Healers' group warns of bogus practitioners
The African National Healers Association says the actions of some traditional healers are dragging the name of others through the mud.
The association's Managing Director, Simphiwe Mahlaba has been speaking to Newswatch after a KwaZulu-Natal-based traditional healer appeared in court.
He is alleged to to have raped four teenage boys in Msinga in northern KZN.
Police say he approached the boys' families, saying the men in the household required traditional help.
The healer is accused of keeping the boys aged between 15 and 17 years at his practice where he raped them for two weeks.
Mahlaba says misuse of power leads to a lack a trust from the public.
"Before you go and check up with the doctor, make sure that you find out about the history of the doctor and check if they're registered.
"If they're not registered, check if they've gone for ukuthwasa (training), make sure that they're registered and they're really helping people," he said.
The traditional healer will appear in the Pietermaritzburg High Court again on November 10.
(Photo: Wikipedia)