Racial Stratification of Traditional Medicine’s Consumption in South Africa

Abstract

Introduction: Post-apartheid South Africa remains highly stratified on variable grounds including race. The 8.9 percent (whites) of the total population has an average income per capita that is five times higher than that of 79.2 percent (blacks). Socio-economic inequalities are embedded in a ‘culture of consumption’ which includes the availability of goods for sale and the marketization of basic human life experiences including health. Study Objective: The objective of this review was to ascertain the racial status quo in traditional medicines consumption. Results: Literature shows that the consumption of traditional medicines is saturated within the Black population at 72 percent whilst data on other race groups is scarce. Evidence points to a racialized economy that existed for more than 100 years (1910 – 2010) with the Black population perpetually positioned at the bottom of the hierarchy. Conclusion: Further empirical data is recommended to determine whether traditional medicine’s consumption in South Africa is symbolically contaminated by colonial and apartheid legacies.