Intervening in witchcraft-related problems: Experiences from South Africa

Prof. Thias Selealo Kgatla is a scholar of religion and trained as a theologian. He teaches religious studies at the University of the North, Limpopo Province, South Africa, and is also engaged as a pastor in a branch of the Uniting Church of South Africa. He has led a SANPAD-financed research programme called “Crossing witchcraft barriers in South Africa”, the report of which has just appeared and will be available at the lecture.

Limpopo Province of South Africa has seen an epidemic of witchcraft accusations since the demise of the apartheid regime. This has led to mock trials, killings and internal refugees.

The University of the North has undertaken a series of research projects to study ways to combat the accusations, especially the violent persecutions of so-called witches. Several echelons of South African society are heavily involved: the local communities, traditional healers as they control the main means for allegedly substantiating the witchcraft discourse and also the South African authorities such as the police, with their own problems of professionalization.

The measures to be taken to combat witchcraft accusations will be discussed, comparing the South African situation with witch crazes elsewhere in place and time.