MEDIA INVITATION

To: All media

22 September 2022

Department leads process to mainstream indigenous knowledge holders in SA

The Department of Science and Innovation is leading a process to assess traditional healers' prior learning in South Africa, in a pilot project to mainstream indigenous knowledge in the country.

On Monday, 26 September in Durban, the Department will be assessing a number of traditional healers in KwaZulu-Natal, following a call for applications for the traditional healers to participate in the process to recognise their prior learning in the Inyanga, Isangoma and Umbelethisi categories.

The recognition of prior learning project aims to provide a vehicle to recognise, standardise and professionalise indigenous knowledge holders' skills, experiences, learning and practices.

The process seeks to affirm the discipline as a knowledge domain in its own right, thus increasing the base of human capabilities and skills needed for inclusive socio-economic development in South Africa.

It supports the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Policy, which mandates the National IKS Office in the Department of Science and Innovation to address elements of indigenous knowledge that are not readily accommodated within the National Qualifications Framework.

The assessments are scheduled to run between 26 September and 8 October 2022.

The media are invited as follows:

Date:             26 September 2022

Time:             12:00-14:45

Venue:          Southern Sun Elangeni and Maharani Hotel, North Beach, Durban

Enquiries: Julian Leshilo-Sebake at 060 961 2194 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Issued by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Enquiries: Ishmael Mnisi at 066 037 8859.