Lulamile Feni Bongani Fuzile

And visit a place of pride

The wealthy Lusikisiki muti-man was born in 1898 and died of a heart attack in 1972. He is one of the most documented traditional healers.

Middledrift’s well-known herbalist Keke Mama, known as Gononda, who sprang to popularity in the country was gunned down in June 2011.

The province currently has the likes of Elizabeth Paul a faith healer from Tsolo, who is more popularly known as Ma’m Spalding. She was canonised in May this year by the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.

Spiritual healer Nomthunzi Joyce Mali better known as MaNgconde of Zigodlo in Debe Nek, near Middledrift, is the most popular living faith healer in the Eastern Cape. MaNgconde has been practising faith healing for the past 31 years.

Mthatha Hospital Complex clinical governance director Dr Mbuyiselo Madiba and Mthathabased Bishop Andile Mbete of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa both said healing depended on the belief of each individual.

“Although I never heard any clinical testing proving the Isinuka heals, I could not deny its healing powers,” said Madiba, adding some people believed prayer alone does not heal, but “to me it depends on what each individual believes”.

“Many have been healed through the power of prayer.

“Some patients go to certain doctors because they believe they are good. It is all what you believe in,” said Dr Madiba.

Mbete said there were no theological contradictions with people believing Isinuka could heal them.

“In Israel, many believed the Dead Sea’s mineral black mud could heal them of skin ailments.

“In the Bible there are a number of abstracts where people were healed with mud and water.” — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za/bonganif@