Science meets tradition

VALIDATION: KWAZULU-NATAL HEALERS ATTEND ONE-DAY WORKSHOP

DEA balance interests of cultural medicine and the environment.

Traditional healers in eThekwini were among the first countrywide to take part in a one-day workshop intended to encourage compliance and scientific validation in the traditional medicine field.

The workshop was a joint effort by the department of environmental affairs (DEA), KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife and eThekwini Municipality.

“Your knowledge, which we respect, has to be validated by science; we can’t do away with science,” Dr Khosie Kiviet, the DEA’s director for its biodiversity section, told the crowd.

According to the department, the national initiative was needed after increased complaints from the public about regulations for threatened or protected species (Tops) being flouted at muti markets nationwide.

“We recognise culture and tradition. We also need to protect the environment,” said Sonnyboy Babela, chief director of compliance: monitoring, for the DEA.

He said enforcement could only take place on those who deliberately contravened legislation.

Sazi Mhlongo, traditional healer and deputy chair of the Traditional Health Practitioners’ Council, said in the past, enforcement agencies were quick to arrest practitioners who were unaware plants they were gathering were endangered. – ANA