Life Sentences for Child Trafficking Highlight Dark Side of Sangoma Tradition in South Africa

A South African mother and her two accomplices were sentenced to life in prison for the horrific crime of trafficking their six-year-old daughter. The child was sold to a traditional healer, known as a sangoma, for 20,000 rand ($A1744). A witness revealed that the mother had told her she sold the girl because the sangoma desired her "eyes and skin." The girl remains missing. This case highlights the dark side of a deeply rooted cultural practice. Sangomas, traditional healers highly respected in their communities, play a significant role in South African society, often performing rituals to heal people spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. However, the increasing commercialization of traditional medicine has raised concerns. New regulations require sangomas to register with the Interim Traditional Health Practitioners Council, a move that has been met with resistance. The report also notes that approximately 72% of South Africa's Black African population uses traditional medicine, either before seeking medical care or instead of it.