When Mr Adrian Williams was asked to comment on the Witchcraft Suppression Act, he said: “It does not undermine any right except the right to define yourself.”

I think that he misses the point entirely.

This whole issue is about defining oneself, and the right and choice to do just that.

I define myself as Pagan; will he (or someone else) one day attempt to take that away from me because the term Pagan may be “highly offensive to the vast majority of people in this country”?

It is indeed true that the term “Witch” has been used in a negative way throughout much of modern history in most parts of the world, however, any attempt to ban its usage will merely be a continuance of a mind-set based on, and feeding off, ignorance.

Denying the word due to real or perceived cultural and linguistic differences, and whether attempts to ban the term are in turn in the best interest of specific groups (at the cost of others), or merely based on self-interest (once again at the cost of others), will do nothing to dispel existing misunderstandings, misinformation and disinformation.

Although the argument for/against the use of the term “Witch” does affect the right to self-definition and although there may indeed be conceptual gaps between African and European traditions, what really worries me goes far beyond that.

I fear that there is a very real danger that any attempt to “ban” the term “Witch” will in fact give credence to erroneous beliefs which exist, and further encourage suspicion and violence in/by all affected communities.

Because of that I believe that any, and all, “anti-Witch campaigns” should be strongly opposed by all Pagans as a united front, whether they are Witches or not.

What we need is a campaign to inform communities in SA so that we can indeed change the perception of what Witchcraft is not, and inform all people about what Witchcraft is. We do not need denial, what we need is education.

As a MP and as a “pagan” Mr Williams is in fact missing a golden opportunity to do just that. As Mr Williams said: “It would be ideal if we could change the perception of what Witchcraft is.” Just a shame that this does not seem to be his ideal.

Luckily for many of us, it is our ideal.

“The word ‘Witch’ carries so many negative connotations that many people wonder why we use the word at all. Yet to reclaim the word ‘Witch’ is to reclaim our right, as women, to be powerful; as men, to know the feminine within as divine.” - Starhawk