Microsoft Word - PhD Thesis Final.pdf - University of Limpopo ...

in particular. These sources were used to contextualise the history of
Makgabeng. Secondary sources were mostly used in developing the
theoretical framework of this study.
Oral evidence formed an important part of this study. This is because most
of the history of the previously disadvantaged communities in South Africa,
such as those in Makgabeng, was not written and it is to be expected that
very few written records do exist on subjects such as Makgabeng. As a
result, the few written records which are available were used in conjunction
with oral evidence. Most importantly, the other sources which have been
mentioned thus far were used to corroborate oral information, and vice
versa. The combination of all these sources resulted in a more balanced
and objective study on the Makgabeng area.
Because oral evidence was one of the core sources of information for this
study, the following will be a discussion on its methodological challenges.
Best practices in oral research were thoroughly followed in order to achieve
the best possible outcome. Like any other forms of collecting evidence, and
as well as other sources of information, oral evidence has its own problem
areas. In the next seven paragraphs I will briefly describe some of the
salient problem areas of oral history as well as some benefits of it.
Thereafter, I will explain how I dealt with the actual and practical
interviewing processes against the problem areas mentioned.
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