The function of this forum is to provide a regulatory framework to ensure the competence, safety and quality of traditional health care services.
Local traditional surgeons, nurses and all other role-players will be registered with the forum and will function under its jurisdiction.
Dr Richard Kutela, the chairman of the newly established forum said the aim is to regulate the initiation of young men into manhood. Locally there have been problems but fortunately they have been of a minor nature. "A common scourge associated with initiations is that corrupt and immoral people come forward as traditional surgeons (ingcibi) and nurses professing to have the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the ceremony." The initiation period is usually June and December.
Mzwandile Gingcana, the organizer said that there are many people in George that are proud of their culture and want to uphold it in the purist form without "contaminating it with Western influences".
The current guidelines applicable to Traditional Healers will be enforced by law when the Traditional Health Practitioners Act 22 of 2007 is promulgated by Parliament. The idea is to establish an Interim Traditional Health Practitioners Council of South Africa to provide for the management and control over the registration, training and conduct of practitioners, students and specified categories in the traditional health practitioners profession.
On 23 August this year the George Forum was launched under the auspices of the Eden District Initiation Forum for the Southern Cape. They have a working relationship with CapeNature, San Parks, the Departments of Health and Arts and Culture in the Province.
In traditional African culture certain knowledge and practices are the domain of men and traditionally trained nurses or Ikhankatha will be allocated to the initiation school so that the knowledge required by the initiate and his family will be available if required.
Furthermore the role players will be workshopped so that there is a thorough knowledge of their culture and an understanding of first aid, fire fighting, how to react to snakes and other animals in the bush as well as environmental education regarding the local fauna and flora.
It is expected that the role players will return and impart their newly acquired information to the people.
The criteria for a suitable site will be raised at a meeting with the Municipality so that a piece of land can be identified. The requirements are that it includes trees, water and shielded from public view.
The contact details of the Chairman is 074 646 9531. The organizer is Mzwandile Gingcana 079 835 8895.
Members of the 12 man Executive Committee whose responsibility is to regulate the local initiation process. Standing from left are Vuyani Dywili, Clifford Mofu,Swapi Maki (Secretary) Boiyakele Stokwe, Raymond Kutela, Mzwandile Gingcana (Organizer) and Dr Richard Kutela (Chairman). Seated from left are Howard Ntongana, Loyiso Zenzile, Khumbuzile Magobo (Deputy Chairman) SJ Gogotya. Absent Zandisile Xuza, Calvin Sitshetshe and Thando Venkile.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: MYRON RABINOWITZ
