Browsing by Author "Niyukuri, Benaya"

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    Addressing the HIV and AIDS stigma : a pastoral approach for church leaders in Khayelitsha
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-12) Niyukuri, Benaya; Thesnaar, C. H.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A research study was conducted in the form of a literature review to explore the situation of HIV and AIDS stigma in Khayelitsha in order to propose a Pastoral Approach for church leaders in that township. In this regard, the research study established that HIV and AIDS related stigma is the main barrier to any effort in fighting the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The aims of the research were to understand the causes and the effects of HIV and AIDS stigma, examine the Church as a healing community, construct a biblical and theological reflection on HIV and AIDS stigma, and make recommendations useful for the church in dealing with HIV and AIDS stigma. The research indicated that 'stigma‘ is a term that was used throughout history to mean a mark put on people who are regarded as different from others. In terms of HIV and AIDS, stigma is seen as an attitude shaping the way PLWHA are treated in the community. Among the causes of stigma related to HIV and AIDS are the fear of HIV and AIDS as a dangerous and infectious disease, the link between HIV and AIDS and sexual immorality, lack or distortion of information about HIV and AIDS, lack or withdrawal of resources from PLWHA, gender imbalance, and gossip and insults directed at PLWHA. According to research, the effects that come from HIV and AIDS stigma are devastating. They include fear of disclosure of HIV and AIDS status, difficulty in providing care and support for PLWHA, and acceleration of death for PLWHA. As for the biblical and theological reflection on HIV and AIDS stigma, it has been established that leprosy was the biblical disease compared to HIV and AIDS. While the OT model isolated people living with leprosy, Jesus accepted them and healed them in the NT. The OT model has often been used by the church to marginalise PLWHA on the grounds that it is God‘s punishment for sexual sin. The research does not deny the fact that God punishes sin through disease, but it is important to note that disease is not found to be the only form of God‘s punishment, and, in fact, one may not conclude that every disease is a consequence of sin. After all, God dealt with sin by punishing Jesus, who died on the cross to pay for the debts of sinners, and they are now allowed to enter God‘s kingdom freely. The Church is thus meant to be a community where holistic healing takes place through activities such as the teaching and preaching of God‘s word, koinōnia and diakōnia, as well as through prayer. In that sense, PLWHA are also included in the Body of Christ as charismatic beings, and should receive care spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and physically just as they also contribute uniquely to the wellbeing of the Church. The research suggests that in Khayelitsha, church leaders should join hands against HIV and AIDS stigma. They first of all need to confess any former failure to take action, and then work on a paradigm shift in order to change the way they have been dealing with PLWHA in their churches. In obedience to the mission of Jesus Christ, the Bible should be interpreted in a way that does not stigmatize PLWHA, but rather stimulates church leaders in Khayelitsha to stand up and take care of those who are suffering.
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    Reconciliation in Burundi crisis : a practical theological approach
    (African Sun Media, 2020) Niyukuri, Benaya
    Situated in east-central Africa, Burundi is a small landlocked country of 10,750 square miles (27,830km2) that accommodates a population of around 10 million people belonging to three ethnic groups, namely: Hutus (85%), Tutsis (14%), and Twas (1%) (Lemarchand, 1995). Its neighbouring countries are Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although these three ethnic groups share the same culture and mother tongue, Burundi has experienced a sequence of ethnic conflicts (Lemarchand, 1995). Various attempts to deal with the ethnic conflicts have been put in place but these have failed to achieve sustainable peace. The current situation has raised concern. This chapter looks at the history of conflicts in Burundi and suggests the role of practical theology in bringing about reconciliation to the nation.
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    Xenophobia as a challenge to the notion of hospitality in pastoral care : the plight of Burundian refugees living in Cape Town-South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University , 2024-03 ) Niyukuri, Benaya; Thesnaar, C. H.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research was conducted to deal with xenophobia as a challenge to hospitality in pastoral care within the context of the plight of the Burundian refugees living in Cape Town, South Africa. The Burundian refugees fled their country due to the long history of war. They ended up in Cape Town where they face fear due to xenophobic attacks threatening their lives, having lost their loved ones and their belongings during xenophobic attacks. The research has opted for Practical Theological Approach as a methodological framework. Along with the information gathered through literature review, the researcher conducted the interviews among Burundian refugees in Cape Town. The responses from the interviews agreed with the findings of the literature review. In this regard, this research discovered that refugees suffered xenophobia as they were accused of ‘stealing’ South African women, as well as ‘stealing’ jobs and businesses belonging to South Africans. The political transitions and speeches from certain political leaders worsened xenophobia as the attacks were mostly responded to in denial. The refugees in Cape Town have to endure the attacks by the locals who call them denigrating names to make them feel unwanted. This research has discovered the way black South Africans suffered at the hand of apartheid and how this contributed to the attitude of xenophobia as black South Africans view foreigners from other African countries as parasites who come to South Africa to use up their resources. In this research, the theological reflection has discovered various types of xenophobia in the Bible. This was dealt with in chapter four where the researcher brought out the situation of xenophobia which the Israelites faced in Egypt and in Babylon. This research has also discovered how xenophobia was perpetrated in the Bible. The laws given to protect the foreigners in the Bible are lauded as ways through which the church in South Africa can teach locals to accept the strangers through hospitality. Furthermore, this research has also pointed out the way Jesus accepted foreigners and taught His disciples to offer hospitality to strangers. Dealing with the xenophobia that challenges the notion of hospitality, the interplay between Diakonia and hospitality was useful in a bid to draw an action plan of dealing with xenophobia in Cape Town. In this regard, the church can use the skills of peaching, counselling, missions, diakonia, fellowship, as well acknowledging the skills of foreigners and giving them a chance to serve. Among the theories of xenophobia, the cosmopolitanism theory has been considered as the theory that is more useful to curb xenophobia.