the central Free State. This suggests a depositional hiatus at both the beginning of the Lystrosaurus Assemblage Zone and at the end of Cynognathus Assemblage Zone times. During these hiatuses deposition was restricted to the proximal sector i.e. south of the hinge line. This finding is in line with the proposal that the Karoo Basin behaved as a partitioned basin with reciprocal fill. Geophysical information defines a basement high north-east of Thaba Nchu that probably accounts for a coarse-grained unit with anomalous palaeocurrent directions within the study area.

This dissertation examines the dynamics of the oral communication which takes place in the Easter Vigil at St. Augustine's Anglican Church, Thaba 'Nchu. The study uses an analytical framework drawn from Orality Theory and Speech Act Theory, to analyse oral communication in the preaching and singing of the Vigil. Through an approach of Participant Observation, details were obtained of the Easter Vigils of 1994, 1995 and 1996. The historical and cultural background of this All-Night Vigil is traced in European Church History and African Traditional Religion. The roles of the Mothers' Union, the St. Agnes Guild and the Guild of Bernard Mizeki are also highlighted.
Missiology
M.Th (Missiology)