A 92-year-old woman who was accused of witchcraft and murdered has received justice after the accused were found guilty of her death. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay
Witchcraft in SA: Is gogo bewitched…or ill?
Witchcraft accusations against the elderly is a huge concern in SA, according to the KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
A 92-year-old woman who was accused of witchcraft and murdered has received justice after the accused were found guilty of her death. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay
Witchcraft accusations against the elderly is a huge concern in Southern Africa, according to information released by the Kwazulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
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Wrongful accusations of witchcraft against older people is often tied to dementia and other mental health conditions. Accusations from community and family members lead to wrongful persecution of innocent people, behaviour which has been highlighted by the Premier during an October talk.
Here’s what to know about witchcraft accusations, and why this happens.
Witchcraft: Premier condemns accusations
Kwazulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has condemned accusations against elderly people.
According to an October statement, accusations are often aimed at older persons with dementia and other mental health conditions.
ALSO READ: Justice for woman, 92, burnt over ‘witchcraft’ as accused found guilty
The onset of mental health conditions is sometimes wrongfully believed to be signs of bewitchment or possession. According to scientific studies, this is a commonly held belief throughout Africa.
Accusations expose older and vulnerable persons to potential abuse and exploitation, based on the wrongful belief that they are taken over by evil forces.
Witchcraft and the elderly
Dementia and related mental health conditions could lead to abnormal behaviour and speech patterns, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Scientific studies say that conditions affecting behaviour is often misinterpreted and seen as signs of possession or bewitching by communities. The South African Pagan Rights Alliance (SAPRA) points out that “witch hunts” are common even in South Africa.
ALSO READ: Four men sentenced for killing an elderly over witchcraft accusation
The elderly are especially vulnerable to these accusations, according to a 2020 scientific study.
No, gogo isn’t bewitched, gogo is ill.
What is dementia?
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, dementia is “a general term” for a group of mental health conditions that can interfere with daily life. Memory and language loss, as well as thinking abilities and problem-solving skills start to be affected from dementia and related health conditions.
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Persons with dementia can become more forgetful, revert back to a childlike state, or could even become confused and agitated or violent.
Sometimes these strange behaviours are mistaken for witchcraft, though are actually caused by a degenerative medical condition like dementia.
Dementia and related health conditions require a diagnosis by a medical doctor
