Griqua Eastern Cape Department Of Health, Wellness & Medical.

Griqua Office 🏬
176 Stanford Road
Korsten
Gqeberha
[email protected]

fyi..It is a good idea to Ceremonize the Office as a space of Dedication..
here's some insights from a elementary desktop study I gathered so far linked to Griqua centered Khoi culture:

Griqua rituals and rites reflect a complex heritage blending Christian theology with traditional Khoi-Khoi customs. Religious practices are central to Griqua identity and often involve special annual pilgrimages to sacred sites.
Pilgrimage to Ratelgat
This cultural and spiritual journey to the sacred farm of Ratelgat in the Western Cape is a significant annual event for many Griqua people.
Purpose: The pilgrimage allows the community to honor and commemorate their ancestors and previous leaders.
"Kringgroet" (Circle greeting): A customary practice involves the community forming a circle and greeting every person with a handshake and eye contact.
Honoring the ancestors: The pilgrimage includes visits to ancestral graveyards and special monument sites.
Prayer: Respected elders known as the vog lead powerful prayers for the community while kneeling around the monument.
Rites of passage
Elements of traditional Khoi-Khoi and Christian beliefs are combined in Griqua rites celebrating life's milestones.
Inabasas (First menstruation)
Also referred to as Die Hok Meisie, this 15-day ceremony promotes purity and respect for young, virgin women.
The ritual begins when elders notice a whirlwind at a girl's home, signaling the start of her first menstruation.
Elders gather with her parents to discuss the event, after which a sheep or goat is slaughtered.
Key days:
Day 5: A special meal is prepared with the sheep or goat.
Day 13: She is taught traditional dance and cooking.
Day 14: She must live independently without the help of the elders.
Day 15: A festival is held with music and dance, and the polar bone of the sheep is served to the elders.
Marriage
Historical accounts indicate that some early Griqua groups baptized their children in the Dutch Reformed Church. However, the core of Griqu

Excellent news.....BUT, still prohibits anyone to, for instance, sell dagga (THC higher than 0.2%) laced products on the market.....anyone doing that, IS NOT ABIDING BY THE LAW.
[5/4, 10:32] +27 82 775 5428: UN News
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2 December 2020
Law and Crime Prevention
In reviewing a series of World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on cannabis and its derivatives, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) zeroed-in on the decision to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs — where it was listed alongside specific deadly, addictive opioids, including he**in, recognized as having little to no therapeutic purposes.

The 53 Member States of the CND, the UN’s central drug policy-making body, voted to remove cannabis from that Schedule – where it had been placed for 59 years – and to which the strictest control measures apply, that generally discouraged its use for medical purposes.

With a vote of 27 in favour, 25 against, and one abstention, the CND has opened the door to recognizing the medicinal and therapeutic potential of the drug, although its use for non-medical and non-scientific purposes will continue to remain illegal. According to news reports, the decision could drive additional scientific research into the plant’s medicinal properties.

A big WIN for Natural Medicine in South Africa!

Appropriate regulations for natural health products in South Africa

On the 11 of April, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein upheld the judgement of the Gauteng North High Court which struck down the controversial 2017 Complementary Medicine regulations under the Medicines Act.

Both the High Court and five-seat bench of the SCA unanimously agreed that the South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA) have no legal jurisdiction to regulate substances that are not medicines or scheduled substances, and to that extent, the 2017 regulations were ultra virus (unlawful).

The verdict follows after the Alliance of Natural Health Products South Africa (ANHP), took the Minister of Health and the SAHPRA to court over contested regulations that would regulate all natural health products, defined as complementary medicines and health supplements, as medicines.

According to ANHP, it is not the statutory duty of SAHPRA in terms of the Medicines Act to regulate complementary medicines and health supplements as defined in the regulations, according to the original spirit and intention of the 57 year old Medicines Act. Complementary medicines include products such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, pro and prebiotics, herbal remedies, homeopathic medicines, sports supplements, etc.

The SCA partially upheld the challenge of the regulations. It was of the opinion that the declaration of invalidity should be suspended for a 12 month period in order for the Minister of Health (and not the SAHPRA) to exercise his prerogative to find an appropriate legal path to regulate the natural health product industry. All parties agreed in filings that appropriate regulation is needed to regulate the natural health product sector, and the court agreed.

‘This monumental case opens a new exciting chapter in the way in which natural health products are to be potentially regulated and sold in South Africa. At last, the industry has clarity on what is, and what is not a medicine. Many companies have spent many millions of Rands in an attempt to comply with the regulations and are continually hitting their heads against a brick wall with an uncooperative regulator.

This SCA judgement finally delineates key issues of contention and will provide the natural health products sector much needed clarity on how they wish to proceed marketing their products going forward. They will hopefully have a choice in whether to sell their products as food-like health supplements without health claims purporting to diagnose, treat, mitigate, modify or prevent disease, or as medicines under a dense thicket of costly regulations designed around pharmaceutical medicines.’, says Anthony Rees, The Traditional & Natural Health Alliance (TNHA)* Chairman.

This is a significant victory for consumers, who can now continue to access natural health products for their health and wellness in South Africa!

A big thank you to the ANHP and the TNHA and all the individuals and companies who supported and funded their campaigns.
* The TNHA is a founding member of the ANHPSA.

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