Soshanguve Traditional Healer Says She Cures Aids Despite Criticism

Sthembiso Sithole



Gogo Rose says traditional healing methods should
be accepted in the HIV/Aids fight.



A Soshanguve traditional healer, identifying herself as Gogo Rose, claims that she has cured an estimated sixty HIV/AIDS patients in the township.

An article appearing on the website of HIV/Aids charity group, Avert found on http://www.avert .org, says in 2009 South Africa had an estimated 5.6 million people living with HIV/Aids – a figure higher than any other country in the world. This means that those claiming to cure the disease would have a huge clientele and Gogo Rose understands this.

“HIV/AIDS is big challenge that the world is facing. I cured sixty people who have this [illness]. Many people from Christian churches to ordinary people have come to me for help and I helped them,” she explains.

According to Gogo Rose, she has been a traditional healer for more than ten years and says she has a certificate.


Gogo Rose says her ingredients are a secret she will never share with anybody but says they work. Walking the streets of Soshanguve we found several patients who say they have been cured by her methods.

“We have received a cure. Life was tough and we thought it was the end of the world but Rose rescued us,” said a patient who refused to be named.

Gogo Rose says she doesn’t discourage her patients from using laboratory tested Anti Retroviral drugs.

“I don’t have a problem with people using ARVs but they need umuthi (medicine) so that it will help their immune system,” she says.

She also runs a traditional healing school in Soshanguve’s block JJ and has amathwasa (trainees) that are guided to practise traditional healing. They range from the ages of 20 to 32 years old. They say one of the challenges they face is criticism from Christian pastors who also call them names.

Skhuni Nkosi has completed her training with Gogo Rose and says she wants the same acknowledgement that doctors get.

“Members of the community, especially pastors must accept us. Doctors go to universities and study for medicine but when people die they don’t blame them but they blame us,” says Nkosi.

A man who identifies himself as Prophet Makgake who also runs church services on Sundays in the Soshanguve South campus says traditional healers should change certain things about themselves.

“We don’t have a problem with traditional healers. The only thing that we are concerned about is that they must welcome Christ,” says Makgake.

Many traditional claims to cure HIV/Aids have been a cause of much debate in South Africa. Former late health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang encouraged HIV positive people to go to traditional healers while taking a diet of vegetables. Tshabalala-Msimang was constantly criticised by HIV/Aids lobby groups for this.

Amathwasa say they will not deviate from their
training despite criticism.

In 2006 scientists were cautioning against the use of another traditional concoction from a KwaZulu-Natal traditional healer who also claimed his medicine could cure HIV/Aids. An article appearing on the website, http://www.health-e.org.za, on 22 March 2006 states that nurses in the Willowfontein clinic in Pietermaritzburg were putting patients on the waiting list for this medicine saying it would be introduced as an ARV which never happened.

Despite these challenges and a lack of recognition in traditional healers’ claims to have Aids cures ithwasa, Tshepiso Johanna, sees a bright future in her calling. “I have learned so many things and I believe there is still a lot that needs to be done. We will continue helping the community.”

As much as she believes in her work, traditional healers will continue facing much criticism in South Africa.