African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance (AJPHERD) October 2015 (Supplement 1:2), pp. 272-278. The use of indigenous knowledge in primary health care: A case study of Makanye community in Limpopo Province, South Africa S.A. RANKOANA¹, K. NEL 2 , K. MOTHIBI 3 , T.M. MOTHIBA 4 , P. MAMOGOBO 5 AND M. SETWABA 6 Departments of Sociology & Anthropology 1 , Psychology 2,6 , Criminology & Criminal Justice 3 , Department of Nursing Science 4,5 , University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727; South Africa. E-mail: sejabaledi.rankoana@ul.ac.za Abstract The use of indigenous knowledge to meet primary health care needs goes back to 1978 when the World Health Assembly announced the potential use of traditional medicine and urged member states to use traditional medical practices in primary health care. The present study examined the use of indigenous knowledge for preventive, curative and protective health care. Data were collected through interactions with a sample of 100 participants. The study results provide explanations of disease, disease etiology, health implications of food and medical ethnobotanical knowledge as the indigenous knowledge systems used to maintain good health. These knowledge systems provide protective, preventive and curative care. The study recommends scientific research to explore the role of indigenous knowledge in health care among South African cultural groups in order to validate the knowledge and use it to achieve Sustainable Development Goals to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all people. Keywords: Indigenous knowledge, primary health care, traditional medicine, rural community, sustainable development goals. How to cite this article: Rankoana, S.A., Nel, K., Mothibi, K. Mothiba, T.M., Mamogobo, P. & Setwaba, M. (2015). The use of indigenous knowledge in primary health care: A case study of Makanye community in Limpopo Province, South Africa. African Journal for Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance, Supplement 1:2 (October), 272-278. Introduction The use of indigenous knowledge and practices in health care were first recognised by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in 1978 when it urged the member states to utilise traditional medical practices in primary health care. Indigenous knowledge is recently regarded as an important commodity in global health development (Lama, 2000). The World Health Organisation (WHO) in the Health for All Declaration (1978) highlighted the need to include local communities, their traditions and practices in primary health care. The inclusion of local communities meant that their indigenous medical practices could be used to achieve primary health care goals because the indigenous systems of health