PREVENTING WITCHCRAFT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29516, 18 May 1961, Page 3

PREVENTING WITCHCRAFT

Company In S. Africa

(N X.P. A. -Reuter) JOHANESBUBG

Seven African herbalists from different parts of the Transvaal, have formed an association to stamp out “savagery and exploitation’’ in witchcraft, and to control unqualified herbalism. They hope eventually to gain Government, municipal and medical support for their scheme, and to establish a special committee with the backing of the Department of Bantu Affairs, which would lay down the qualifications for people who practice as “dingakas.” i The public company, which the seven have formed, has i been registered and recog- ; nised by the Registrar of I Companies in Pretoria. ! “We believe,” Mr David IChawoke, head of the group and a herbalist of 26 years’ I experience, said through an 'interpreter, "that Africans lean best be educated against I wizardry, superstition and I savagery by their own I people, ‘‘Trading on Ignorance” I "Herbalism has its place; Ibut there are in Johannesburg alone., thousands of j charlatans who have set up ■ dual practices as herbalists jand witchdoctors. They are j trading on the ignorance and I superstitious beliefs of the I African.”

One of the organisation’s main aims is to set up a school and board examiners —under the special committee —so that, in time, only those

who have passed regulation tests may practice herbalism.

Their constitution calls for possible legislation to protect the public, and recognised, qualified "dingakas. African chemists and herb and drug dealers.” Other clauses would: Prevent members undertaking any surgical work —other than normal first aid; lay down their duties to refer patients to qualified doctors or recognised hospitals: make it a regulation for dingakas who dispense or deal in herbs and African drugs to keen registers. They are sworn to prevent and abolish the practice of ritual murder and, generally, of witchcraft.