The chairperson of traditional healers in the Mopani district, Frank Chauke, has advised traditional doctors to send critical patients to medical doctors and not to wait too long with patients that they know they can’t heal.

Popularly known as Xikhavele, Chauke was speaking at a three-day conference by traditional healers, held at N’wamatatani village. The conference is a yearly event, aimed at encouraging members to share ideas and expertise on how to heal certain diseases. They also address challenges that they might have encountered during the course of the year.

Speaking to guests from as far as Cape Town, Xikhavele urged fellow-healers not to stay too long with patients who have diseases that are beyond their ability to heal them. “Our aim is not only to get money, but to heal people as well,” he said.

“If you can’t treat a certain disease, just pass the patient over to those who can.” According to him, there are certain diseases that can’t be cured by traditional healers, "and that these diseases should be passed over to modern doctors," as soon as detected, to save the life of a patient.

“For instance, we as traditional healers can’t add water to the body of a patient. Therefore, every patient that needs water should be referred to the clinic or hospital as soon as possible. Don’t wait too long till the patients reach a stage where they can’t be saved,” he said.

Asked on the issue of some traditional healers that are said to bewitch people or give clients concoctions meant to harm other people, Xikhavele stated that "those are not true healers, but individuals driven by greed to make money.”