24 March 2026
Good day THPASA Members
THPASA recently wrote a letter of complaint to the Speaker of Parliament regarding the slow progress in the implementation of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act No 22 of 2007 by the Minister of Health, Dr. Aaron Motswaledi.
Herein below is the response regarding the Regulation and Registration of Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) by the Speaker of Parliament:
Sections of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act 2007 (Act No. 22 of 2007) were proclaimed on different occasions. Sections 7, 10, 11(3), 12 to 15, 47, 48 and 50 were proclaimed on 30 April 2008 as published in Government Gazette No. 31020. Sections 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 16 to 46, 49 and 51 were proclaimed on 1 May 2014 in the Government Gazette No. 37600 under Proclamation No. R.29 of 2014.
The last outstanding parts, specifically Sections 1, 2, 3, 11(1) and 11(2), were brought into operation on 1 October 2018 under Proclamation No. 29 of 2018, Government Gazette No. 41945.
The Minister of Health has published Traditional Health Practitioners Regulations 2024 in July 2024 in line with section 47 of the Act, for public comments as required in the process towards promulgation. In order to conclude the promulgation process, the Department is waiting for the issuance of the Socio- Economic Impact Assessment Study (SEIAS) certificate by The Presidency.
It should also be noted that the Department is assisting with the institutional arrangements to enable the interim Traditional Health Practitioners Council of South Africa to deliver its mandate in line with the Act. The registration process for Traditional Health Practitioners will commence on proclamation of these Regulations.
Kindly note that further enquiries could be directed to Mr Mbedzi.
Kind regards,
Petitions Office
National Assembly.
Conclusion
THPASA will therefore continue to engage with Mr. Mbedzi, the Acting Registrar at the Department of Health’s Interim Health Practitioners Council of South Africa (ITHPCSA). It is in the interest of our members that the THP Act, 2007 is implemented without further delays.
Also note that while the issues raised herein are pending, our members continue to Practice as Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) in term of Section 51 of the Traditional Health Practitioners Act, No. 22 of 2007 which states under Provisional Arrangements “ No person is subject to legal or disciplinary action or to any penalty contemplated in this Act for engaging in traditional health practice during the period of one year following the date of commencement of this Act without being registered to do so. (Note that to date, the THP Act, 2007 has NOT commenced, therefore Registration for THP has not commenced).
Oupa Mopaki
THPASA-Chairman