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Melville Mandate
THO incites racist war against witches
2 years 18 weeks
4 days 10 hours
Cauldron boils in witchy word war
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-02-26-cauldron-boils-in-witchy-word-war
Phephisile Maseko said "Let's be honest here -- a witch is a witch and everybody in the country knows that. Publicly calling yourself a witch in South Africa smacks of white privilege. In a village or township, you'd be dead even before completing your proclamation. Sapra must accept that we speak different languages and live in different areas," she said. -- African Eye News Service
Complaint against THO lodged with SAHRC
- 22 February 2010
This Alliance has lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission against repeated libelous statements made by Traditional Healers Organization national co-ordinator, Phephisile Maseko, against South African Witches. Maseko's repeated allegation that muthi murderers are "witches" practicing "witchcraft" remains untrue and defamatory. This Alliance demands that the South African Human Rights Commission (1.) properly investigates repeated libelous allegations made by Phephisile Maseko against South African Witches, (2.) makes a ruling regarding the innocence of self-identified Witches with regard to allegations made by Maseko that we are responsible for the commission of muthi murders, and (3.) instructs the Traditional Healers Organization national coordinator to cease making libelous statements against South African Witches.
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Very dissapointing,
Tue, 03/02/2010 - 05:20 — wotanwulfBut I am not really surprised.
Go SAPRA!
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 12:56 — Rayne SeleneYour work is, as always, incredible.
Thanks for keeping us updated on these developments Damon.
DITTO
Mon, 03/01/2010 - 20:54 — MorgauseI cannot believe we have come to this, Damon.
This is not a racial issue; it is a human rights issue!
BB
Morgause
SAPC Registrar
human rights
Tue, 03/02/2010 - 08:49 — Damon LeffYeh, and she knows it, but she seems to have forgotten it. She sounds more like Adrian Williams now.
Warning
Tue, 03/02/2010 - 17:50 — MorgauseMynie warned us that this would have happened and she was right.
I understand and respect the fact that as an Organization, we had to try; we owed it to ourselves, our love for the Constitution and our Cause. I have no regrets. I am not sorry that we walked this road of dialogue and coopeartion and am grateful that it is all faithfully documented -sufficient proof that this is not racially dictated but that rather it reflects our genuine concern with this pressing human rights issue.
Thank you for your indefatigable work Damon. You're a champion!
Registrar
"Witch" is not "witch"
Tue, 03/02/2010 - 19:29 — ErebosIt seems that we as Pagans keep ignoring the conceptual gap between African and European cultures and traditions when it comes to both the interpretation and understanding the terms “witch” and “Witch”, and "witchcraft" and "Witchcraft".
Perhaps it is time to acknowledge that most Africans do not, and will not for a very long time, if ever, share contemporary Paganism’s definition and understanding of the term “Witch”.
No amount of Pagan protestation, court cases, etc will ever eradicate the “concept of evil” entrenched in what Africans define as “witchcraft”. Our definition of the words “Witch”, “Witchcraft”, and even magick, makes no sense whatsoever in the existing African cultural context.
Does that mean that cultural practices and religious beliefs that promote the murder of innocent people on the basis of culture should be tolerated, of course not - and it is indeed everyone’s responsibility to ensure that such murders, and any other actions which fail to respect human rights, are brought to light.
But I think that using these murders as an argument to “force” a change in the African understanding of “witchcraft” and “Witchcraft”, simply means that we as contemporary Pagans will keep drawing upon ourselves a great deal of suspicion. It is time to acknowledge that we cannot allay the very real fears within African communities in their interpretation of “witchcraft”.
Are we not perhaps denying African people’s right to their own cultural interpretations, while in the same breath attempting to force our own understanding of “Witchcraft” upon them?
I may be time to recognise and fully acknowledge the very real differences between “witch”, as understood within the African context, and “Witch” as understood by contemporary Pagans.
The two concepts refer to two different beliefs.
REMEMBER THEIR NAMES
Tue, 03/02/2010 - 20:26 — Damon LeffQuite frankly Erebos, I find your position unpalatable.
I don't care for any cultural belief that justifies the murder of innocent people on the basis of a belief no-one can actually prove!
Witch-hunts in Africa are motivated by prejudicial beliefs that remain unproven, and in every instance where that belief leads to the murder of another on an accusation of witchcraft, gross human rights abuses are committed.
Yes, I am forcing South Africans who believe that an umthakathi is evil, to change their prejudicial cultural beliefs, and no, I don't care if you or anyone else approves of the fact that the messenger has a white skin!
Here is a list of people murdered in this country this year.
REMEMBER THEIR NAMES
January 4 2010
Mamakazi Mkhwanazi and her granddaughter Thobile Mbatha were burnt beyond recognition in Gunjaneni after being accused of practising witchcraft.
January 13 2010
An 81-year-old woman, Badabukile Ndlovu, was stabbed 50 times and her throat slit by her neighbour who accused her of witchcraft, in KwaKwiliza near Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal.... See More
February (?) 2010
A 68-year-old man, Mbongeni Zungu, died after community members attacked him and burnt down his shack in Umlazi E section. They accused him of practising witchcraft, KwaZulu-Natal.
February 3 2010
A 65-year-old woman, Nokitani Tshemesi and her three grandchildren, Phumeza Ntakani aged 13, and Nonkoliseko Malolo and Akhona Malolo both aged 10, were found stabbed to death in their home in Kwaaiman, Eastern Cape. They were accused of witchcraft.
March 1 2010
An elderly Limpopo woman (not yet named) accused of witchcraft had her house burnt down in Magaung village at Sekororo, Maake, Limpopo.
9 victims of African "cultural interpretation".
"Are we not perhaps denying African people’s right to their own cultural interpretations, while in the same breath attempting to force our own understanding of “Witchcraft” upon them?" Erebos
Yes, we are. And I have no intention of quitting now!
Culture changes and evolves, even African culture. I will continue to be an agent of that change.
AGENTS OF CHANGE?
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 13:06 — ErebosDamon
I DID also write:
"Does that mean that cultural practices and religious beliefs that promote the murder of innocent people on the basis of culture should be tolerated, of course not - and it is indeed everyone’s responsibility to ensure that such murders, and any other actions which fail to respect human rights, are brought to light."
ALSO - I did not refer to race at any stage, what I did refer to were "cultural" interpretations, understandings and differences - which does not equate skin colour!
And you are right; culture does indeed change and evolve but only over time and within very specific boundaries. Let's not be naive enough to believe that we alone can ever be the agents of such an evolution.
ONCE AGAIN I am not saying that we do not have a role to play in identify human right abuses and crime in general, however, the killing of innocents killed for allegedly "practicing witchcraft" is not a "cultural" problem, but rather a result of criminal acts - and these crimes should be fought as such.
The list of the most recent deaths is not a list of 9 victims of African "cultural interpretation", but it is a list of nine people who died horribly at the hands of criminals.
Our enemy is not "cultural differences", our enemy is crime.
And I am very sorry that you find my position unpalatable.
Erebos
I see
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 16:06 — MorgauseI see the merits of what you are trying to achieve, Erebos, but how would the ordinary man out there perceive the difference between "witch" and "Witch"? Caps and lower casing do not exist in spoken language and these accusations are uttered, not written.
I'm afraid it would not be practical.
We cannot engage in cultural semantic arguments when poor old women, children and people continue being murdered.
Our ancestors practised human sacrifice. Our culture changed over the millenia and we no longer engage in criminal acts to please the Gods and ancestors.
Now far from wanting to dictate to our African brothers and sisters the need to allow culture to evolve, we are asking the authorities (legal, social and communal) to criminalize a muthi murder (say). Muthi is medicine. Those who manufacture "medicine" with body parts, must not be allowed to hide behind the term "medicine" but should be arrested as perpetrators of the crime of trafficking in body parts or as accessories to the crime in case of being a commissioned crime, and of murder in the case of the killing, attempted murder in the case of mutilation in order to prepare this muthi.
What we hope to achieve through the Melville Mandate and with trying to irradicate the incorrect use of the term "witch" (in whatever language) is cessation of the culture of pointing at an innocent member of the community (who knows nothing of magic whatsoever) and making of that innocent bystander a scapegoat for crimes perpetrated by those who make "muthi".
Medicine containing body parts is not "muthi" (medicine).
Herbal decoctions are medicine ("muthi")
An innocent old woman who supposedly struck your home with lightning is not a witch
Malefic magical practices are not witchcraft
Malefic magical practices are not magic
Malefic magical practices are CRIMES.
Criminals are arrested and sentenced for their crimes ... not witches or magicians
The danger of what is here proposed is that one day we could all be accused for being Witches and Mages, or for simply possessing the knowledge of these things, whilst those who perpetuate harmful practices in the name of magic, medicine and culture continue getting away with it.
Any word will do for a smokescreen. Psychopaths and sociopaths hide behind smokescreens and superstitions. The ONLY word that deprives them of a HIDING PLACE is CRIME!
Stand with us under the banner of the SAPC and assist us in bringing the Melville Mandate to its fruition, my friend.
Avanti!
BB
Morgause
SAPC Registrar
...
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 15:38 — Damon LeffErebos, respectfully, You are the one who stated,
"Pagans keep ignoring the conceptual gap between African and European cultures and traditions when it comes to both the interpretation and understanding the terms “witch” and “Witch”, and "witchcraft" and "Witchcraft". ...Are we not perhaps denying African people’s right to their own cultural interpretations, while in the same breath attempting to force our own understanding of “Witchcraft” upon them? ... It may be time to recognise and fully acknowledge the very real differences between “witch”, as understood within the African context, and “Witch” as understood by contemporary Pagans."
The fact is, We have never ignored "the conceptual gap between African and European cultures and traditions".
If you have, say "I keep ignoring..." but do stop making generalized statements about Pagans whom you do not know at all. It detracts from your own opinions.
Throughout your "advice to the Pagans", you implied that perhaps we don't know what we're talking about here. I've spent the better part of 6 years researching this subject, so I do know what I am talking about, and I don't appreciate being told I'm being disrespectful for failing to understand cultural differences.
I agree that acts of muthi murder and witch-hunts are criminal acts.
It doesn't change the fact that my original post dealt with the fact that traditional healers are accusing witches of being muthi murderers. Witches are NOT the muthi murderers! No amount of prostration before the semantic cultural edifice will change that fact.
You don't believe we can be instrumental in changing the status quo for the better?
Watch, and learn.
MY MISTAKE(S)
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 17:46 — ErebosDamon,
You are correct, I should not make generalised statements about Pagans WHOM I DO NOT KNOW AT ALL, and I shall not repeat that mistake again.
My writing regarding this issue is not meant as "advice" to anyone, I was merely stating my personal opinion - an opinion formed after working as a journalist for 29 years in a number of African countries.
Once again, please accept my apologies, and I shall not again broach any issue on the SAPC forum with which I am not 100% acquainted with - which does not leave me much to write about as I tend to be a Jack of all trades and master of none. :)
I accept your apology.
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 21:29 — Damon LeffI accept your apology. Please accept mine for the tone of my response. I do enjoy reading your work, even if I don't always agree with your conclusions. You often give me much to think about.
Tension of the Opposites
Wed, 03/03/2010 - 17:47 — MorgauseI for one appreciate both your and Damon's approach and fields of expertise.
We all have opinions and have a right to voice them here. We might disagree, subsequently, but this does not mean that we have to in any way censor ourselves or refrain from discussing, disagreeing, debating, discussing, argueing, etc.
Here we have equal rights
For Heraclitus, harmony and justice grow out of conflict and the natural tension of opposites, but the essential nature of things is unity and oneness.
Please let us remain united in our diverse opinions and continue posting these, irrespective of whether we are experts in the field or not. This is how we learn. Nes pas?
Registrar