A parliamentary committee in South Africa has recommended that the work of traditional healers should be made legitimate and enshrined in law.

It wants the estimated three hundred thousand healers in the country to join a national council; it also wants employers to recognise sick notes from the healers, who include herbalists, diviners and circumcision specialists.

Organisations representing the healers say the government may be trying to exploit their skills because the existing health service is short of qualified doctors.

Some healers are also concerned that they may lose their intellectual copyright to herbal potions and diagnostic techniques.