Know more about the South African Pagan Rights Alliance!

Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Donec velit neque.

About SAPRA

The South African Pagan Rights Alliance (SAPRA) is a faith-based, paralegal advocacy non-profit dedicated to protecting the constitutional rights and religious freedoms of the South African Pagan community. Established in 2004, we function as a vital human rights watchdog, ensuring that Pagans, Witches, and practitioners of alternative spiritualities can live, work, and worship without fear of discrimination or persecution.
 
Who We Are
As a designated religious organisation under the Civil Union Act, SAPRA is more than just an advocacy group; we are a legally recognised body authorised to solemnise marriages and provide spiritual support to our members. Our leadership comprises dedicated scholars, human rights activists, and registered marriage officers—such as Damon Leff, Dr Tristán Kapp, and Symi van Aarde—who combine legal expertise with a deep commitment to our community’s heritage.
 
What We Do
We help solve religious discrimination and human rights disputes through expert paralegal advice, mediation, and constitutional advocacy. Our core work includes:
  • Legislative Reform: Leading the nearly 20-year campaign to repeal the Witchcraft Suppression Act of 1957 and replace it with fair, human-rights-aligned legislation.
  • Anti-Witch-hunt Advocacy: Through our Touchstone initiative, we work locally and internationally (including with the United Nations) to prevent violence stemming from witchcraft accusations.
  • Paralegal Support: Providing a three-step resolution process—counselling, mediation, and referral—to assist individuals facing challenges in employment, schools, and child welfare cases.
  • Public Education: Promoting religious tolerance through initiatives like Occult Heritage Month and active media engagement to debunk harmful stereotypes and “Satanic Panic” myths.
 
Our Vision
We envision a South Africa where the diversity of religious expression is celebrated and where every citizen is protected by the full weight of the Bill of Rights, regardless of their path.
 
Tell Us Your Case
Justice01

Our Vision

Our vision is to foster a South African society where religious diversity is fully respected and the constitutional rights of every individual—regardless of their spiritual path—are upheld without fear of prejudice, criminalisation, or violence.

Our Mission

The South African Pagan Rights Alliance (SAPRA) is committed to protecting the religious freedom and human rights of all Pagans through proactive paralegal advocacy, legislative reform, and public education. We strive to eliminate religious discrimination and prevent the violence associated with witchcraft accusations by ensuring that the South African Constitution serves as a practical shield for our community in schools, workplaces, and the legal system.

Our Core Values

SAPRA is guided by a commitment to Constitutional Integrity, ensuring that the South African Bill of Rights serves as a practical shield for religious minorities against discrimination and prejudice. Our core values include Justice through Advocacy, where we utilise paralegal mediation to resolve disputes, and Safety and Protection, which drives our uncompromising stance against witch-hunts and superstitious violence. We champion Religious Pluralism by fostering a society that respects diverse spiritual paths and maintain Authentic Representation through a leadership of registered professionals dedicated to the dignity and legal recognition of the Pagan community.

Associations & Memberships

South African Pagan Council (SAPC): SAPRA is a founding affiliated member of the South African Pagan Council. It currently holds a position as an Executive Member and serves as the Chair of the SAPC Law Reform Committee.

South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC): Since 2007, SAPRA has been a primary stakeholder in the SALRC’s Project 135, which reviews the constitutionality of the Witchcraft Suppression Act. SAPRA actively monitors this review to advocate for the final repeal of the Act.

Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN): As a core member of this global network, SAPRA collaborates on international initiatives to end human rights abuses related to witchcraft accusations and contributed to the historic UN Human Rights Council Resolution 47/8.

Department of Home Affairs of South Africa (DHASA): SAPRA is a formally registered Religious Organisation under the Civil Union Act, maintaining a direct regulatory relationship with Home Affairs to register and monitor its licensed marriage officers.

South African Revenue Service (SARS): SAPRA is an officially designated Public Benefit Organisation (PBO), ensuring institutional transparency and allowing for tax-exempt status and tax-deductible donations.

Association for the Study of Religion in Southern Africa (ASRSA): Through its executive leadership, SAPRA maintains ties to the academic community, contributing to the scholarly study and preservation of minority religious heritage.

International Network of Pagan Studies (INOPS): Through its executive leadership, SAPRA is affiliated with this global academic network, which fosters scholarly research and international dialogue on Paganism and alternative spiritualities. This connection ensures SAPRA’s advocacy is informed by contemporary global research and peer-reviewed studies.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.