Abraham Mnguni, a Traditional Health Practitioner in Evaton West, Gauteng, South Africa, has expressed his views on the government’s regulation of Traditional Health Practitioners.
In an opinion piece, Mnguni stated that he is against government regulation and has always stood for self-regulation of the practice. Mnguni, who previously served as the Acting Deputy National Co-ordinator at the Traditional Healers Organisation (THO), took a resolution to distance the organization from the processes of the Traditional Health Practitioners Council.
He believes that being inside the government restricts one from being an activist and that the internal policies bind them.
Mnguni cited examples of organizations such as the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), which lost their relevance/mandate when their senior members were appointed to government positions. He also criticized President Cyril Ramaphosa for being consumed by capitalism and going against the raise for public servants.
Mnguni congratulated the appointed Traditional Health Practitioners to serve as council members but reminded them that they should not impose systems that are not in line with their calling. He emphasized that Traditional Health Practitioners are not Western medical practitioners and that their practice is a way of life for Africans.
Mnguni’s views on the self-regulation of Traditional Health Practitioners are not new, but they continue to spark debate in South Africa. While some believe that government regulation is necessary to ensure the safety and efficacy of traditional medicine, others argue that self-regulation is the best way to preserve the authenticity and cultural significance of the practice.
