News

South Africa: Pastor orders his congregation to eat grass

Eating grass according to Pastor Lesego Daniel, brings you closer to God. He argued that humans can eat anything to feed their bodies and survive on whatever they chose to eat. Lesego ordered his congregation to get on their knees and start munching the lush green grass telling them that it heals ailments. And so they went, women and men, kids and the elderly took to the ground, feasting on grass like their lives depended on it. Read  more here

Nepal: Pass anti-witchcraft bill from first CA meet

As incidents of women facing inhuman treatment and physical torture on the charge of practicing witchcraft continues unabated across the country, a conference of women rights activists underscored the need for endorsing the proposed anti-witchcraft bill at the earliest possible time. Read more here

India: 3 held for killing Gumla woman in witch-hunt

Three persons were arrested for the murder of a woman from Birkera-Pahartoli village under Raidih police station. With this, police cracked the case of murder of Butel Devi, killed allegedly for practising witchcraft. Read more here

Swaziland: Cops almost shoot each other after muti allegations

Kenya: Did you know that witchcraft attracts 10-year jail term?

The practice of witchcraft is illegal and can have the one using charms to harm others cooling his or her sorcery heels in jail for 10 years. Even falsely accusing another of witchery attracts a Sh500,000 fine if found guilty or cooling government porridge in the slammer for five years.  Read more here

South Africa: HETN perturbed by Daily Sun’s gutter reporting, exaggerated stories of witchcraft

The Higher Education Transformation Network (HETN), acting on behalf of its alumni membership, hereby condemns the continued irresponsible journalism practices perpetrated by the Daily Sun, a publication within the Media 24 Naspers Group. It is the opinion of the Network that the Daily Sun’s irresponsible reporting propagates barbaric conduct amongst poor communities and propagates continued superstition and witchcraft beliefs by poor communities against women, the elderly, violence against African immigrants, animal cruelty whilst legitimizing mob justice and preying on impoverished communities’ frustrations and fears. Read more here

Nigeria: Ritual killing? Boss on the run as family launches search for missing apprentice

Tanzania: Israeli director portrays Tanzania’s albino body parts trade

Noaz Deshe, the son of Israeli producer Avraham Deshe, musician and visual artist, went to Dar Es Salaam in 2010 to teach a short filmmaking class. While there he learned of the shocking underground trade in albino body parts, which witch doctors promote as having healing capabilities. With poverty rampant, albinos living in certain areas go through life with a bullseye on their back, never sure when they will be captured and killed. This article is a review of Deshe’s first film “White Shadow”, which follows the life of a young albino. Read more here

South Africa: South African president Zuma reveals he used to practice witchcraft against white people

South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma has told how he used to practise witchcraft against white people. Speaking in his native Zulu language at a pre-election rally in the country’s rural north, he told a crowd of his voodoo past. ‘I used to practise witchcraft around here, bewitching the Boers during apartheid’, Zuma reportedly said. Read more here

South Africa: Homes set alight following witchcraft allegations

The homes of two families were set alight by an angry mob, following the disappearance of a five-year-old boy. This follows after a local sangoma allegedly identified the owners of the homes as suspects and some community members wanted to take the law into their own hands. Read more here