I was rather surprised by the afore-mentioned article in the Sunday Times as there have been no noteworthy developments to this story over a two year period. I feel it was more the case of a journalist in search of a space to fill. I do have some comments, however, that relate to the article itself, and to some of the return comments.

Firstly, the article describes Mr Adrian Williams as ‘the only pentacle wearing witch in parliament’. There are Pagan Witches, (and not only in South Africa), who, for a variety of reasons. do not disclose their Witch identity in the workplace Mr Williams might ‘choose’ not to so self-identify, but to make this disclosure, as a Witch, in the public arena–and most especially in our largest Sunday newspaper–seems nonsensical to me.
I do not see this as an issue that at this point in time is dividing South African Pagans. As an educated guess, I would say that both the group Mr Williams represents (if indeed this is the case) and SAPRA are smallish in number; with most South African Pagan Witches either standing outside of this debate, or are oblivious to it.
Witchcraft in the African context is deeply complex; it spreads across and beyond the continent of Africa and cannot be reduced to a single definition. It is equally simplistic to infer that the belief in witchcraft has a predictable outcome in murder or violence. This is rare. When such instances tragically do occur, calling it ‘witchcraft’ is often a convenient label that allows the political, economic and social factors that do lie at the heart of the problem, to remain unaddressed.

What concerns me most is the rising tendency among some in the Pagan community, to refer to African notions of witchcraft as ‘superstition’, or, as one commentator to this article put it, “We as Pagans in South Africa currently sit in a shadow cast by the controlled and ignorant majority.” This is very language used by scholars, missionaries and colonists to Africa from the late 19th century, and from which the majority of our peoples, across race and religion, Pagan or non-Pagan, are commited to overcoming. To undermine, or be disparaging about, the centrality of the belief in witchcraft in the context of African religions and cultures, is an uncomfortable mirror of many scathing attacks on their beliefs and practces that Pagan Witches themselves have faced. It is dated and insensitive. Whether or not Adrian Williams’ position is politically expedient–and I am not implying here that it is–this is something that I have no doubt he is aware of.

Our society faces many challenges, and, in my opinion, we need to listen more, to engage with issues as appropriately as we can, and mostly, to reflect more on any self-certainties we have that what WE mean by a word, how WE see and interpret out world, inevitably has some greater ‘truth’ to it, than those who see things differently.

We as Pagans in South Africa currently sit in a shadow cast by the controlled and ignorant majority. We have faced challenges before, and personally I have no room in my heart for any doubt that we will rise above the ashes once more… though the price involved is a topic for much debate.

As you see, even in the midst of battle against those who seek to destroy that which many of us have dedicated our very lives to – we find little unity amongst our own kind. And the way I see it, it will be this that cripples us as a community before any pompous, polically-flavoured twit and his massive band of mindless clones do. I could go on forever about the dangers of fighting amongst outselves while the entire population of “ordinaries” is out to nail us as well – but the point I’d like to make here is this: Live by your highest truth or die trying. I would sooner that myself and my line go to early graves in the Spirit of our convictions than to live a life of explanation. I will make my acts of daily living my demonstration. And to the empty beyond with those who do not like it. Adrian Williams is mearly a figurehead being dangled on a stick by a hidden puppet master like every single other politician. Those who are unenlightened are like moths to the flame… we as warriors being that flame.

The nail that sticks out gets hammered ~ Chinese proverb

There is no rest for the brave. My hope lies now with those who, like me, seek justice in unity. Without a wall, we cannot be well protected.