14 Sep 2022

Traditional healers from Dingaka tsa Setso Association have expressed disappointment  with their counterparts accused of engaging in dodgy practices.

This emerged recently during a dialogue held at Maun main kgotla where concerns were raised that some traditional healers abused and ill-treated patients, allegations that tarnish the practice.

Members of the community stated that some traditional healers claimed sex could be used to treat women while some complained that the way some healers go about treating patients was traumatic.

Females alleged that sometimes healers made advances on them and threatened them when they declined.

The accusations were not news to members of Dingaka tsa Setso Association who condemned   the acts, which they said could tarnish their career. They advised members of the public to report to the association those engaged in such behavior.

They argued that healers doing such were not registered with the association and were in it to serve own interests.

“These people are weakening and undermining the field of traditional healing with their acts. We have qualifications and acquired knowledge about herbs and treatment,” said Ms Epadile Daniel.

Ms Daniel specialises in assisting children and women, and attends to births.

She said real healers did not advertise their services but were marketed by clients who recommended them because of quality service.

A real healer, she said, was upfront with information that would help a patient to make informed choices.

She said those mistreating patients ought to be reported and held accountable.

Another traditional healer, Mr Motsholathebe Rabakoko concurred, saying it was fake healers whose conduct was questionable because true healers respected their work.

He encouraged members of the public to demand beforehand, registration certificates of healers they consulted.

He said some claimed to be healers just because they possessed common knowledge on herbs used to treat ailments.

Mr Rabakoko said traditional practitioners often underwent training after which a certificate of practice was issued.

He said some healers specialised just like in modern healing.

Mr Selopile Poonyane also a healer, expressed disappointment that traditional healing had been in existence for many years yet it was misunderstood hence people were being abused, while some mistook it for witchcraft.

He advised the public to steer away from bogus healers as they only wanted to frustrate the efforts of genuine ones. ends