Mafikeng Campus IKS Centre signs MoU with external partners

The signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for co-operation between the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) at the NWU Mafikeng Campus and various external partners took place at Mmabatho Palms, on 23 June 2014. The event was co-ordinated by the Director of IKS Centre, Prof Materechera.

The MoU was signed by the Campus Rector Prof Maselesele, the Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology (FAST) Prof Ebenso, Dr I Kekana from South African National Traditional Healers Forum (SANTHF) and VOEM Publishing (VEOM), Mr Keith Harvey from Harvey Cattle Ranches (HRC) and Dr Gehardus Joubert from Cili Health Sa (Cili Bao Health).

The MoU was drafted by the parties to allow the NWU to obtain a formal approval to engage with external partners, develop projects and seek funding and other support. The MoU has been drafted in such a way that it is inclusive and provides room for entrance of other interested parties in the future.

Through this agreement, all parties will attempt to establish and develop co-operation in the field of Ethno-medicine based on African Traditional Herbal Plants, Public health, medical sciences based on equality and mutual interest in accordance with the Traditional Health Law in South Africa.

Gehardus Joubert brings in extensive research and product development and marketing experience. He was involved in the introduction and registration of Cili Bao product range (essential natural wholefoods) to more than eleven countries through well-structured market chains.

Dr Issac Kekana is a qualified medical doctor, naturopath, iridologist and a practitioner and educationist in ethno-medicine. He is the co-founder of EPASA and chairperson of SANTHF. He has been instrumental in discussions with the Department of Health in order to get ethno-medicine to be a recognised profession. He brings extensive experience in curriculum development and a constituency of many traditional healers that need to be capacitated. He has also published books and magazines in ethno-medicine.

Mr Keith Harvey is a commercial farmer and CEO of Harvey Cattle Ranches involved in organic farming for more than 15 years. He developed the Kalahari-Veldbeef brand with the first and only fully-fledged holistic organic abattoir in South Africa. He brings on the table possibilities for initiating holistic approaches to fish farming (aquaculture), vermicomposting, horticulture and herbs) through recycling of abattoir wastewater and solids.