Ngaka Modiri Molema District Research Articles

PSIV-16 The role of veterinary services on nutrition schemes, management, and health practices for sheep and goats in rural Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, North West Province of South Africa

Abstract Poverty is a feature of rural households, and as a result rural people usually adopt low-input agriculture to alleviate poverty. Many households in Ngaka Modiri Molema District keep animals, particularly sheep and goats, for a variety of reasons, including as source of income, milk, and meat. However, they lack the management skills that are necessary for their livestock to increase their productivity. Inadequate animal management, including poor feeding and housing standards and poor application of proper animal health procedures are compounded by a lack of agricultural experience and low-input farming methods. In addition, poor animal nutrition, sickness and a high prevalence of parasites, and low animal production output further contribute to low overall productivity. Therefore, support offered by the veterinary services, and the impact these interventions have on sheep and goat farming among rural farmers need to be investigated. The present study will seek to describe the feeding schemes and management practices adopted by sheep and goat owners, as well as the role of veterinary and extension services in the development of such practices. Health care provided to sheep and goat farmers by the veterinary services will also be determined. A survey will be conducted in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, a rural area in North West Province of South Africa. The study population will consist of all farmers, both female and male, rearing sheep and goats. Animal and farm information level data and general farm management practices will be collected via a questionnaire survey. Using the Statistical Kit for STATA (version 16), data will be examined by computing frequency, percentages, and proportions based on the characteristics of the sample population. This survey will help to provide opportunities for resource-poor farmers in rural areas to develop their flocks.

Support provided by outreach team leaders to caregivers of HIV/AIDS orphans in the North-West province of South Africa

BackgroundThe human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic have left an overwhelming impact on communities worldwide, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where its effects on family structures are particularly pronounced. Caregivers of HIV/AIDS orphans encounter challenges in fulfilling their caring duties. Consequently, they rely on the outreach team leaders (OTLs) for support to care for HIV/AIDS orphans.AimThis study aimed to explore and describe support provided by OTLs to caregivers of HIV/AIDS orphans in the North West Province of South Africa.MethodsThe exploratory, descriptive, and contextual design meaning the study was conducted was in the contexts where caregivers of HIV/AIDS orphans reside. The study was conducted in five local municipalities in the Ngaka Modiri Molema district of the North West Province of South Africa. Ward-based outreach nurses were participants in the study. Semi-structured focus group interviews were used for data collection. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. Throughout the study, ethical principles were adhered to. The study also adhered to four trustworthiness principles: credibility, confirmability, transferability, and dependability.ResultsThree main themes emerged from this study: the conduction of home visits to caregivers of HIV/AIDS orphans, the coordination of a multidisciplinary team for support, and the facilitation of support groups.ConclusionsThis study revealed that that caregivers of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS benefitted from the support provided by OTLs in the North West province of South Africa. The support provided by OTLs harnessed positive relationship between caregivers and children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

Climate smart agricultural policy in sub-Saharan Africa: a case study of Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality of North West Province, South Africa

ABSTRACT This paper analyses climate-smart agricultural (CSA) policies and strategies in sub-Saharan Africa, using a case study of Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in South Africa. It is argued that the development and implementation of coherent policies is one of the approaches to offering effective responses to adaptation and to mitigating the influences of climate change. The results of the study, which drew on qualitative data gathered through participatory research, showed that 30%, 70%, 50%, and 60% of the community members, farmers, NGOs, and government participants were unaware of or did not understand climate-smart agriculture practices. Additionally, this study highlighted the absence of awareness and knowledge of CSA policies across all participants, indicating a significant gap in information dissemination and education on sustainable agricultural practices. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted education and awareness initiatives to promote climate-smart agriculture in the region. Without a proper understanding and implementation of CSA practices, communities in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality struggle to adapt to the changing climate and its impacts on agriculture. The results emphasise the necessity of raising awareness among different stakeholders in order to enhance the efficacy of agricultural practices’ adaptations to climate change. In order to ensure sustainable agricultural practices in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, it is imperative that practices like collaboration, CSA technology, integration, financing, increased private sector involvement in CSA promotion, and sector-specific policies foster an environment that is favourable to CSA practices.

Contested Heritage in South Africa: Perspectives from Mahikeng

Mahikeng, the seat of the Ngaka Modiri Molema District and capital of South Africa’s North West province, has identified tourism as an economic driver based on cultural heritage related to Batswana, Boer, and British contestation. However, the colonial heritage is underutilised as visitors come to Mahikeng (formerly Mafeking) in search of experiences relating to the siege of Mafeking, the Anglo–Boer War, and the origins of the Boy Scouts movement but leave disappointed. This heritage has been downgraded in democratic post-apartheid South Africa as there is an agenda that seeks to highlight African cultural heritage, particularly relating to the anti-apartheid struggle. This formerly suppressed cultural heritage needs to be promoted as it is crucial to South Africa’s history, identity, and social cohesion. However, other heritages that are also important are falling by the wayside with the result that the country’s diversity as the ‘rainbow nation’ is being eroded, and heritage tourism opportunities, which could prompt Local Economic Development (LED), are missed. A more critical engagement with the colonial heritage by including African perspectives, critiques, interactions, and roles within the narrative is needed.

Experiences of families living with tuberculosis patients in the North West province, South Africa.

The families living with tuberculosis (TB) patients play a vital role in the care of these patients. Little is known about the experiences of families living with family members who are infected with TB. The aim of the study was to explore and describe the experiences of families having a member or members diagnosed with TB. The study was conducted in the Ngaka Modiri Molema district in the North West province of South Africa. This was a qualitative study using a descriptive phenomenological approach. Ten families with member(s) who had TB were purposively selected. Data were collected through face-to-face, semi-structured individual interviews that were recorded. Data were analysed using Colaizzi's seven steps. The following essential meanings emerged: family members' caregiving experiences, family members' challenging experiences, and family members' health literacy experiences. Families had a lack of TB knowledge, which was associated with their poverty and with community health nurses not being committed to patient education. In poor, rural settings, nurses need to support families with adequate TB knowledge to limit the spread of TB and achieve the best treatment outcomes. Family involvement is vitally important in TB health promotion. Health promotion is a crucial tool for achieving comprehensive health and social growth. Wider interventions concentrating on families are beneficial for promoting health and preventing TB.

Demystifying the challenges of water, sanitation and hygiene in rural high schools

Basic sanitation is an essential human need to preserve dignity as well as health. However, many South African schools confront challenges in providing a sufficient level of sanitation. This has been exacerbated by the global Covid-19 pandemic. This study employed the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model to examine the challenges affecting efficient and effective sanitation supply chain operations in disadvantaged rural high schools. It also assessed the extent to which high schools engage in planning, sourcing and operations processes for integrated supply chain sanitation, hygiene and service delivery. An exploratory design was adopted and thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data collected from 21 participants in high schools in Ngaka Modiri Molema District, and two from the Department of Basic Education in North West Province. The results showed that the majority of schools, especially those in rural areas, confront supply chain basic health sanitation challenges such as a shortage of water and sanitary pads as well as vandalism, with the lack of financial resources identified as a significant challenge. Based on the findings, the study recommends supply chain integration, improved communication with suppliers and the adoption of the SCOR model to enhance the provision of basic sanitation and water

The Inability of Municipalities in South Africa to Fulfil Their Developmental Agenda: The Case of Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality

The Inability of Municipalities in South Africa to Fulfil Their Developmental Agenda: The Case of Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality

Impact of youth lay health workers on HIV service delivery in South Africa: A pragmatic cluster randomized trial of the Youth Health Africa program.

Innovative approaches are needed to increase lay health workers in HIV programs. The Youth Health Africa (YHA) program is a novel approach that places young adults seeking work experience in one-year internships in health facilities to support HIV-related programming (e.g., HIV testing) or administration (e.g., filing). We implemented a pragmatic, randomized trial among 20 facilities in Ngaka Modiri Molema district in North West province from October 2020-August 2021 to assess impact of YHA interns on HIV testing, treatment initiation, and retention in care. The primary outcome was proportion of patients tested for HIV. Secondary outcomes assessed HIV positivity, initiation in care, retention in care, and HIV testing among males and adolescents/young adults. We conducted an intention-to-treat analysis accounting for variations in baseline outcomes between control and intervention facilities using difference-in-difference and controlled time series approaches. We repeated this using as-treated groupings for sensitivity analyses. Fifty interns were placed in 20 facilities; thirty-four interns remained at 18 facilities through August 2021. Compared to control facilities, intervention facilities had a greater improvement in HIV testing (ΔΔ+5.7%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): -3.7%-15.1%) and treatment initiation (ΔΔ+10.3%, 95% CI: -27.8-48.5%), but these differences were not statistically significant. There was an immediate increase in HIV testing in intervention facilities after program interns were placed, which was not observed in control facilities; this difference was significant (ΔΔ+8.4%, 95% CI: 0.5-16.4%, p = 0.036). There were no other differences in outcomes observed between intervention and control facilities. This was largely a null trial, but there were signals that program interns may have positive impact on HIV testing and treatment initiation. As implemented in this study, addition of YHA program interns had little impact on facility-based HIV service delivery. A higher number of interns placed per facility may be necessary to affect HIV services. Registration: This trial was registered with the ISRCTN (Registration number: ISRCTN67031403) in October 2022.

Patients’ experiences of treatment migration from ART triple pill to fixed-dose combination therapy in Ngaka Modiri Molema District, North West Province, South Africa

Patients’ experiences of treatment migration from ART triple pill to fixed-dose combination therapy in Ngaka Modiri Molema District, North West Province, South Africa

Molecular Detection and Genetic Characterization of Ehrlichia ruminantium Harbored by Amblyomma hebraeum Ticks of Domestic Ruminants in North West Province, South Africa.

Simple SummaryBont ticks (Genus Amblyomma) transmit Ehrlichia ruminantium (E. ruminantium), a pathogen that causes a rickettsial disease called heartwater in ruminants. Heartwater disease is devastating and causes financial loss in livestock farming in most parts of southern Africa. The E. ruminantium tends to have many variants; as a result, it is difficult to develop vaccines for controlling it. Knowledge of E. ruminantium variant occurrence in a particular area may assist in designing appropriate vaccination control strategies. Thus, this study investigated the E. ruminantium variants found in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, North West Province, South Africa. Diversity of these E. ruminantium variants was determined by PCR and sequencing of DNA pools extracted from the tick vectors. Six different DNA variants of E. ruminantium were detected and compared well with those known to be virulent from other parts of South Africa and other countries. The type of variant commonly used for the massive vaccination was not detected in the study area.Ehrlichia ruminantium (E. ruminantium) is the causative agent of heartwater disease and it is mainly transmitted to livestock by Amblyomma hebraeum (A. hebraeum) tick in South Africa. This study investigated the occurrence of E. ruminantium and its genetic diversity in ticks within Ngaka Modiri Molema district of North West Province in South Africa. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole A. hebraeum ticks totaling 876 and resulted in a total of 292 pooled DNA samples. Firstly, conventional PCR was used to detect Ehrlichia spp. targeting the dsbA gene, followed by nested PCR targeting the Map1 gene performed on DNA pool samples that were positive from the first PCR. One hundred and six tick DNA pool samples were positive by dsbA gene PCR for the presence of Ehrlichia spp. with minimum infection rate (MIR) of 121, while 13/106 were positive by Map1 PCR with MIR of 15. Different E. ruminantium Map1 genotypes (NWUe1, NWUe2, NWUe3, NWUe5, and NWUe6) were detected from tick samples and were closely related to more than 13 gene sequences of E. ruminantium from the NCBI GenBank database. These findings suggest that there is a significant diversity of E. ruminantium infecting ticks in the study area.

53 The Role of Veterinary Services on Nutrition Schemes, Management, and Health Practices for Sheep and Goats in Rural Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, Northwest Province of South Africa

Abstract Poverty is a feature of rural households, and as a result, rural folks usually adopt low-input agriculture to alleviate poverty. Many households in Ngaka Modiri Molema District keep animals, particularly sheep and goats, for a variety of reasons, including as source of income, milk, and meat. However, they lack the management skills that are necessary for their livestock to increase their productivity. Inadequate animal management, including poor feeding and housing standards and poor application of proper animal health procedures are compounded by a lack of agricultural experience and low-input farming methods. In addition, poor animal nutrition, sickness and a high prevalence of parasites, and low animal production output further contribute to low overall productivity. Therefore, support offered by the veterinary services, and the impact these interventions have on sheep and goat farming among rural farmers need to be investigated. The present study will seek to describe the feeding schemes and management practices adopted by sheep and goat owners, as well as the role played by veterinary and extension services in the development of such practices. Health care provided to sheep goat farmers by the veterinary services will also be determined. A survey will be conducted in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, a rural area in North West Province of South Africa. The study population will consist of all farmers rearing sheep and goats, both female and male. Animal and farm information level data and general farm management practices will be collected via a questionnaire survey. Using the Statistical Kit for STATA (version 16), data will be examined by computing frequency, percentages, and proportions based on the characteristics of the sample population. This survey will help to provide opportunities for resource-poor farmers in rural areas to develop their flocks.

Effects of Soil Properties on the Distribution of Woody Plants in Communally Managed Rangelands in Ngaka Modiri Molema District, North-West Province, South Africa

Soil properties are important drivers of species distribution and community structure in grassland. This study was undertaken to assess the influence of soil properties on woody plant distribution around six selected communally managed rangelands in the District. At each communal rangeland, a total of 25 plots of 20 × 20 m were surveyed to record the density, frequency, and composition of woody species. Soil samples were collected for thirteen soil variables. A Tukey HSD (Tukey’s honestly significant difference) post hoc test was used to compare soil properties and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) to relate the soil properties to the woody species distribution. The study recorded a total of 17 woody species in 9 families. Fabaceae was the most dominant family, and Senegalia mellifera was the most abundant and frequent encroaching species. Most of the species were native, whereas Prosopis velutina was the only invasive alien species recorded. Senegalia mellifera, P. velutina, and Terminalia sericea were considered the most encroaching in the study sites, with densities exceeding 2000 TE ha-1 (i.e., tree equivalent). CCA results exhibited the strong effect of soil variables on the distribution of woody plant species. CCA ordination analyses showed that K was the most influential soil variable on woody species distributions, followed by Mg, CEC, Na, pH, sand, clay and silt. In terms of woody distribution, the CCA diagram showed similarities between Disaneng, Logageng and Tshidilamolomo. This study provides baseline information on woody species diversity for future management of this ecosystem.

Information technology for teaching and learning in a multi-campus public nursing college.

BackgroundTechnologies, such as the use of information technology for teaching and learning, e-learning and virtual learning, are commonly used terms in today’s education system. These ever growing and developing modes of teaching and learning have changed the landscape of higher education, in general. As a result, nursing education has equally responded positively to the use of information technology for teaching and learning.AimThe aim of this study was to describe and compare the readiness to use information technology for teaching and learning for both nursing students and nurse educators in the two campuses of a North West public nursing college.SettingThe study was conducted in a multi-campus North West public nursing college in South Africa.MethodsA quantitative approach of a comparative descriptive design was followed in this study. Descriptive statistics was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 27.ResultsA total of 285 (254 nursing students and 31 nurse educators) respondents completed the online questionnaires. Both nurse educators and nursing students were in agreement with the information technology use readiness construct (83.9% and 77.9%, respectively). For all the variables with significant (< 0.05) p-values from the Mann–Whitney U test, the mean ranks were higher for the Ngaka Modiri Molema District (NMMD) campus.ConclusionWhen comparing the two campuses, conclusion can be drawn that the campus at NMDD is more ready to use information technology for teaching and learning than the campus at Dr Kenneth Kauda District.ContributionThe results of this study contribute to the body of knowledge on technology use for teaching and learning in nursing education.

Socio-economic factors affecting smallholder farmers’ willingness to adopt biodigester technology in South Africa

Being energy-autonomous has been suggested as a means of having sustainable energy in South Africa, where about 98% of electricity is derived from coal. Research has shown that biogas produced from animal wastes using a biodigester can be used as a source of renewable energy with the added benefits of a by-product called digestate, which can replace inorganic fertiliser. This study analyses the factors that influence smallholder farmers’ willingness to adopt a biodigester technology. It uses a structured questionnaire to acquire data from 80 respondents in Ngaka Modiri Molema District in North West Province, South Africa. The respondents were 30 livestock farmers and 29 farmers practising mixed farming. Five extension officers were also interviewed to establish their level of knowledge about the technology. Descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact test were used to analyse the data. Factors such as gender, years of experience and family size were significant to willingness to adopt a biodigester. Farmers who were male and those with more years of experience were open to the idea, while those with larger families were less open to it, due to financial constraint. Overall, respondents practising mixed farming were more willing to adopt a biodigester than livestock farmers.

Phytochemical Profile, Safety and Efficacy of a Herbal Mixture Used for Contraception by Traditional Health Practitioners in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, South Africa.

The use of medicinal plants for contraception remains a common practice among South African ethnic groups. The present study assessed the phytochemical profile, cytotoxicity, acute oral toxicity and efficacy of a herbal mixture used for contraception by the Batswana of South Africa. An aqueous extract was prepared from equal quantities (in terms of weight) of Bulbine frutescens (roots), Helichrysum caespititium (leaves) and Teucrium trifidum (leaves) based on a recipe used by traditional health practitioners. The phytochemical profiles of the freeze-dried herbal mixture were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition, cytotoxicity was determined using an MTT assay on Vero cells and in vivo contraceptive efficacy was evaluated using seven Sprague Dawley rats per control and treatment groups. The control group received distilled water while test groups received 5, 50 and 300 mg/kg of the herbal mixture, which was administered orally once a day for three consecutive days. Subsequently, female rats were paired 1:1 with males for 3 days. Their weights were measured weekly and incidence of pregnancy was recorded. The GC-MS chromatogram revealed the presence of 12 identified and 9 unidentified compounds. In terms of safety, the herbal mixture had an IC50 value of 755.2 μg/mL and 2000 mg/kg, which was the highest tested dose that caused no mortality or morbidity in the rats. A contraceptive efficacy of 14.5% was exerted with 50 mg/kg herbal mixture extract while other doses had no effects given that all the rats were pregnant. Based on a chi-square test (p < 0.05), there was no correlation between the tested herbal mixture doses and contraception, nor on the weight of the rats. Overall, the herbal mixture extract was found to be safe but had limited contraceptive efficacy at the tested doses. In future studies, exploring increased dose range, solvent extract types and hormonal analysis will be pertinent.

FOOD SAFETY KNOWLEDGE AND HANDLING PRACTICES OF POULTRY PRODUCTS BY CONSUMERS IN NGAKA MODIRI MOLEMA DISTRICT, NORTH-WEST PROVINCE

Ponte Academic JournalAug 2022, Volume 78, Issue 8 FOOD SAFETY KNOWLEDGE AND HANDLING PRACTICES OF POULTRY PRODUCTS BY CONSUMERS IN NGAKA MODIRI MOLEMA DISTRICT, NORTH-WEST PROVINCEAuthor(s): Tshomarelo Dikgole ,Christian Mzuyanda, Usapfa LuvhengoJ. Ponte - Aug 2022 - Volume 78 - Issue 8 doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2022.8.4 Abstract:Improvements in food safety education for the prevention of foodborne illnesses can be achieved if consumer food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices are known and understood. Despite increasing scholarly interest in food safety issues, food safety challenges continue to be a problem and have not decreased, necessitating the need for food safety education. The study analysed food safety knowledge and handling practices of poultry products by consumers. Data were collected from 384 respondents using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics in the form of mean, standard deviation and variance were used to identify the sources of information available to consumers about food safety and handling practices as well as the sources of information used whereby traditional and mass media (television, newspaper, radio, magazine, and social media) were the frequently used (47%) sources of information. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to assess consumers’ knowledge, attitude, and practice of food safety and the first principal component (PC1) had a higher explanatory power, which accounted for 29,07% of the variation in the overall food safety knowledge, attitudes and handling practices of consumers when dealing with poultry products. However, the results obtained from the linear regression analysis showed a contradiction between the results obtained by the principal component analysis and the food safety knowledge scores. Download full text:Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution Username Password

Latent Opportunities for Heritage Tourism in South Africa: Evidence from Mahikeng and Surrounds

In many parts of the global South heritage is one of the major drivers for destination development. This case study builds upon the existing international scholarship on heritage as a driver for local economic development. The focus on the study is Mahikeng and the wider Ngaka Modiri Molema District in the North West province where there is a wealth of underutilised local cultural and heritage assets. This valuable asset base stems from the area’s history of multi-cultural interactions and with important historical events that occurred in the area relating to the colonial town of Mafeking; the Siege of Mafeking, the founding of the Boy Scout movement and the Anglo-Boer War (South African War); the life of David Livingstone; the life and experiences of prominent African leaders like Sol Plaatje and Dr (Ngaka) Modiri Molema; and, African cultural heritage. However, many heritage assets in the area are underutilised due to the peripheral location of the town, poor marketing and low visitor numbers, as well as, poor maintenance. Arguably, Mahikeng and its surrounds enjoys a rich heritage asset base which offers latent opportunities for a future expansion of heritage tourism and an expanded contribution of tourism for the local economy.

The Role of Gender Power Imbalances in the Spread of HIV among Women in Intimate Relationships: Guidelines for Social Work Practice

Gender power imbalances and HIV are concerns that affect women globally. Social workers are ethically committed to help people affected with HIV and thereby promote gender equality. Although the literature has documented the nexus between gender imbalances and HIV, scant research explores these problems concurrently within the social work profession. Drawing on the resource theory and gender and power theory, this article undertook a qualitative exploratory to gain insights into women's perspectives on gender power imbalances as a risk factor for HIV transmission in rural communities of Ngaka Modiri Molema District, North West Province. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants while data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The findings demonstrate that unequal power relations between men and women in intimate relationships negatively affect women’s lives in diverse ways. This gendered impact of HIV infections for women remains intact due to the rooted gender norms that limit their ability to protect themselves against risky sexual behavior by their male partners. Disclosure of one's status remains a complex stigma attached to HIV. Social work empowerment interventions that seek to enhance equality in intimate relationships are recommended.

Isolation and antibiotic sensitivity of Campylobacter species from fecal samples of broiler chickens in North West Province, South Africa.

Background and Aim:Infections with Campylobacter species have gained recognition as the most frequent cause of foodborne gastroenteritis globally. Their significance in South Africa is still an area of study interest. This study was, therefore, carried out to determine the occurrence of Campylobacter species in chickens from North West Province of South Africa as well as their antibiotic sensitivity status.Materials and Methods:A total of 2400 chicken fecal samples were collected and pooled to a total of 480 samples from five registered active poultry abattoirs in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District of North West Province, South Africa. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the detection of Campylobacter spp. targeting the 16S rRNA gene while antibiotic sensitivity was determined using disk diffusion inhibition test.Results:After isolation, a total of 26 samples were confirmed to be harboring Campylobacter jejuni by PCR and sequencing. C. jejuni was found to be the only isolate detected in all the fecal samples tested. The study further demonstrated that C. jejuni infections were highest in the summer season (3%) followed by autumn and winter at 1%, while there were none detected in the spring. The isolated C. jejuni-positive samples on disk diffusion inhibition test displayed resistance to nalidixic acid, tetracycline, erythromycin, and ciprofloxacin at 98%, 80%, 83%, and 21%, respectively.Conclusion:C. jejuni isolated in this study is known to cause disease in humans, and thus its occurrence requires application of “One Health” strategy to reduce the spread of this zoonotic pathogen in South Africa.

Perceptions about the use of language in physical science classrooms: A discourse analysis

The low enrolment, lack of interest, exacerbated by the general poor performance in physical science in South Africa paints a gloomy picture about the status of physical science in the country. Despite the fact that there might be other factors at play, one factor which cannot be ignored is the discourse about the use of language in the science classroom as viewed by physical science teachers. In the study reported on here a quantitative methodology was followed in which a closed-ended questionnaire survey was used as data collection tool. In the study we examined South African physical science teachers’ perceptions about the language use in science classrooms, and the study was informed by the Vygotskian socio-cultural theory (SCT). The target population from which a sample size of 37 physical science teachers was systematically sampled was high school classroom teachers and learners in Grades 10, 11 and 12 in the Ngaka Modiri Molema district of the North West province of South Africa. The study revealed that physical science teachers encountered difficulties with meanings of non-technical words used in science context. The conclusion drawn was that many physical science teachers were not proficient in the discourse of the science classroom and this often compromised their effectiveness in the teaching and learning of science. The main difficulty was confusion in differentiating between technical and non-technical words and the lack of convincing explanations of meanings of these words in teaching and learning. Key among the recommendations of this study was the need to address teachers’ challenges with regard to the language use and the implications thereof.