STOP CHARLATANS’ ADS

THE COMMISSION for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, under Ms Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, faces the mammoth task of having to clamp down on advertisers masquerading as herbalists, traditional healers and/or prophets.

Their modus operandi is to issue pamphlets at busy street corners and malls to unsuspecting, vulnerable, would-be victims. Some place adverts in classified sections of newspapers to lure their victims with “too good to be true” promises of being capable of making one win the lottery and tenders, and bringing back lost lovers and magic wallets, or to delete loans, etc.

They will then meet their potential clients and request a deposit for their services (or consultation fees).

Some have been persuaded to withdraw their life savings to give to these crooks, who then vanish into thin air.

It boggles the mind that the different media houses allow unscrupulous healers to place adverts with them.

Some newspapers have up to four pages filled with these adverts.

Mkhwanazi-Xaluva needs to investigate if there’s any collusion between these parties.

The media houses have a responsibility to protect the vulnerable, ill-informed and often desperate poor sections of our society.

Patrick Mphuthi