A Limpopo traditional healer and medical student is treating drug addicts at a rehabilitation centre using both African and Western remedies.
Piet Ntshegi of Ga-Phaahla, outside Jane Furse, has over 100 patients. He works with a medical doctor and says his unconventional methods have so far helped more than six-hundred substance abusers, mostly Nyaope addicts.
Thirty-eight year old Ntshegi says what sets his treatment apart is the fact that patients forget their drug cravings when they take it. Some say the treatment has been effective up to now.
Ntshegi dropped out of Medunsa in fourth year due to financial constraints in 2005. He then graduated as a traditional healer in 2011.
He says he worked with several drug rehabilitation centres before he opened his own in 2014.
He has now re-enrolled to complete his studies, and hopes to graduate in 2020.
Ntshegi says attempts to get health inspectors to assess his centre have been unsuccessful.
“The relationship between Phaahla clinic and myself is wonderful… when my patients come they focus on my patients, because they know the pain that they are in. The only problem that I have got is provincially and nationally, because I’m alone… I’m asking for cooperation in all, so that we can succeed… this thing that I am doing, because I am helping here,” he said.
Ntshegi currently operates from his home. His wish is to move to a more private and suitable building.
