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A critical analysis of the criminalization of aspects of traditional medicinal practice in Swaziland in relation to the right to freedom of religion

Thesis (LLD) University of Pretoria, 2019.

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Other Authors: Stevens, G.P. (Geert Philip)
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2023
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Stevens, G.P. (Geert Philip)
author_browse Stevens, G.P. (Geert Philip)
author_facet Stevens, G.P. (Geert Philip)
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Thesis (LLD) University of Pretoria, 2019.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:00.699Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2023
publishDateRange 2023
publishDateSort 2023
publisher University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/91693 A critical analysis of the criminalization of aspects of traditional medicinal practice in Swaziland in relation to the right to freedom of religion Stevens, G.P. (Geert Philip) u15058507@tuks.co.za Carstens, P.A. Musi, Sifiso Vuyo UCTD Traditional healers Traditional medicine African traditional religion Medicinal regulation Swazi traditional religion Thesis (LLD) University of Pretoria, 2019. Contemporary constitutional jurisprudence and the legal order have an historical deficit to fill in respect of the recognition of African traditional ‘religion’, particularly in the Swazi context. A combination of inherited colonial suppression, delegitimization and criminalization of certain indigenous religious customs and practices has robbed this area of critical legal recognition and legitimacy. These practices are of a medico-religious nature and propagated by indigenous medicinal practitioners who are at the vanguard of this form of belief system. Traditional health practitioners are a marginalized group in Swaziland by the government, yet statistics indicate that up to 80% of the populace has recourse to their methods. Their religious activity is primarily expressed and demonstrated through a holistic therapeutic medicinal process which involves herbalism and African spirituality. This activity emphasizes a connected triangulation of life, medicine and religion in which physical, mental and material misfortune is diagnosed and treated through spiritual or supernatural means in order restore social equilibrium. Yet, aspects of their practice have been mischaracterized as criminal and denied constitutional protection. This study seeks to decriminalize and demystify Swazi traditional medicine by investigating the possibility and circumstances of characterizing indigenous healing methods, habits and experiences as a form of cultural and religious expression. Despite the apparent novelty, raw material is provided for development in the notional journey to the assertion of a plausible claim for the constitutional protection of this medico-religious activity to a right to religious freedom. Public Law LLD Unrestricted 2023-07-31T06:27:45Z 2023-07-31T06:27:45Z 2023-09-06 2019 Dissertation * S2023 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/91693 en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Traditional healers
Traditional medicine
African traditional religion
Medicinal regulation
Swazi traditional religion
A critical analysis of the criminalization of aspects of traditional medicinal practice in Swaziland in relation to the right to freedom of religion
title A critical analysis of the criminalization of aspects of traditional medicinal practice in Swaziland in relation to the right to freedom of religion
title_full A critical analysis of the criminalization of aspects of traditional medicinal practice in Swaziland in relation to the right to freedom of religion
title_fullStr A critical analysis of the criminalization of aspects of traditional medicinal practice in Swaziland in relation to the right to freedom of religion
title_full_unstemmed A critical analysis of the criminalization of aspects of traditional medicinal practice in Swaziland in relation to the right to freedom of religion
title_short A critical analysis of the criminalization of aspects of traditional medicinal practice in Swaziland in relation to the right to freedom of religion
title_sort critical analysis of the criminalization of aspects of traditional medicinal practice in swaziland in relation to the right to freedom of religion
topic UCTD
Traditional healers
Traditional medicine
African traditional religion
Medicinal regulation
Swazi traditional religion
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/91693