By Dr Nomalungelo Gina
Dreams have fascinated humanity for centuries. Across cultures, people have understood them not only as experiences of the sleeping mind, but also as sources of reflection, spiritual meaning, and traditional knowledge. In South Africa, indigenous knowledge systems have long included rich traditions and practices associated with dreams and their interpretation.
This is one example of the depth of knowledge held within South Africa’s indigenous plant heritage. Plants such as Silene undulata and Entada rheedii have been associated with traditional practices and beliefs relating to dreams and spirituality. Their significance lies not simply in the plants themselves, but in the cultural knowledge, practices and traditions that communities have developed around them over generations.
These plants are among the many remarkable indigenous species found in South Africa. They form part of our traditional knowledge and are an important component of our living heritage. Protecting this heritage therefore also means protecting the biodiversity and natural habitats in which these plants grow.
South Africa’s biodiversity is safeguarded through a network of protected areas and conservation initiatives, including those managed by the South African National Parks (SANParks). From the fynbos of the Cape to the grasslands, forests and savanna ecosystems found across the country, these landscapes provide important habitats for indigenous plant species and the wider communities of life that depend on them.
But our indigenous plants are so much more. World-renowned plants such as Rooibos are part of our uniquely South African heritage, demonstrating how our natural biodiversity can be recognised and valued on the international stage. Rooibos is indigenous to South Africa and grows naturally in a geographically limited area of the Western and Northern Cape, including the Cederberg region. Its unique geographical identity is recognised internationally through Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Geographical Indication (GI) protection in the European Union.
Rooibos supports approximately 8,000 workers across primary production and activities including processing, packaging and retail. In 2025, production was estimated at approximately 15,000 tonnes, while total sales were equivalent to more than 10 billion cups. Rooibos is exported to more than 50 international markets, with Japan accounting for 33% of exports in 2025.
The success of Rooibos demonstrates what makes South Africa’s plant heritage distinctive on the international stage. We are home to an extraordinary diversity of indigenous plant species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world and have evolved within our unique ecosystems. Rooibos is a powerful example of how a plant rooted in a specific South African landscape can develop into a globally recognised product while retaining its geographical identity.
Our unique plant heritage also holds significant potential for science, biodiversity conservation and innovation. Indigenous plants can provide opportunities for research, new products, agricultural development and sustainable livelihoods, particularly in rural communities.
The development of South Africa’s hemp industry is one example of how plant-based resources can contribute to economic development. Hemp has applications across a range of industries, including textiles, construction, paper, food and other manufactured products, creating opportunities for agriculture, processing and value-added manufacturing. With appropriate research, regulation, investment and skills development, the hemp value chain has the potential to support rural livelihoods, stimulate innovation and contribute to a more diversified agricultural and manufacturing economy.
The National Cannabis Master Plan provides a strategic framework for unlocking the agricultural, industrial and economic potential of South Africa’s cannabis and hemp sectors. Currently, the hemp and cannabis industry employs more than 90 000 people in South Africa, and the sector holds significant potential for further growth as demand for medicinal products and other cannabis and hemp-based applications increases.
The value of our indigenous plants is also reflected in their long history of use in traditional medicine. For generations, communities across South Africa have drawn on knowledge of indigenous plants to support health and wellbeing, with this knowledge passed down through generations. Buchu, indigenous to the Western Cape, is one such example, with a long history of traditional use for urinary and digestive complaints. Beyond its cultural significance, it also holds potential for further research and responsible commercial development.
Hypoxis hemerocallidea, more commonly known as African potato, is an indigenous medicinal plant with a long history of traditional use for various ailments. Harpagophytum procumbens, commonly known as Devil’s claw, is indigenous to the Kalahari region and has gained international recognition for its traditional use in relation to pain and inflammation. These plants demonstrate the depth of traditional knowledge associated with South Africa’s indigenous flora and the potential for this knowledge to inform further scientific research and responsible innovation.
These and so many more form part of our unique South African heritage. Our indigenous plants are living archives of our nation and its people, carrying generations of knowledge, traditions and practices. They are an irreplaceable cultural inheritance, a source of biodiversity and knowledge, and an important part of our identity.
We must therefore work together to protect the natural habitats in which these plants thrive, while respecting and learning from the traditional custodians who have safeguarded this knowledge across generations. At the same time, we must create space for responsible research, innovation and development so that the value of our indigenous plant heritage can be shared with future generations and contribute to sustainable livelihoods and economic development. In protecting our indigenous plants, we are not only preserving our past; we are investing in a future that is distinctly South African.
*Gina is the Deputy Minister of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation
