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Calls to make witchcraft a criminal offence as 81-year-old woman stabbed 50 times
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Reads: 4376 | Comments: 12 | 3678
Reads: 4376 | Comments: 12 | 3678
An 81-year-old woman in KwaKwiliza near Mtubatuba in KwaZulu-Natal was stabbed 50 times and had her throat slit because her neighbour accused her of being a witch. According to the police he was of the belief that the elderly woman had killed two members of his family members through using witchcraft.
Captain Jabulani Mdletshe said that the police were called to the scene but the man had already escaped.
This incident, one of thousands that have taken place down the years, should give us reason to pause and consider whether the time has not arrived to make witchcraft a criminal offence.
The basis therefore is not based upon religious conviction but rather the very real need to give people access to the law before they murder any more innocent people. The only alternative being the introduction of the death penalty for any party who commits murder based upon the premise that the victim is a witch.
While there will no doubt be an uproar regarding the limitation of religious freedom in South Africa, something entrenched in the Constitution, there appears to be a deafening silence every time people branded as witches are horrendously slaughtered.
When Mpumalanga tried to introduce the Witchcraft Suppression Bill of 2007 they were met with fierce resistance. "The purpose of the bill is to suppress Acts of witchcraft including naming and pointing of any body as a wizard or witch. To deal with the violence associated with allegations of witchcraft and deal with killings including ritual killing associated with witchcraft and empowering Traditional leaders to deal with Witchcraft aspects."
It defines Witchcraft as: The secret use of muti, zombies, spells, spirits, magic powders, water, mixtures, etc, by any person with the purpose of causing harm, damage, sickness to others or their property.
"Self-defined Witches have rejected this definition on the grounds that it stereotypes witchcraft as harmful and portrays Witches as a danger to the communities within which they live and work. The proposed definition will merely serve to justify public fear of witchcraft and promote malice and violence against suspected witches." (Wikipedia)
The problem is that a huge number of South Africans believe in witchcraft and the ability of witches to occasion deadly consequences for those that cross them. That is not going to go away.
Neither is the fact that once a "victim of witchcraft" believes that they are under attack then the party whom they consider to be the witch is in deadly danger. If they are lucky enough to be identified thought may be given to putting them into some kind of witness protection program.
Unfortunately very few are that lucky.
Anyone can be "sniffed" out as a witch and then has the misfortune of a visit like the one described above awaiting them.
So until such time as someone can put forward a better suggestion for protecting people accused of witchcraft - and not the current law which makes it offence to call someone a witch - legislation to make it a criminal offence to be a witch seems to be the only answer. In tandem that anyone now possessed of this legal channel to accuse witches, who practices self help, be given the stiffest possible sentences available to a court faced with that charge.
Denying some form of religious freedom is very ugly but what happened to an 81-year-old woman and many others like her is far uglier.
Sapa-RS
Captain Jabulani Mdletshe said that the police were called to the scene but the man had already escaped.
This incident, one of thousands that have taken place down the years, should give us reason to pause and consider whether the time has not arrived to make witchcraft a criminal offence.
The basis therefore is not based upon religious conviction but rather the very real need to give people access to the law before they murder any more innocent people. The only alternative being the introduction of the death penalty for any party who commits murder based upon the premise that the victim is a witch.
While there will no doubt be an uproar regarding the limitation of religious freedom in South Africa, something entrenched in the Constitution, there appears to be a deafening silence every time people branded as witches are horrendously slaughtered.
When Mpumalanga tried to introduce the Witchcraft Suppression Bill of 2007 they were met with fierce resistance. "The purpose of the bill is to suppress Acts of witchcraft including naming and pointing of any body as a wizard or witch. To deal with the violence associated with allegations of witchcraft and deal with killings including ritual killing associated with witchcraft and empowering Traditional leaders to deal with Witchcraft aspects."
It defines Witchcraft as: The secret use of muti, zombies, spells, spirits, magic powders, water, mixtures, etc, by any person with the purpose of causing harm, damage, sickness to others or their property.
"Self-defined Witches have rejected this definition on the grounds that it stereotypes witchcraft as harmful and portrays Witches as a danger to the communities within which they live and work. The proposed definition will merely serve to justify public fear of witchcraft and promote malice and violence against suspected witches." (Wikipedia)
The problem is that a huge number of South Africans believe in witchcraft and the ability of witches to occasion deadly consequences for those that cross them. That is not going to go away.
Neither is the fact that once a "victim of witchcraft" believes that they are under attack then the party whom they consider to be the witch is in deadly danger. If they are lucky enough to be identified thought may be given to putting them into some kind of witness protection program.
Unfortunately very few are that lucky.
Anyone can be "sniffed" out as a witch and then has the misfortune of a visit like the one described above awaiting them.
So until such time as someone can put forward a better suggestion for protecting people accused of witchcraft - and not the current law which makes it offence to call someone a witch - legislation to make it a criminal offence to be a witch seems to be the only answer. In tandem that anyone now possessed of this legal channel to accuse witches, who practices self help, be given the stiffest possible sentences available to a court faced with that charge.
Denying some form of religious freedom is very ugly but what happened to an 81-year-old woman and many others like her is far uglier.
Sapa-RS
773 Mike Trapido
[ Friday, January 15, 2010 | 11:12:07 PM ]
Thanks Lynds I only came accross it now.
765 Lyndall Beddy
[ Friday, January 15, 2010 | 3:27:06 AM ]
Witchcraft, and cannibalism (including muti) is part of the culture of Central Africa and has been for hundreds of years. All our Nguni/Bantu tribes migrated from Central Africa and retain the culture.
They went back to it with Mbeki’s “African Renaissance” and use “traditional cures” for Aids.
In the DRC (The Congo) half the prisons are full of people legally found guilty of witchcraft - usually elderly women. Their legislature says if they did not recognise it as a crime, the people would kill the “witches” which they are doing here.
Which is why many settlers tried to persuade the colonisers not to dump “democracy” on Africa until the population had first been educated.
Which is why China refuses democracy until its own people are educated - 2/3 still can't read or write and are illiterate.
(Note to Traps: I actually posted this first on Thoughtleader in response to your article - but it has dissapeared there)
754 Lyndall Beddy
[ Thursday, January 14, 2010 | 12:11:27 PM ]
There is such a law in the DRC - and many of their prisons have half the population of inmates those found guity of witchcraft (often old women accused by their sons in law)
Their government says if they did not recognise witchcraft the people would kill them
And this is the Africa that Mbeki wants to resurrect with his Renaissance?
Their government says if they did not recognise witchcraft the people would kill them
And this is the Africa that Mbeki wants to resurrect with his Renaissance?
752 Mike Trapido
[ Thursday, January 14, 2010 | 8:12:40 AM ]
Chris I hear you but the impression that I'm getting is that because a material number of the police share the lynch mobs beliefs a lot of this goes under-investigated and unpunished.
Yes that woman's death is murder, yes vigilantes need to be locked up but what is the answer to the fact that on the ground this is not happening and the outrage goes on?
I'm giving the issue focus guys lets hear practical solutions.
Is their a PRACICAL way to stop people who consider themselves witches or are pointed out as such from being hunted down?
I've suggested making it a crime to practice witchcraft to close down the "no legal channel excuse" for murderers.
I've said we'll give the guys a platform to explain their belief system to eradicate ignorance and intolerance.
Now let's hear PRACTICAL ideas.
These ongoing murders are totally unacceptable. Had I known of the scale sooner I would have been round to this a lot sooner.
Yes that woman's death is murder, yes vigilantes need to be locked up but what is the answer to the fact that on the ground this is not happening and the outrage goes on?
I'm giving the issue focus guys lets hear practical solutions.
Is their a PRACICAL way to stop people who consider themselves witches or are pointed out as such from being hunted down?
I've suggested making it a crime to practice witchcraft to close down the "no legal channel excuse" for murderers.
I've said we'll give the guys a platform to explain their belief system to eradicate ignorance and intolerance.
Now let's hear PRACTICAL ideas.
These ongoing murders are totally unacceptable. Had I known of the scale sooner I would have been round to this a lot sooner.
749 Christopher Blackwell
[ Thursday, January 14, 2010 | 5:33:22 AM ]
Please explain the logic. An old woman is killed for something she did not do, and you want to make a law that makes Witchcraft illegal.
How about this, full prosecution of people that kill, burn out , or beat people because they call them Witches. It is time to put these people where they belong, in Prison. It is called enforcing the law, something that seems to still be a new idea in South Africa.
Making a new law will not stop this craziness, only prosecuting the people who are harming innocent people will have any affect.
How about this, full prosecution of people that kill, burn out , or beat people because they call them Witches. It is time to put these people where they belong, in Prison. It is called enforcing the law, something that seems to still be a new idea in South Africa.
Making a new law will not stop this craziness, only prosecuting the people who are harming innocent people will have any affect.
747 Mike Trapido
[ Wednesday, January 13, 2010 | 9:44:39 PM ]
Damon Leff sent us an email. I tried to put it on as a comment it didn't work because it was too long. Please send it to us in 2 parts.
Let me tell you where I'm coming from.
I've spent a lifetime fighting hatred and bigotary. I then come accross the terrible story of this women and what is happening to people who are - or who are deemed by whoever - to be witches.
When I did the rearch I was shocked to see the attacks and murders that go under the banner of witches/witchcraft with the police keen to solve the problem on the surface but in many cases not bothered.
My first reaction has to be that it's all very well to speak about freedom of religion but these guys are dying at the hands of lynch mobs and nobody can be bothered. The only protection I could think of that made sense was to force these people to use the law and if they don't hammer them hard.
Sammi et al I hear you guys but lots of people are dying and this is by no means an isolated tragedy. As things stand when these murder cases are laid how many are solved?
Don't we need some method to put the brakes on so that they can no longer claim to have no recourse but to remove the witches?
I'm asking not prescribing.
One last point - Your community seems to be well represented. Why not nominate one or two of you to blog on the Sentinel so as to try and educate people about yourselves and thereby try and send a message that this type of conduct is unacceptable.
We will give you a platform
Let me tell you where I'm coming from.
I've spent a lifetime fighting hatred and bigotary. I then come accross the terrible story of this women and what is happening to people who are - or who are deemed by whoever - to be witches.
When I did the rearch I was shocked to see the attacks and murders that go under the banner of witches/witchcraft with the police keen to solve the problem on the surface but in many cases not bothered.
My first reaction has to be that it's all very well to speak about freedom of religion but these guys are dying at the hands of lynch mobs and nobody can be bothered. The only protection I could think of that made sense was to force these people to use the law and if they don't hammer them hard.
Sammi et al I hear you guys but lots of people are dying and this is by no means an isolated tragedy. As things stand when these murder cases are laid how many are solved?
Don't we need some method to put the brakes on so that they can no longer claim to have no recourse but to remove the witches?
I'm asking not prescribing.
One last point - Your community seems to be well represented. Why not nominate one or two of you to blog on the Sentinel so as to try and educate people about yourselves and thereby try and send a message that this type of conduct is unacceptable.
We will give you a platform
743 Sammi Wickens
[ Wednesday, January 13, 2010 | 8:54:01 PM ]
If the people who think that these 'witches' have killed someone want to go the legal route, they already have a criminal offence to log, its called MURDER people. Making witchcraft criminal will not stop the killings, just as murder being criminal has not stopped the killings...
If witchcraft is considered a crime for these reasons, then surely so should be... say, owning a fire arm, or an axe, or any kind of blunt object or kitchen knife or length of rope, not so?
If witchcraft is considered a crime for these reasons, then surely so should be... say, owning a fire arm, or an axe, or any kind of blunt object or kitchen knife or length of rope, not so?
742 Karrie Nyne
[ Wednesday, January 13, 2010 | 7:20:29 PM ]
The perpetrator stabbed a vulnerable 81-year-old woman 50 times and it's witchcraft you want to outlaw, instead of addressing mental illness and violence towards the vulnerable? Address mental illness, domestic/community violence, and investigative techniques and, while you're at it, address your own failures in logic. Your lack of humility and effort in the face of this tragedy is deeply troubling.
Outlawing witchcraft in this manner and for the “reasons” you suggest has the effect of blaming the victim(s), making this insane murderer into a hero, and encouraging yet another backward, dark and ugly chapter in human history.
It appears that you think bowing down to Forces of Good™ vs. The Forces of Evil™ dualism will gain you favor and power in your own life, and you don’t care about the cost to others now nor do you acknowledge your enabling passive-aggressive part in things.
Outlawing witchcraft in this manner and for the “reasons” you suggest has the effect of blaming the victim(s), making this insane murderer into a hero, and encouraging yet another backward, dark and ugly chapter in human history.
It appears that you think bowing down to Forces of Good™ vs. The Forces of Evil™ dualism will gain you favor and power in your own life, and you don’t care about the cost to others now nor do you acknowledge your enabling passive-aggressive part in things.
741 Lindi Bray
[ Wednesday, January 13, 2010 | 7:14:44 PM ]
Do not try and excuse murder by blaming superstition. Many people died because people pointed them out as witches. Refer to Salem. Try educating the ignorant and leave witches alone,
738 Sammi Wickens
[ Wednesday, January 13, 2010 | 6:20:13 PM ]
I believe it is overkill to deny religious freedom to anyone. Maybe the death penalty for murder would be a better idea.
737 Pearson B
[ Wednesday, January 13, 2010 | 6:15:30 PM ]
Witchcraft? religion? what's the difference? Banning witchcraft wouldn't affect anybody. Banning religion would benefit the whole society
736 Mary Smith
[ Wednesday, January 13, 2010 | 5:09:15 PM ]
This is ridiculous. How can something that does not exist be made illigal?
It would be the same as making the tooth fairy illigal. What is required is education to end superstition and imprisonment for anyone who accuses someone of being a witch.
It would be the same as making the tooth fairy illigal. What is required is education to end superstition and imprisonment for anyone who accuses someone of being a witch.
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