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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Since 1995 a number of South African Pagans have taken the opportunity to express their pleas for religious tolerance and an end to discrimination against religious minorities in South Africa. Many new Pagan religious communities have been formed, each of which have
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Common Pagan beliefs and practices. Religious authority Paganism nationally and internationally has no central religious authority. Communities are governed by initiatory hierarchy or by democratic consensus. Theologies Paganism has no central theology, but rather embraces a number of different theologies and
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Paganism Today: Wiccans, Druids, the Goddess and Ancient Earth Traditions for the Twenty-First CenturyGraham Harvey and Charlotte HardmanISBN-10: 0722532334 and ISBN-13: 978-0722532331 Being a Pagan: Druids, Wiccans, and Witches TodayEllen Evert Hopman and Lawrence BondISBN-10: 0892819049 and ISBN-13: 978-0892819041 The
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The word ‘pagan’ comes from the Latin words ‘pagani’ meaning ‘rural’, and ‘pagus’ meaning ‘country-district’. It was used in a Christian inscription of the early fourth century to describe rural civilians of Rome who had not converted to Christianity. The general use
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