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Indigenous knowledge (IK) plays a crucial role in rural African communities by contributing to the development of mitigation and adaptation strategies, enhancing resilience to climate-related challenges. However, there is limited documentation of its application in South Africa. This study investigates the adoption of IK in the Vhembe district, focusing on general use, disease prediction and farming practices. Results indicate that the respondents possessed a rich reservoir of IK, with 76.1% affirming its use for different purposes. Most respondents (75.3%) use IK for farming, with 63.1% using it for disease prediction. Most participants (74.3%) reported adequate confidence levels in their use of IK for general purposes. Respondents who had stayed longer in Vhembe reported higher confidence levels in using IK, as did those above 66 years old in using this knowledge system for disease prediction. The use of IK indicators for early warning of malaria outbreaks was also documented. Investigating and documenting IK use in communities could inform the basis for preservation and hence, enhance IK recognition. The integration of IK in the development of early warning systems may enhance their relevance and effectiveness in combating the effects of climate change and infectious diseases.

The primary aim of this scholarly discourse is to demonstrate how South African indigenous people advanced agricultural practices without the dominant aid of globalisation and modernity that, to a certain degree, discredits Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) that have existed from time immemorial. Qualitative research inquiry and IKS are synergetically used as approaches to this scholarly discourse to form juxtaposition and triangulation – a balancing act. The main discussions and findings of the article underline that incontrovertibly, South African indigenous people had their traditional ways of advancing human and social life such as relying on traditional medicine, farming, harvesting and many other determinants. In respect of the problematised phenomenon, the conclusion infuses recommendations for future scholarly debates while the emphasis is on embracing traditional knowledge and avoid continuous and solitary accreditation of neo-liberalist and imperialist notions in South Africa and elsewhere.