SOUTH AFRICAN PAGAN RIGHTS ALLIANCE
SAPRA response to Dept. Education Legal Services and the MEC Creecy – 14 May 2013 MEC for Education Gauteng Province Barbara Creecy Re: MEC CREECY UTTERS HATE SPEECH AGAINST RELIGIOUS MINORITIES 0. This Alliance welcomes your invitation to engage further with the Department of Education on this matter (and other related matters currently pending investigation…
There appears to be a persistent and incorrect meme circulating some factions of the S.A. Pagan community that: 1) SAPRA speaks for Satanists, 2) SAPRA identifies Satanism as a Pagan religion, 3) SAPRA promotes Satanism as such, and 4) SAPRA’s advocacy against the recent Satanic Panic harms Paganism and Pagans. The Facts 1)…
The South African Pagan Rights Alliance supports the call to disband the SAPS Occult Crime Unit . The investigative mandate of the SAPS Occult crime unit, in particular, certain ‘categories of crime’ (listed below), contravene internationally recognized policing ethics and conduct related to a) jurisprudence in the identification and verification of evidence, and b) respect for…
Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities Chairperson: Rev. Dr Wesley Madonda Mabuza Deputy Chairperson: Mrs Julia Mabale Chief Executive Officer: Adv. Pheagane Solomon Moreroa Dear Sir / Madam South African Pagan communities are deeply upset at the apparently deliberate exclusion of Paganism from the CRL…
. “Satanism” as a media creation: why the Department of Education’s “anti-harmful” strategy is unfounded. Prepared on behalf of the South African Pagan Rights AllianceBy Francisco Fumarola and Bronwyn Katzke DOWNLOAD a complete copy [.pdf 625KB] EXTRACT Recent supposed cases of “satanic” crime are actually a remnant from the days of the Satanic Panic, which has…
Hate Speech Complaint against the KZN Department of Education MEC Senzo Mchunu and departmental spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi “The KZN Department of Education is much aware of Satanic incidents occurring at schools in the province. In fact, the MEC Senzo Mchunu had repeatedly called on churches and others to help address the issue. Although the…
Letter of Demand to: Umphakathi OkhathazekileConcerned Young People Attention: Bele Hlongwane RE: Satanic panic grips schools [Friday, 29 March 2013]http://www.preciousyouth.org.za/index.php/news/item/169-satanic-panic-grips-schools Dear Miss / Mrs Hlongwane This Alliance would like to request your urgent review of incorrect and prejudicial information published on your website on Friday 29 March 2013, in an article entitled Satanic panic grips…
The South African Pagan Rights Alliance will be lodging a formal complaint of hate speech against Charles Phahlane, Gauteng department of education spokesperson, with the SA Human Rights Commission. This Alliance will argue that Phahlane’s statements regarding the Department’s proposed policy on dealing with Satanism in public schools, published in ‘No guide to harmful practices‘…
Ugogo wami, ugogo wakho nawe My grandmother is your grandmother Witch-hunts have become epidemic throughout Africa. Although witch-hunts have historically been viewed as gender specific, with a large percentage of victims still identified as elderly and solitary women, recent reports show that victims of witch-hunts include both women and men of all ages. [0] [0] Witch…
‘Schools tackle Satanism’ as printed in the 19 March 2013 edition of The Sowetan. As one of the leading newspapers in South Africa, The Sowetan boasts a readership of two million. That would be two million readers misled by the article ‘Schools tackle Satanism’, as featured in the 19 March 2013 edition of your newspaper….
According to several media reports published in The Citizen, The New Age, The Sowetan, City Press, News24.com, IOL, Timeslive, LookLocal, Eye Witness News and SABC TV, “A team of faith-based organisations is to develop an “anti-harmful” religious strategy in schools, Gauteng education MEC Barbara Creecy said on Monday. In a statement prepared for delivery at…
SAPRA herewith lodges formal objection against the February 2013 decision by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to refer a complaint, lodged by the Director on behalf of the South African Pagan Rights Alliance on 22 February 2010 against public utterances of prejudicial hate speech by Ms. P. Maseko, to the South African Law Reform…
In February 2010 the South African Pagan Rights Alliance lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) against repeated libelous statements made by Traditional Healers Organization national co-ordinator, Phephisile Maseko, against South African Witches. [1] “I can’t speak for others, but our members are well-informed. They would never participate in muti killings and…
Stakeholder Submission prepared by the South African Pagan Rights Alliance for the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities. Accusations of witchcraft and Human Rights Every citizen of the Republic is constitutionally and legally entitled to:1. Equality 2. Human dignity 3. Life 4. Freedom and security 5. Freedom from slavery, servitude and forced labour 6. Freedom…
Whilst Lyse Comins’ article, ‘Rise in witchcraft & Satanism in KZN‘ made it perfectly clear that no actual crime has taken place, according to comment by Westville police station spokesman Stephen Clarke, the South African Pagan Rights Alliance strongly objects to the publishing of Kobus Jonker’s stark characterization of South African Witches as not only potential…
The South African Police Service is launching new regional occult crime units. According to a leaked memorandum, Provincial Commissioners were recently instructed to appoint two detectives in every province tasked with investigating alleged harmful occult-related crimes. Those already familiar with the work of the old ORC unit then led by Kobus Jonker, will recall that between…
13 July 2012 | ILSE DE LANGE | The Citizen The South African Pagan Rights Alliance, an organisation representing self-identified witches, believes existing witchcraft suppression legislation should be scrapped altogether as it criminalises witches on the basis of their beliefs and violates their right to religious freedom. Damon Leff, director of the alliance, said even…
The following represents a sample of existing news reports. Many more witchcraft accusations and witch-hunts remain unreported. Refugees of witchcraft accusation receive little or no media coverage in South Africa. 2012 June 19 2012An elderly woman Thokozile Tembe (72) and her two grandchildren Slindile Mnguni (11) and Sphesihle Mnguni(3) in Ngwavuma, Zululand, were burnt to death by community members…
The recent decision by the CRL Rights Commission to review religious public holidays is welcomed by this Alliance. In a 2007 discussion document entitled ‘The RDP of the Soul’ [1] the ANC’s Commission for Religious Affairs (CRA) urged that the multi- religious nature of South Africa be recognised and has proposed that Christmas and Easter,…
SAPRA submission to National Council of Provinces on the Traditional Courts Bill The South African Pagan Rights Alliance would like to place the following objections to the proposed Traditional Courts Bill, and to Traditional Courts in general, on public record. 1. The South African Pagan Rights Alliance represents South African citizens who identify publicly…
LAUNCH: 2012 – 30 days of advocacy against witch-hunts (29 March to 27 April) An open letter to: The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural,Religious and Linguistic Communities- Commissioner Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva Parliamentary Officer for the Commission on Gender Equality- Adv. Kamraj Anirudhra Deputy Chairperson, South African Human Rights Commission- Dr….
The South African Law Reform Commission has confirmed that a lead researcher (Ms Jennifer Joni) and Project Leader (Judge Dennis Davis) has been designated for Project 135: The Review of Witchcraft Suppression Legislation, as approved by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development in September 2010. An Issue paper is currently being developed in order…
Extract from SAPRA’s submission to the Press Freedom Commission on press freedom and the regulation of print media Pejorative media coverage of Witchcraft by the South African media is symptomatic of generalized bias against anything related with the occult. Prejudicial reference to Witches and Witchcraft affects the dignity and standing of individual South African citizens who identify…
SAPRA Stakeholder Submission to U.N. OHCHR Universal Periodic Review – Thirteenth Session of the Working Group on the UPR (21 May – 4 June 2012) Witch-hunts in South Africa 1. South Africa neglects action to end witch-hunts 1.1. Witch-hunts still prevalent in South Africa In South Africa over 40 people, including children, women and…
In a 2010 press release entitled Dept, healers declare war on muthi killings dated 18 February, Sibani Mngadi the spokesperson for the Minister of the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Minister Lulu Xingwana, said “while the subject of witchcraft continues to be taboo in many corners of South Africa, all stakeholders need to…
Written Comment in objection to the DRAFT DANGEROUS WEAPONS BILL, 2011 (NOTICE 606 OF 2011) The South African Pagan Rights Alliance (SAPRA) has submitted written comment in objection to the draft Dangerous Weapons Bill (2011). With especial regard to two sections of Chapter Two of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, notably sections 15. and…
Three men, Siyabusa Ncelani (19), Mlulami Nkonyanebomvu (29), and Ncedakele Nyawuzayo (20) convicted of killing an 80-year-old Masilenge Bambusiba and her four grandchildren were each sentenced to five life terms (125 years) by the Mthatha High Court. NEWS SOURCE South African Witches applaud the Mthatha High Court ruling and we applaud the statement issued by the…
A Vervet monkey was burnt to death after residents believed it was linked to witchcraft. NEWS SOURCE Several reports of such animal cruelty, motivated by irrational fear of witchcraft and witches, have been published in the South African media since 2000. In ‘Bewitched rooster case set for trial’ (2000) Simon Magagula was accused of bewitching roosters…
SAPRA regards the report ‘Trafficking body parts in Mozambique and South Africa‘, published by the Mozambican Human Rights League, as wholly prejudicial to the continuing safety and security of all self-identified Witches in South Africa who may, as a result of the content of this report, be regarded as potentially criminal and dangerous to the…
In ‘Male genitalia tops witchcraft list‘ (Nompumelelo Magwaza | 06 May 2011 | IOL) traditional healer Bongani Shangase, speaking at the launch of the report Trafficking Body Parts in Mozambique and South Africa, is quoted as saying “We want this research to differentiate between witches and traditional healers because we do not use body parts to carry…
