The Traditional Healers Organisation (THO) in Govan Mbeki Municipality, Mpumalanga are working with the police in making sure a traditional healer, who allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl in July, and another allegedly holding a girl against her will, are arrested.

A group of traditional healers say they received news of the rape when they met with eMbalenhle police management in August to report a traditional healer is allegedly asking R18 000 to release a girl back to her parents.

They said they won’t allow someone to drag their name to the mud.

Gogo Dabulamanzi Ndala, THO member, says the rape allegations will destroy the dignity and trust of healers in the community if something is not done.

“If we find that he is a member [of THO], we will close his place of practice, cancel his practice certificate and terminate his membership.

“This is disgusting, how can you rape your patient, especially a child?

“If you are a real healer who has an ancestral calling, whether you are a man or woman, you must avoid being controlled by your flesh.

“Many bogus healers tell their patients that their medicine will work once they have sex with them, that’s not true.

“There is no calling that wants sex to heal a person. That is rape and such a healer must be arrested and prosecuted,” says Ndala.

The healers met with police about a case in which a certain traditional healer in Extension 14 allegedly initiated a girl to become sangoma without her parents’ approval.

They alleged that the healer is demanding an amount of R18 000 rand before he can release the girl, claiming his costs to initiate her.

Constable Busi Mthethwa, eMbalenhle police spokesperson, says they appreciate the organisation’s help to fight crime by reporting suspicious conduct within the community.

Mthethwa says the police are investigating the matter that was brought forward by these healers.