The Wild Hunt (https://wildhunt.org/tag/south-african-pagan-rights-alliance)
In this week’s Pagan Community Notes: Pandemic fears fuel discrimination, hate-crimes and “witch-hunts,” SAPRA relief statement, interview round-ups and more!
WILDERNESS EAST, WESTERN CAPE, South Africa – Last week, Damon Leff, founding director of South African Pagan Rights Alliance (SAPRA), editor-in-chief of Penton Independent Alternative Media, and a contributor to TWH was interviewed in a segment on Jacaranda FM, ”The Scenic Drive with Rian”. Leff was ridiculed and treated with disrespect. Leff issued the following statement to TWH regarding his experience:
On Wednesday, 29 May, I appeared as an invited guest on ‘The Scenic Drive with Rian’. I was interviewed by Rian van Heerden and his team from 6 to 6.30pm. During the interview I was repeatedly ridiculed and mocked by [Rian] van Heerden and members of his team.
We continue our conversation about witch hunts with Damon Leff of the South African Pagan Rights Alliance.
Part one of our two part interview with Damon Leff. Leff is a South African Pagan involved in education and advocacy for human rights and religious freedom. We spoke with him about the South African Pagan Rights Alliance (SAPRA) and the work it is doing.
PRETORIA, South Africa –A self-styled prophet and leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering is being sued because he accused a businessperson of being a witch on live television, and some South African Pagans fear the case may bolster a push to regulate religion. If that were to come to pass, members of minority traditional and Pagan groups may be disproportionately affected in this country. Witchcraft is a complicated topic throughout Africa. Witch accusations can lead to violence, arising out of negative associations made to traditional practices. The emergence of Neopagan movements such as Wicca make the use of the word “witch” all the more confusing.