Browsing by Author "Gwala, Mzonzima"

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    A comparison of ancient Egyptian and ancient Hebrew religious cosmogonies
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1995-12) Gwala, Mzonzima; Cornelius, I.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The phenomenological approach employed in this comparative study of ancient Egyptian and ancient Hebrew religions cosmogonies, takes care of the gaps between the various cosmogonies. This is also true of the gaps in time between the ancient Egyptian cosmogonies and those of the Hebrew Bible. The study indicated that Ancient Egypt and the ancient lsraelit:;s did not exist in isolation, although each community was unique in its own context. Myth as one of the most central concepts in the study of cosmogonies, has fundamental value both in ancient Egyptian understanding as well as that of the ancient Israelites. Examples of ancient Egyptian cosmogonies as well as different versions of ancient Hebrew cosmogonies were discussed. Three types of ancient Egyptian cosmogonies (Heliopolitan, Theban and Hermopolis) explained in this paper were shown to be complementary to each other; the same idea (i .e. complementary) was not foreign in the ancient Hebrew cosmogonies (Genesis 1 and 2). God and the gods played a very significant role with regard to human beings, being either a servant of or owing his or her allegiance to God/the gods as his or her creator. There are significant similarities in the way these two communities understood the notion of cosmogony, but in the same breath, remarkable differences were also witnessed throughout the discussion of these various cosmogonies, hence the use of the term "distinctive and common ground in the ancient Near East" with special reference to ancient Egypt and the Hebrew Bible.
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    An evaluation of public participation in public meetings : the case of the Khayamandi community in the Municipality of Stellenbosch
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011-12) Gwala, Mzonzima; Theron, Francois; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A public meeting is one of the strategies for public participation outlined by the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2). It is a strategy that is commonly used, but tends to yield poor outcomes. Its purpose is often misunderstood and it is therefore used as a “soft” public participation option that hastens the project at hand. However, it can be a most effective strategy if it is used correctly. Its intended outcome should be to create an interest in public participation within the community, especially when it comes to community-based development. The public should be left empowered and be given scope to influence, direct and own each and every development within its community. In this study the Khayamandi community has been used as a case study. It became apparent that at Khayamandi public meetings are not used correctly as a public participation strategy, and hence the public often felt left out of developments that took place in the community. Even though there are clear constitutional/legislative guidelines on public participation, Khayamandi has not yet achieved the required level of authentic and empowering public participation. In the light of the model developed in this study for public participation that empowers communities, it is evident that public participation at Khayamandi is at a level of tokenism, where information is shared with the public but the public is not expected to participate fully in the developmental agenda. The Khayamandi community, the local municipality and the developers will have to take steps jointly in order to meet the constitutional/legislative requirement on public participation. The ideal level at which the Khayamandi community needs to be is that of citizen power, where the public becomes a change agent and assumes the role of influencing, directing and taking ownership of its own development. This study has adopted a qualitative research paradigm. Interviews and rating-scale questionnaires (on the basis of a probability sampling), focus group and observation are the tools used to collect primary data. This study follows an evaluative research design, which aims at answering the question of whether an intervention, a programme or a strategy has been successful or effective. One of the major recommendations is that the public participation model which has been developed be used by the Khayamandi community in order for the public to be empowered and have the scope to influence, direct and own community-based development and decision-making processes. The public should make use of this model for optimal results. If the public participation strategy is used correctly, Khayamandi can be in a position to achieve the appropriate level of citizen power. Once that happens, the impact on integrated community-based development and decision-making processes will be positive, with improved service delivery as a consequence.
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    The reception of Genesis 1-3 in Nguni culture
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011-12) Gwala, Mzonzima; Cornelius, I.; Thipa, H.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation looks at the reception of Gen. 1-3, one of the most controversial parts in the Hebrew Bible. How was it interpreted by the Nguni speaking communities (e.g. Xhosa, Zulu, siSwazi and siNdebele) taking into consideration their background, culture and religious belief system? The reception approach is followed in the research because of its emphasis on the role of the reader in understanding texts. Sources that are utilized are Nguni Bible translations, selected preached sermons (which the researcher attended himself), Nguni stories and folk tales and reviews undertaken among selected Nguni groups. A close-reading of the texts under discussion is undertaken in order to determine the basic content and issues of interpretation involved. The central concepts of cosmogony as contained in Gen. 1-2 are studied, as well as the story of the Garden of Eden and the concept of the “fall” in Gen. 3. The map of the Nguni language group is described and the culture and belief system of the Nguni speaking communities. Central concepts to this belief system are the worship of ancestors, marriage, circumcision, and among the Swazis the incwala (annual national feast) Legends and folk tales were used as sources for the Nguni belief system. It was determined that the Nguni speaking people worshipped one God in their traditional way, but always through their ancestors as a sign of respect. The role of the missionaries is analyzed by describing the history of the various missionary societies and their influence on the Nguni peoples. A very short discussion is devoted to preached sermons by Nguni pastors in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.Bible translations have always played a very important role among Nguni speakers (both Christians and non-believers). The need for translations using understandable contemporary terms is emphasized. This is the challenge to the Bible societies and Bible translators. Qualitative reviews were undertaken under selected Nguni speaking groups (Xhosa, Zulu, siSwati and siNdebele). Some of the results obtained from these reviews (full transcripts are included) are: (1) that there is a common understanding of the origin of the universe between the Hebrew Bible and the Nguni religious culture. (2) Serpent (Gen. 3): among the Zulus this concept is understood in terms of sexuality, but it can also be linked with the ancestors. (3) Both communities (Hebrew Bible and the Nguni) were tainted with the concept and ideology of patriarchalism. The crucial question in the research was: “what happens when a cosmogonic myth is transferred from one community to another?” In the case of Gen. 1-3 an ancient Hebrew text was transmitted to African cultures via missionaries and Bible translations. Nguni people react differently. Whereas some accept Gen. 1-3 (cosmogonies and the “fall”) as a detailed explanation of how creation and the “fall” came about, others reject it.