Parliament, Tuesday, 26 May 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Health has expressed serious concern and frustration over the continued lack of impact of the Interim Traditional Health Practitioners Council of South Africa more than a decade after it was established in 2014.
In addition, the committee noted that despite the existence of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007, regulations have still not been promulgated, no functional national register of practitioners exists, and the Council remains unable to effectively regulate the sector or protect the public. This prolonged regulatory vacuum has fundamentally undermined Parliament’s intention to formalise and professionalise traditional health practice, while exposing communities to unregulated, unsafe and, in some cases, harmful practices.
Committee Chairperson Ms Faith Muthambi said, “It cannot be acceptable that Parliament passed legislation in 2007, established a statutory council in 2014, and 12 years later the core provisions of that law remain unimplemented.”
Members of the committee were also concerned about the Council’s budgetary contradictions. They highlighted that the Council is expected to regulate an estimated 300 000 traditional health practitioners nationally, yet it continues to operate with extremely limited funding allocations: approximately R6.7 million in 2024 and projected allocations of under R10 million in the outer years.
Also of concern is that the Council is expected to become financially sustainable through practitioner registration fees, despite the reality that many traditional health practitioners operate in rural and economically marginalised communities. Committee members warned that this funding model raises serious questions about feasibility, equity and long‑term sustainability, and risks undermining effective compliance and enforcement.
Committee members also noted with concern the Council’s failure to demonstrate measurable progress in preserving and protecting indigenous knowledge systems beyond consultations and policy discussions. They also noted with concern the absence of clear evidence on the integration of traditional health practice into broader health reforms, including the National Health Insurance framework, and the lack of a dedicated budget for indigenous medicine research, intellectual property protection and product development.
The issue public‑safety in relation to unregulated and harmful practices, including the treatment of vulnerable groups such as children, was another area of concern. Committee members were alarmed that, nearly two decades after the Act was passed, the registration of practitioners has not been enforced, despite legislative provisions prohibiting unregistered practice.
The committee also highlighted the prevalence of fraudulent medical certificates, which happens in the absence of enforcement mechanisms, and the inability of employers and communities to verify whether practitioners are legally registered. The committee stressed that the non-existence of a practitioner register renders the Council unable to fulfil its core mandate of protecting the public.
Committee members were also dissatisfied with the Council’s continued interim status since 2014, noting that prolonged interim arrangements have weakened accountability, delayed institutional development and contributed to a lack of tangible outcomes. They were also unhappy about Council employees who were reluctant to take responsibility for matters beyond their period of employment.
“When individuals are appointed to an institution, they inherit its history and its failures. Accountability does not reset with new appointments. Parliament is entitled to ask what tangible outcomes this institution can demonstrate since its establishment,” said Ms Muthambi.
In response to the committee’s concerns, the Council and the Department of Health cited delays in the promulgation of regulations, limited funding, insufficient human resource capacity and outstanding procurement of registration and regulatory systems as key obstacles to implementation.
The department indicated that a Traditional Health Practitioners Amendment Bill is being processed to transition the Council from an interim to a permanent structure and to extend its term of office. The department further reported that a national policy on traditional medicine, aligned with World Health Organisation strategies, is at an advanced stage of approval.
The Council said it had conducted provincial roadshows, stakeholder engagements and policy development processes, but acknowledged that practitioner registration has not yet begun and that enforcement remains impossible in the absence of regulations and operational systems.
The committee made it clear that the explanations provided do not diminish the seriousness of the situation. The committee resolved to request detailed written responses from the Council and the department, including outstanding annual reports, financial statements, regulatory timelines, consultation records and a clear time‑bound long‑term strategy to establish a fully functional, sustainable regulatory authority.
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MS FAITH MUTHAMBI.
For media enquiries or to arrange interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Ms Yoliswa Landu
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Email: ylandu@parliament.gov.za
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