NW healers push for traditional medicine hospital

African Traditional Medicine practitioners in the North West say their ongoing collaboration with scientific research and sustainability partners is paving the way for the development of a traditional medicine hospital in the province.

Scores of traditional healers from across the province, marked the International African Traditional Medicine Week with celebrations and engagements at the Ipelegeng Multipurpose Centre in Schweizer-Reneke, near Vryburg.

This as traditional healers are reaffirming their indigenous knowledge and practices, and the important role played by African Traditional Medicine in healthcare.

As African spiritualists are preparing for the beginning of the spring equinox and new year later in September, the North West Dingaka Association says the season is a reminder of the importance of the natural environment and traditional medicine. https://t.co/V9didIC9jI pic.twitter.com/nNvCaqmz51 — SABC News (@SABCNews) September 2, 2025 “I started my journey as a traditional healer in 1992, and then my ancestors strengthened my calling until I was called to the university to teach students about herbs and how you mix them to get certain medicine.

I even taught them about indigenous ways to make Panado,” says a traditional healer.

“This medicine is derived from this tree stem which is known as ‘Motswere’ and it is found in Botswana and Zimbabwe.

It heals stomach ulcers when you mix a teaspoon of it with milk,” says another traditional healer.

Collaborations with scientific researchers have expanded opportunities for growth.

“About 80% of South Africans consult traditional doctors and even in pharmacies you can now find traditional medicines packaged with no chemicals.

That is why it is important to have associations because we have workshops and also call medical doctors to workshop us.

We are actually working on one day having a traditional medicines hospital,” says President of the North West Dinkgaka Association , Gogo Anna Rabotapi.

Noluyolo Zahela of the North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation shares the same sentiment.

“We are not saying, as government let’s go back to how we used to live but from those things we used to do in the olden days we can pick up some that can sustain us, that we can use.

Especially in the new generation because they don’t know the value and the uses.