PRETORIA, South Africa — The Pagan and Wiccan communities of South Africa are celebrating historic achievements as two prominent organizations, the South African Pagan Rights Alliance (SAPRA) and the Aquarian Tabernacle Church of Wicca Africa (ATC-Africa), received formal recognition, strengthening their role in advancing religious freedom, community service, and cultural legitimacy.
SAPRA Gains Tax-Exempt Status
Earlier this year in March, SAPRA announced it had been designated a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) by the South African Revenue Service. This designation makes SAPRA a tax-exempt institution and allows it to issue Section 18A receipts, which entitle donors to claim income tax deductions for qualifying contributions.
“This recognition not only affirms the value of our work but ensures that donors may support our mission with confidence,” said Chris Waugh, SAPRA’s financial director.
Originally founded by human rights activist (and Wild Hunt contributor) Damon Leff in 2004, SAPRA was reorganized in 2006 as a democratic body with an elected executive dedicated to promoting the rights and freedoms afforded under the South African constitution. SAPRA serves as a critical lifeline for individuals and communities who cannot afford access to formal legal services. Its trained paralegals, described as “grassroots barefoot lawyers,” provide free, practical assistance in matters ranging from social welfare and employment disputes to defending constitutional rights. While the Alliance cannot draft wills or formal court documents, it plays a vital role in negotiating and mediating conflicts, providing referrals to professional attorneys when necessary, and guiding citizens through applications to tribunals such as the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
Beyond legal assistance, SAPRA is deeply engaged in advocacy for religious equality. Recognized as a religious organization under South Africa’s Civil Union Act since 2008, its marriage officers are authorized to solemnize marriages. The Alliance is also an executive member of the South African Pagan Council (SAPC), chairs the Council’s Law Reform Committee, and participates in the global Witchcraft and Human Rights Information Network (WHRIN), which works globally to protect those accused of witchcraft practices.
By combining legal advocacy with community development initiatives and human rights education, SAPRA has become one of the most important Pagan organizations in South Africa. Its new tax-exempt status provides greater sustainability for this mission.
ATC Africa Becomes a Legally Recognized Church
Today, the Mother Church of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, made the equally historic announcement that that ATC-Africa has been officially notified that their registration as a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO 323-407), Non-Profit Company (NPC 2025/238189/08) had been approved. Significantly, ATC-Africa is now a legally recognized church under South African law.
“This milestone is not just about legal status,” said Lady Venette Kruger, Arch-Priestess and Chairperson of ATC Africa. “It is about affirming Wicca’s rightful place among the recognized faiths of South Africa — giving our community a voice, a sanctuary, and a foundation for generations to come.”
Aquarian Tabernacle Church logo
As the African affiliate of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church International, ATC-Africa carries forward a mission of spiritual growth, education, and service. The Aquarian Tabernacle Church is one of the oldest and largest legally recognized Wiccan churches, founded in the United States in 1979. It provides sacred spaces, celebrates the Wheel of the Year and lunar rites, and offers rites of passage to the community. Its G.K. Loom Theological Seminary provides pastoral training and theological education for seekers and clergy alike.
ATC-Africa also embodies a strong ethic of environmental stewardship and interfaith service, organizing charitable initiatives such as the Cauldron Closet, which extends support to those in need. Its constitution commits the church to transparency, non-discrimination, and ecological responsibility, aligning both with South African law and Wiccan ethical principles.
International voices hailed the recognition as a turning point. “We are immensely proud of ATC Africa, whose perseverance has led to this remarkable achievement,” said Belladonna Laveau, Matriarch of the ATC International. “Lady Venette’s leadership is paving the way for greater recognition of nature-based religions in Africa — a region where these traditions have deep roots and rightful belonging.”
The recognition of SAPRA and ATC Africa drew congratulations from international Pagan leaders. Manny Tejeda y Moreno, First Officer of the U.S.-based Covenant of the Goddess, a US-based national religious organization of Witches and Wiccans supporting diverse traditions of the Craft and serving to ensure Pagan equal rights, called the news “extraordinary.”1
“The work of ATC Africa, SAPRA, and SAPC not only secures the rights of Wiccans and Pagans but also educates the wider society,” he said. “By eliminating fear and stigma, their efforts strengthen protections for all.”
While SAPRA and ATC Africa achieved major milestones, other Pagan organizations continue to strengthen South Africa’s spiritual landscape. The South African Pagan Council (SAPC), inaugurated in 2006, works to unite diverse Pagan traditions through cooperative unity, dialogue, and mutual respect. SAPC encourages “cross-pollination” among groups and individuals while honoring the unique traditions within the broader Pagan umbrella. The Council remains a cornerstone of Pagan collaboration, ensuring that recognition for one group supports recognition for all.
Lady Venette was also recently appointed as the Convener/Registrar of the SAPC.
The First Church of Wiccan Culture in South Africa, established in 2023, also represents an important step in building structured governance, education, and advocacy for Wiccans and Pagans. Together, these organizations illustrate a growing infrastructure of recognition and support for nature-based religions in South Africa. These achievements are legal victories that underscore the promise of religious freedom in that nation and elsewhere. They represent a growing acknowledgment that Pagan and Wiccan faiths are recognized religions serving society and promoting education, ecology, and human rights.
1. Disclosure: Tejeda y Moreno is also the editor-in-chief of The Wild Hunt. His comments on behalf of CoG do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of TWH and are reviewed by an independent editor.↩
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