'Startling' process to register traditional healers

Traditional healers may soon have to be registered. According to regulations published in the Government Gazette, this can be done through documentary proof or if the community regards him or her as a ‘healer’, says a TimesLIVE report. ‘This is a startling process for the registration of a health professional – by word of mouth and hearsay,’ medical lawyer at Werksmans Attorneys, Neil Kirby, said. The regulations are aimed at ensuring all traditional healers, herbalists, traditional birth attendants and traditional surgeons are registered with the Traditional Health Practitioners Council. Head of the Traditional Healers Organisation Phepsile Maseko said the draft regulations were trying to protect the public from charlatans. One of the defining aspects of the draft law is that traditional surgeons who offer circumcision have to undergo training for ‘at least five years at three different initiation schools’.