Page 117 - Heritage Streets of KwaMashu 2025

a cough mixture. The leaves are believed to have magical powers. The leadwood is a protected tree in South Africa. Parts of this tree are used by various tribes in a number of ways: smoke that comes from the burning leaves has been used to relieve coughs, colds and chest complaints. The flowers can also be used as a cough mixture. The leaves
are believed to have magical powers. For treatment of diarrhoea and stomach pains, root decoctions are used. A combination of roots and leaves are taken against bilharzia • (Johnson, D. & Johnson, S. 1993. Gardening with indigenous trees and shrubs). Root bark that is boiled in water is used
for tanning leather. The gum that exudes from damaged areas on the stem is edible and forms part of the diet of the Bushmen. Leadwood ash is used as a toothpaste. The wood is very hard and tough, and burns very slowly with intense heat. Africans used this wood to make hoes before
metal was discovered. The trunk was used to build an enclosure (kraal ) and grain stamping mortars and these days it is used for furniture and sculptures. Since roots, bark and even whole plants are used, the risk of plant and species loss is high in South Africa. This loss may inter alia lead to the disappearance of many traditional healers and ultimately cultural identity.
uTshanibezwe - Utshanibezwe, affectionately called, inhlalayenzeka. Traditional healers (izinyanga) use it as a re-set button. This is a beautiful grass tree also used for ubulawu/isilawu (white luck concoction). It is used to attract positive things and also attracts ancestors. Uvuselela uthando – resuscitates love and is also utilized for luck especially when attending work interviews.
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