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Learners with disabilities are faced with unprecedented challenges in their pursuit of integration in the institutionalized higher education system in South Africa. The aim of this paper is to explore the recruitment and integration of students with disabilities (SWDs) at selected rural universities in South Africa in terms of facilities for physically challenged students. Personal conversations and informal discussions and desk and documentary research have collectively informed the present discourse. By utilizing a social model of disability, this study proposes that both institutions need to accelerate the provision of user-friendly facilities to accommodate various categories of SWDs either currently enrolled or those aspiring to study at the institutions. Considering the evaluations and observations explored in this opinion paper, the academic community of both institutions will need to pay attention to the special needs of SWDs because the absence of this attention will negatively impact the outcome of the academic life of learners.

There are concepts which have received little attention in scholarship and important aspects of real-life situations have not been addressed by believing communities. Politicians and policy makers have taken advantage of the laxity on the part of the sacred institution to both exploit and mismanage the natural habitat because the latter is preoccupied with matters of eternity at the detriment of the particularities of everyday life among communities. First, the inquiry will critically engage previous studies that have touched on ecotheology in South Africa (SA) to substantiate my arguments on the failure to address practical issues (hence, practical theology) affecting local communities and the environment. In other words, the study seeks to answer the following questions: (1) what is the contribution of the church in both the collection and disposition of garbage in our cities? (2) what is the relevance of Practical Theology as a field of study in addressing the increase of street loitering and deterioration of sanitary conditions in our major cities? (3) Is it not possible for a church or group of churches to adopt either a community or a street in an effort to maintain it? Second, the present study seeks to decolonize the myth of erecting massive mega churches as if to suggest that God abides in a building. It is argued that the extravagant expenditure by the church could be put to better use by way of awareness campaigns against poverty, poaching, and veldt fires. Ecotheology should encompass awareness on disposing garbage. The present research utilizes the theory of constructivism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is a critical examination of a model of African thought in which Afrocentricity as a theory is employed. During both pre-colonial and colonial times, people from the West (Europe) believed themselves to be more intelligent than Africans. This misconception about African knowledge systems led to the labelling of Africa as the "dark continent". This article explores this controversial issue by engaging with previous contributions which delved into similar debates. It is argued that "intelligence" cannot be defined by the colour of the skin. The discussion dialogues with Molefi Kete Asante's Afrocentric theory with regard to African thought and Western misconceptions. Examples of persons celebrated as being endowed with exceptional knowledge in both leadership and academic capacities are cited. Unique architectural sites in southern Africa are also discussed as evidence of ancient civilisations on the continent. Decoloniality is used as a research method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study critically examines the text of 1 Kings 3:7-9 in order to present its concepts as inspirational teachings on leadership to the modern church. From a hermeneutical perspective, the research attempts to discuss the chosen text not necessarily as panacea to good leadership but more so as inspirational teachings for individuals occupying leadership positions in a modern church. It is shown that Solomon ascends to the throne of kingship of a united monarchy after his father King David. The text depicts King Solomon in his prayer to God that "...I am a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties" (v.7). As if to suggest that God does not know, Solomon informs God that Israel is "...a great people, too numerous to count or number" (v.8). The above assertion by Solomon will be analyzed in view of a previous census by King David. The study will exegete the text in order to establish the contextual meaning of the metaphor "little child" used by King Solomon. In addition, King Solomon is metaphorically requesting Yahweh's provision of a "discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong" (v.9). The study is guided by symbolic interactionism as a theoretical framework. A case study model is employed as a research method in which previous contributions on hermeneutics and leadership in the Bible will be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent experience, that of the lockdown due to the emergence of COVID-19 in South Africa, resulted in religious groupings, such as Judaism, Islam and Christianity, among others, turning to social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and YouTube, among others) as a significant means of communication, social interaction, as well as religious teaching. Due to space constraints, this discussion is limited to the homiletics of the Christian church, and does not include religions such as Judaism and Islam. As a precautionary measure against COVID-19, many churches used WhatsApp groups to reach out to their diverse membership in various demographic locations. The present study problematises the emergence of WhatsApp as a critical platform to disseminate gospel-related material; this platform presents material in a more fashionable form, and was not utilised much before the advent of COVID-19. The study discusses homiletics through WhatsApp in view of the following three main aims: (1) To demonstrate that COVID-19 is a reality and the lockdown was a necessary 'evil' to reduce its impact, (2) To reveal that the WhatsApp platform developed the preachers' sermon delivery skills without the personal presence of congregants, which is atypical of a conventional church gathering, and (3) To show that the WhatsApp group platform played a key role in church members accessing sermonettes, Bible teachings and prayer sessions, from the comfort of their homes. The research applied qualitative content analysis (thematic analysis), which examined content and themes of recorded human communications; responses were solicited from participants through email conversations. In addition, the study employed the so-called uses and gratification theory to demonstrate that users do derive some gratification from WhatsApp homiletics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of the COVID-19 has generated a profound sense of uncertainty and insecurity among societies all over the world, and South Africa (SA) has not been spared. Within a short period of time, COVID-19 has triggered an unprecedented pandemonium in the world: the global systems have crumbled; socioeconomic systems have been halted; and the geopolitical environment itself cannot contain it. The long-time established empires of power and control are also on the verge of collapse. The language and languaging have suddenly changed. The scenario shaped by the COVID-19 obliges to confirm that human beings have shortcomings. At the core of the advent of COVID-19 and its devastating impact to society, the following questions are being probed: What has happened? For some individuals, the advent of the COVID-19 has a biblical/theological elucidation. Does the COVID-19 have a divine cause, and that human sin has motivated the disease? Who are accountable for mesmerising it? Regardless of many questions that people might have regarding the emergence of COVID-19, the impact of the disease on humans does not permit a casual approach. What is critical at the moment is a robust approach towards combating the disease. The present study attempts to respond to the above questions from three angles, namely: (1) It is argued that the COVID-19 originated from China, and was transported to SA by the affluent, (2) The study is a liberation theological inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on the poor and the less-privileged communities of SA, and (3) The study is an invitation to the sacred institution to reinvigorate the theology of the Cross. The study proposes that the contemporary church should lend its voice to the voiceless. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous, social, and cultural norms ascribe to women the responsibility of maintaining their matrimonial family harmony. Thus, society expects elderly women not to initiate divorce proceedings. These elderly women usually appear before a family or lekgotla (traditional court) to discuss the dissolution of the marriage. This article aims to understand the consequences of divorce among elderly women. The authors adopted resilience and feminist theories as theoretical frames for this investigation. A qualitative research approach applying narrative research design was employed to understand why these elderly women divorce. The research was conducted at Ga-Sekororo in the Maruleng Municipality of the Mopani District in Limpopo Province. Data collected from twelve elderly women were analyzed using a narrative synthesis approach. The findings revealed challenges faced by the elderly women after a divorce, as well as defiance and resilience strategies to withstand these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]