SAPRA would like to encourage South African Pagans to continue to observe COVID health protocols – wear a mask when in a public space, observe social distancing, avoid gathering in large crowds whether indoors or outdoors, and be mindful at all times of the suffering of their fellow citizens. Assist others where you can, however you are able. During a time such as this one, everyone needs to have access to certainty (as much as there can be) in order to make informed decisions. This virus does not care if you don’t believe in it. Take care.
Many South Africans still hold and promote deeply prejudicial views about who and what Pagans are. That historical mistrust against Paganism and against individual Pagans will only be further entrenched when Pagans who declare themselves “leaders” act unethically or dishonourably towards members of their own religious community.
Deliberately misleading the public about a drug (hydroxychloroquine) proven to have no effect against a lethal virus, and recommending that masks not be worn to prevent the spread of that virus is not only unethical, but criminally negligent.
If you are unwilling to accept the very real risk of coronavirus contagion to your child or members of your family as a consequence of sending your child back to school, SAPRA advises applying for partial or conditional exemption from attendance. Parents seeking to homeschool their child must register for home schooling.
According to section 4(1) of the South African Schools Act, “A Head of Department may exempt a learner entirely, partially, or conditionally from compulsory school attendance if it is in the best interests of the learner.”
On Sunday morning, 15 March, an unnamed 83 year old woman and her 23 year old granddaughter became the first reported victims of witchcraft accusation in 2020. The grandmother was drowned by her assailants in a drum of water. Her granddaughter narrowly escaped being burned alive. The perpetrators alleged that the grandmother was guilty of bewitching a young man who was buried the day before in Majuba Village, Sterkspruit, in the Eastern Cape. These victims are the latest in a very long and growing list of individuals and families who have become scapegoats for unmerited blame in South Africa.
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SAPRA Directive: COVID-1920 March 2020 In light of the danger posed by potential contagion to COVID-19, and in accordance with directives issued by the President of the Republic of South Africa in terms of the Disaster Management Act: 1. All non-essential travel
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The following represents available published news reports of witch-hunts in South Africa for the periods 2000 to 2020. * Reports covering the period 2006 to 2009 have not been included here. This content is regularly updated. Many more witchcraft accusations and witch-hunts remain
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Parents are no longer entitled to chastise a child using violence! The Constitutional Court held that “The application of force or a resort to violence, which could be harmful or abused, cannot in circumstances where there is an effective non-violent option available be said to be consonant with the best interests of a child.”
In terms of Section 110 of the Children’s Amendment Act, there is a general duty on certain citizens to report domestic abuse and violence against children. Ordinary citizens are given the discretion to report abuse when they become aware of it.
At identified Department of Home Affairs branches, Home Affairs officials are refusing to register marriages between heterosexual couples married in terms of the Civil Union Act. These officials are instructing heterosexual couples that:(a) they were incorrectly married under the Civil Union Act,(b)
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Prof. Hesselink’s article constitutes gratuitous hate speech against a religious minority not in any way involved in crimes committed by Christians!
SAPRA submission on the South African Law Reform Commission Project 144, Single Marriage Statute, Issue Paper 35.
The South African Pagan Rights Alliance is deeply troubled by Pastor Mboro Motsoeneng’s public prejudicial incitement against witches and witchcraft. Timeslive reported on 5 June that Incredible Happenings Ministries’ Pastor Paseka Mboro Motsoeneng “intends on ending the ‘witches’ honeymoon” in SA by
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Some South African Pagans are actively promoting the idea that the right to self-determination gives them the right to declare their independence from the Republic of South Africa. They are wrong! Self-determination is not independence from the Republic! Section 235 of the
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The Fight to End “Witch-hunts” Continues14 April 2019 | By Star BustamonteThe Wild Hunt. Every year, the South African Pagan Rights Alliance Touchstone Advocacy runs a 30 day campaign to end “witch-hunts” and the accusations of “witchcraft” in South Africa. This year,
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Sunday Times interview on refugees of witch-hunts. Helena, the desolate exile, has become known as the ‘place of witches’Trauma never dies for ‘sorcerers’ cast out of their homes14 April 2019 | by Jeff WicksIn the village of Helena – a forgotten dumping
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Sunday Times interview on the review of the Witchcraft Suppression Act. The decriminalisation of ‘harmless witchcraft’ to be realised in the near future?14 April 2019 | By Sipokazi FokaziSunday Times.
Campaign against witchcraft accusations and witch-hunts in South Africa from 29 March to 7 April. Advocacy against human rights abuses committed as a result of accusations of witchcraft and violent witch-hunts.https://www.paganrightsalliance.org/advocacy/ Remember their namesVictims of witch-hunts in South Africa 2000 to 2018.https://www.paganrightsalliance.org/remember-their-names/
Download a copy of the Pagan Conference on Religion and Regulation hosted by SAPRA and the South African Pagan Council on Human Rights Day 21 March 2019.
The South African Pagan Rights Alliance has lodged the following complaint against the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. – The Honourable Mr
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It is unlawful for an employer to prevent employees from exercising their personal religious beliefs, and it is unlawful for employers to obligate employees or pupils to embrace a faith that is not theirs. An employer may not victimise an employee because
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Any discussion on or about religion in South Africa must begin with an acknowledgement of an absolute rule – all religions are to be regarded as equal before the law! This Constitutional rule was most recently reiterated in 2017, when the South
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In February 2008, the South African Pagan Rights Alliance was designated by the Department of Home Affairs as a religious organisation in terms of section 5 (1) and (2) of the Civil Union Act (Act 17 of 2006), and appoints its own
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A consideration of the ethical responsibility of journalists when reporting on accusations of witchcraft in South Africa. Download a free .pdf copy Accusations of witchcraft are not protected under the constitutional rights to freedom of religion, belief and opinion, or expression. An
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International discussions and debates on the merits of limitless (free) speech, and whether or not speech that incites harm should be protected or banned from social media, is currently trending on social and corporate media sites. In South Africa, chapter 2 section
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SAPRA frequently receives e-mails from concerned individuals alleging that their mother, or family member, has been accused of witchcraft, by members of their community. It is important to remember that accusations of witchcraft are almost never based on evidence, and invariably lead
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South African Pagan Rights AllianceAnnual General Meeting 28 April 2018 Download AGM Agenda AGENDA IntroductionFollow this annual general meeting at https://www.facebook.com/events/161890641047771/ Director’s Report Matters Arising from AGM 2017 Chief Executive Officer’s Report CRL Rights Commission proposal on regulation of religion Advocacy against witch-hunts
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An amendment to the ‘Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill‘, called a ‘religious exemption’ clause (in s3(2)(d) of the Bill), will allow “the bona fide interpretation and proselytising or espousing of any religious tenet, belief, teaching, doctrine or
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Speaker of the National Assembly New Assembly Building, Parliament Street, Cape Town P O Box 15, Cape Town 8000 E-mail: speaker@parliament.gov.za cc: cdudley@parliament.gov.za Notice 96 of 2018 – Civil Union Amendment Bill, 2018
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The proposal by the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural‚ Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) to license and regulate religion, religious organisation and leaders, has not been endorsed by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance
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The United Nations Human Rights Council hosted the very first two day workshop on witchcraft-related human rights violations in Geneva, Switzerland, on 21 and 22 September. The workshop brought together over a hundred U.N. experts, academics and members of civil society from
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The United Nations Human Rights Council hosted the very first two day workshop on witchcraft-related human rights violations in Geneva, Switzerland, on 21 and 22 September. The South African Pagan Rights Alliance was invited to attend this event. The workshop brought together over
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In a recently published article – Pagans and Christians oppose CRL commission’s ‘state capture’ of religion – CRL Commission chairperson Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva is reported to have stated: “The participants in the hearings were part of a random sample. Only religions which were broadly represented
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Defamation Defamation is defined as “any unlawful, intentional false communication, either written or spoken, that harms a person’s reputation; decreases the respect, regard, or confidence in which a person is held; or induces disparaging, hostile, or disagreeable opinions or feelings against a
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On June 28 the South Gauteng High Court delivered its long anticipated judgement on religion and education in public schools. In Organisasie vir Godsdienste-Onderrig en Demokrasie v Laerskool Randhart and Others, Judge van der Linde, affirmed the principles of religious diversity and
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Recently published articles concerning the revision of Canada’s Criminal Code on the prohibition of Witchcraft in that country has elicited numerous calls by South African Witches to legalise Witchcraft in South Africa. Many Pagans and Witches remain under the impression that the
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South African Pagan Council 2017 Annual General MeetingReport by the South African Pagan Rights Alliance (SAPRA)(SAPRA is an affiliated member of the Pagan Council) 2017 SAPRA Director’s Report Over the last 23 years, SAPRA has demonstrated its capacity and proficiency in human
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Equitable and voluntary religious observances at state institutions Some Pagans have, whilst visiting public clinics, felt obligated to endure Christian prayer services conducted by staff members of the clinic. Some consider interrupting these services as disrespectful to the rights of Christian patients,
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. Advocacy against human rights abuses committed as a result of accusations of witchcraft and violent witch-hunts The ’30 days of advocacy against witch-hunts campaign’ was launched in March 2008 under the banner of Touchstone Advocacy, in response to ongoing accusations of witchcraft and
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