South Africa faces growing crisis over unregulated traditional healers

South Africa’s government has failed to implement key provisions of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007, leaving approximately 300,000 healers unregulated nearly two decades after the law was passed. The Interim Traditional Health Practitioners Council, established in 2014, remains non-operational, creating a legal vacuum that exposes communities—particularly in rural and disadvantaged areas—to unqualified practitioners and potential fraud. Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health chairperson Faith Muthambi criticized the delays, stating that the government has repeatedly postponed enforcement without accountability. She rejected claims that past administrations should bear sole responsibility, emphasizing that current officials must address the failures. Without a functioning national practitioner register, authorities cannot verify qualifications, monitor standards, or investigate complaints against unregulated healers. The council operates with an annual budget of around R6.7 million, which lawmakers describe as insufficient for regulating a sector involving 300,000 practitioners. Funding relies heavily on registration fees, but many healers in poor communities cannot afford them, further undermining oversight efforts. The lack of resources has also hindered enforcement, allowing fraudulent practitioners to issue fake medical certificates or pose as qualified healers without consequences. Experts warn that unregulated traditional medicine poses risks to public safety, particularly in regions where healers are the primary healthcare providers. The committee has called for urgent reforms, including increased funding and stronger enforcement mechanisms, to integrate traditional medicine into South Africa’s broader healthcare system while protecting vulnerable communities.