Dear Fellow Pagans
Herewith some good news!

One of the SAPC members Athema Whitewolf corresponded with Mr. Uys of the National Party, regarding his disappointment with the NP’s stance in connection with Satanists and Witches.
He received the following reply from Mr.Uys: (with permission)…

“Athema,

Will you kindly inform me where the NP or myself condemned Paganism? In fact, we just appointed a NP spokesman on Religion and Culture Affairs. His first media statement went out 20 minutes ago and will also appear on our website tonight. It deals with paganism.”

Mr Uys assured Athema that he is welcome to correspond with the NP at any time regarding Pagan matters.

Here follows the National Party’s press statement:

NATIONAL PARTY SOUTH AFRICA (NP) ON PAGANISM

September 01, 2008 | We have noted with great concern that there is a misunderstanding amongst the Pagan community regarding the NP's statement on Satanism.

We would like to state it unequivocally that the National Party does not hold any ill feeling against the pagan community. On the contrary, the National Party would endeavour upon election to protect the rights of the Pagan community. We understand the response from the Pagan community regarding our policy towards Satanism. It is well known that paganism has wrongly, and to the great detriment of the Pagans, been associated with Satanism by ill-informed officials. However, the National Party wishes to advise that we fully support freedom of religion and that there would be no witch-hunt of any practitioners of Wicca, Odinic Rite or any of the other Pagan practices. Pagans are welcome to celebrate Imbolc, Beltane or any other festival in public, as long as the particular group does not break any of the laws of the Republic. The reference to Satanism refers to destructive religion that developed as an inversion of Christian beliefs and is an open worship of evil. Paganism does not worship evil and it is a force for good in society.

The senseless killing of a 16-year old boy at a school in Krugersdorp under the alleged influence of Satanism has prompted the suggestion that there should be acted against Satanism.

Finally, again we wish to advise that the Pagan community can rest assured that their rights to worship will be protected by the National Party once we have been elected to office. We sincerely hope this statement has clarified all misunderstandings regarding our religious policy.

JMT Labuschagne
Spokesperson for Religion & Culture Affairs, NP

I believe this statement by the NP can be taken in good faith by the Pagan community. However, we do not need permission to celebrate our festivals from the NP, neither do we need the NP’s permission to worship. It is guaranteed in the SA Constitution. We state for the record that we object to any religious discrimination of any sort by the NP or any other party, be it Satanism, Judaism, Hinduism or whatever religion the NP deems in its wisdom to be undesirable.
The SAPC thanks the NP for this considered response, The SAPC furthermore thanks all those members who contributed letters of objection against the NP’s stance, in particular Mr Damon Leff of SAPRA and Athema Whitewolf of the SAPC.
The SAPC Executive will discuss this turn of events with the SAPRA Executive and decide on the collective way forward regarding our appeal process at the IEC regarding the NP. It is SAPC policy not to get involved in other religious debates, the Council is exclusively Pagan.
BB
Luke Martin
Convener