Does South Africa Criminalize Witchcraft?

Beliefs in witchcraft are prevalent across the African continent, particularly in regions south of the Sahara. In South Africa, accusations of witchcraft can be insulting and life-threatening, as purported witches are sometimes murdered by communities. In recent years, there has been an intensification of witchcraft accusations, killings, and violence in the country. Evidence indicates a positive correlation between witchcraft and criminal acts associated with beliefs in witchcraft.

Witchcraft in much of the developing world, including Africa, India, Southeast Asia, the Pacific, Central and South America, is at the core of a complex relationship between crime and religion. The Witchcraft Suppression Act 3 of 1957 prohibits various activities related to witchcraft, witch-smelling, or witch-hunting. The SAPRA asserts that witchcraft and witches are neither evil nor criminal, and claim their right to freedom.

Accusations of witchcraft can lead to violations of a wide range of human rights, including the right to life. The Witchcraft Suppression Act renders it an offence to identify someone as a witch or sorcerer, and mere reporting to the police may result in severe consequences.

The SAPRA asserts that witchcraft and witches are neither evil nor criminal, and they claim their right to freedom. However, accusations of witchcraft can lead to violations of a wide range of human rights, including the right to life. Politically, South Africa is far more stable than other countries, and the distinction between witchcraft as a harmful practice and witchcraft as a form of religious practice by self-identified witches is crucial.

What is the biggest crime in South Africa?

The Governance, Public Safety, and Justice Survey (GPSJS) 2022/23 revealed a decrease in the percentage of adults aged 16 and older who felt safe walking alone in their neighbourhoods during the day. Housebreaking was the most common crime experienced by households in South Africa, with 1, 1 million households experiencing housebreaking incidents in 2022/23. About 51 of these households reported some or all incidents to the police, with a decrease from 59, 2 in 2021/22 to 51, 4 in 2022/23. Male-headed households were more likely to experience housebreaking.

Home robbery was the second most common type of crime, affecting 195, 000 households. An estimated 238, 000 incidents occurred in 2022/23, representing 1% of all households in the country. About 57 of these households reported some or all incidents to the police. The percentage of households reporting some or all incidents to the police decreased from 66, 4 in 2021/22 to 56, 8 in 2022/23.

Strong communities are known to look out for each other, and knowing neighbors increases their likelihood of being aware of their property’s activities. Even without official neighborhood watches, knowing each other ensures an extra pair of eyes on their neighbors’ homes when they are not around.

Which province is known for witchcraft in South Africa?

The Department of Social Development in the Eastern Cape has identified certain villages, including AmaZizi chiefdom, as witchcraft-murder hotspots. This has led to many older women living in fear and sleeping in groups under one roof to protect each other. Some elderly women have no choice but to stay in the area, while others have moved to other parts of the province. This article investigates witchcraft and witchcraft-related violence against the elderly women in the AmaZizi chiefdom, exploring potential causes, critical reasons, and possible interventions to better safeguard the population against future accusations and violence.

Data was collected from a focus group meeting in May 2019, which discussed topics rarely debated in the community. The group, consisting of 30 people, discussed gender-based violence, which both women and men of the chiefdom complained about, claiming it has broken down family structures and made them fragile from years of apartheid. The article suggests possible interventions to better safeguard AmaZizi’s elderly population against future witchcraft accusations and related violence.

What is the case law on witchcraft in South Africa?

The Witchcraft Suppression Act, 1957, prohibits the practice of witchcraft and similar practices. If someone names or indicates another person as a “wizard”, they are guilty of an offense. If a person is killed, imprisonment for up to twenty years is appropriate. Murder is an offence in Part I of Schedule 2 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1997, where the death of the victim results from or is directly related to any offence contemplated in ss 1(a) to (e) of the Act. A discretionary minimum sentence of imprisonment for life is prescribed unless substantial and compelling circumstances justify the imposition of a lesser sentence.

In December 2022, Mr. Tyolo traveled from Cape Town to East London and stayed with his brother and sister-in-law. He discovered that his brother Sibongile was ill with a severe bloated stomach, which worsened despite medical treatment. By December 2022, Mr. Tyolo believed his aunt, the deceased, was responsible for Sibongile’s condition and blamed her for it. He consumed liquor and argued that the deceased was a witch using witchcraft to cause Sibongile’s illness.

He offered the deceased a place to sleep at his residence and assaulted her, striking her several times in the head area. The chief post-mortem findings were multiple lacerations on the left side of the face, multiple skull fractures, subdural haemorrhages, and haemorrhage-strained muscles (neck).

What are the consequences of being accused of witchcraft?

The practice of witchcraft has been linked to a multitude of severe human rights violations across the globe. These include physical assaults such as beatings and banishment, as well as the cutting of body parts and the amputation of limbs. Additionally, instances of torture and murder have also been documented in connection with witchcraft-related beliefs and practices.

Can you sue someone for promising to marry you in South Africa?

The current law states that a breach of promise cannot be brought unless a contract to marry has been made, with no formal requirements or specific wording. A promise to marry is not binding unless the other party also promises to marry the first person. Mutual promises can be implied from the conduct of the parties. A declaration of intention to marry another made to a third person will not constitute a promise unless communicated to the other person on the authority of the person making the declaration.

An action for breach of promise to marry can be taken by both men and women, with some successful actions by men in modern times. Minors’ promises to marry are voidable at the option of the minor, and a new and independent promise to marry the other person will be binding upon reaching majority. Section 2 of the Evidence Further Amendment Act 1869 requires the plaintiff’s evidence to be corroborated by other material evidence in support of the promise.

Is South Africa safe for white tourists?

South Africa is experiencing increased caution due to crime and civil unrest, with violent crimes such as armed robbery, rape, carjacking, mugging, and “smash-and-grab” attacks being common. GPS navigation can lead to unsafe routes, as it may suggest shortcuts through townships, increasing crime risks. In Cape Town, tourists using GPS apps have been routed through residential areas with high crime rates.

To return a rental car to Cape Town International Airport, take the N2 highway and follow signs to Airport Approach Rd (exit 16). Alternatively, request a rental car company to collect your vehicle and arrange an airport transfer from taxi companies or ridesharing services.

When did witchcraft become a crime?

During the 16th and 17th centuries, religious tensions in England led to the introduction of severe penalties for witchcraft. Henry VIII’s Witchcraft Act 1541 was the first to define witchcraft as a felony, punishable by death and forfeiture of goods and chattels. It prohibited the use of devise, practice, or exercise of witchcraft, to steal money, treasure, consume, destroy, or provoke people to unlawful love or intent.

The Act also removed the benefit of clergy, which exempted accused from the King’s courts from those convicted of witchcraft. This statute was repealed by Henry’s son, Edward VI, in 1547. The act was a significant step in addressing the issue of witchcraft in England.

Where is witchcraft most common?

Witches are believed to use body parts, such as hair, nail clippings, clothing, or bodily waste, to work magic against their victims. This belief is prevalent in various cultures, including Europe, Africa, South Asia, Polynesia, Melanesia, and North America. Indigenous peoples in Africa and North America also believe that witches cause harm by introducing cursed magical objects into their victims’ bodies. In some cultures, witches are believed to use human body parts in magic, and they are often believed to murder children for this purpose.

Witches work in secret, sometimes alone or with other witches. They are believed to gather at night, when normal humans are inactive and vulnerable, and engage in cannibalism, incest, and open nudity. This type of magic is considered imitative and often involves murdering children due to postpartum psychosis.

What is the school of witchcraft in South Africa?

The College of Magic in Cape Town, South Africa, is a real-life Hogwarts-like institution that teaches students from privilege and poverty to learn various magic skills. The school, which is not an accredited institution, teaches students sleight of hand, juggling, ventriloquism, and card tricks. However, the school also teaches the great superpower of magic itself: rethinking the limits of possibility.

The campus features Gothic architecture, a diverse student body, a core curriculum, and electives. To become masters of magic, students must be both tacticians and technicians, requiring practice, application, and discipline.

Can I sue someone for calling me a witch in South Africa?

In instances where an individual is accused of witchcraft, courts permit the accused to pursue defamation actions against the accuser. However, defendants are not permitted to use evidence that the accused has bewitched them as a means of defeating the action, given that courts do not acknowledge the existence of witchcraft.

What is the unsafest city in South Africa?

Pietermaritzburg is ranked among the world’s most crime-prone cities based on Numbeo’s mid-year 2024 crime index, which is based on survey responses.