A blind traditional healer, who had plied his trade for 16 years but is no longer able to climb mountains to bend down to pick herbs after a car accident, is to receive more than R1 million from the Road Accident Fund. Picture: File
A blind traditional healer, who had plied his trade for 16 years but is no longer able to climb mountains to bend down to pick herbs after a car accident, is due to receive slightly more than R1 million from the Road Accident Fund.
The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, earlier ruled that the fund was 100% liable for the injuries sustained by the traditional healer, identified only as GT. The matter was back in court to establish the amount of damages payable to him.
GT told the court that he had suffered back and knee injuries from the accident and he was no longer able to sit down for long sessions with his clients.
His blindness was unrelated to the accident.
He had a guide who took him into the mountains once a week so that he could source herbs.
He was no longer able to work as much as before or climb the mountains as often because of excessive back pain. As a result, his income has severely reduced and he was unable to pay his guide regularly to assist him to in searching for herbs and other plants.
GT told the court that he has been a traditional healer since 2003. He had gone into the mountains and bushes once a week and when he had returned home, he would crush and package his herbs.
His assistant helped him with the harvesting of the plants and roots but because of his reduced income, he was unable to pay his assistant his full fee.
GT said that although he had returned to his work after the accident, he was able to see only one client or so a day. He was also not making as much muti as before as he was seeing fewer clients.
In a report to court, a psychiatrist said GT was suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after the accident. He found it traumatic to walk alongside or cross a road if he heard a car in the vicinity. He also had nightmares about being in another accident.
GT said the being a traditional healer was his calling and the court was told that his blindness limited his opportunities on the job market.
The court was told that to be a traditional healer, a person had to be physically strong and healthy to be able to dig out roots and other herbs. In some cases, it was said, they needed to perform traditional dances, which GT was unable to do.
“Sangomas must, at all times, be attentive and concentrate on what the ancestors and the bones are telling him or her before healing of the clients. They should be able to remember and concentrate on mixing herbs for the right disease and also remember the correct measurements of the mutis,” the court was told.
It was further said that GT was viewed as a “senior traditional healer” if one had regard for the fact that he has practised the profession for more than 16 years. Thus, before the accident, he had had regular patients and a successful practice.
Acting Judge G Lubbe concluded that the accident has left him vulnerable and the amount of slightly more than R1m would be sufficient.
Pretoria News
zelda.venter@inl.co.za