The Traditional Health Practitioners Act No 22 (2007) of South Africa
Gabriel Louw, André Duvenhage
Abstract
Background
Years of South African legislation on traditional healing practices preceded the Traditional Health Practitioners Act (Act No 22, 2007). The first laws date as far back as 1895. It seems as if the intention of the pre-1994 legislation was not to promote traditional healing practices, but to limit the power of the traditional healer.
Aims
The study aims to describe the history that came before Act No 22 of 2007.
Methods
This is an exploratory and descriptive study in line with the modern-day historical approach of investigation and reviewing research. The emphasis is on the use of present-day documentation, like articles, books and newspapers, as primary sources to reflect on the development and promulgation of Act No 22. The findings are offered in narrative format.
Results
Various political and legal processes can be identified as contributing to the promulgation of the Act in 2007, especially after the 1994.
Conclusion
It had taken more than 45 years of unofficial and seven years of official struggle to get Act No 22 promulgated in 2007. Today, nearly a decade after promulgation, it has still not been fully enacted.
Full Text:
Years of South African legislation on traditional healing practices preceded the Traditional Health Practitioners Act (Act No 22, 2007). The first laws date as far back as 1895. It seems as if the intention of the pre-1994 legislation was not to promote traditional healing practices, but to limit the power of the traditional healer.
Aims
The study aims to describe the history that came before Act No 22 of 2007.
Methods
This is an exploratory and descriptive study in line with the modern-day historical approach of investigation and reviewing research. The emphasis is on the use of present-day documentation, like articles, books and newspapers, as primary sources to reflect on the development and promulgation of Act No 22. The findings are offered in narrative format.
Results
Various political and legal processes can be identified as contributing to the promulgation of the Act in 2007, especially after the 1994.
Conclusion
It had taken more than 45 years of unofficial and seven years of official struggle to get Act No 22 promulgated in 2007. Today, nearly a decade after promulgation, it has still not been fully enacted.
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