There is a long tradition and history of belief in witchcraft, witches and witch-doctors, people often think of witch-doctors as a kind of witch but that is not correct. The name is more literal; they are people with special knowledge (like a doctor) who can cure you of the ailments of witchcraft and witches by using rituals and other ‘traditional medicines. South Africa though is a modernizing co
untry and faith in witch-doctors has almost disappeared. However, there is still the shadowy residual of belief in witch craft in the society and it is upon these fading embers of belief that modern Muslim and Christian fundamentalist churches (like the Pentecostal church) have found an in. By exploiting and expropriating the language and beliefs in witch-craft, they have used tradition itself as a mechanism to bring people into the church. Continual pushing of this radical button and the conflation of their traditional beliefs in the ‘word of god’ they gain acceptance and control over the people and their society. It is a pattern of religious conquests seen many times before and well-studied in the European context goes back to Christianity’s origins. Compounding this issue are structural problems in South Africa (and again most of Africa). The educational system in the country is largely supplied by religious missionaries be they Christian or Muslim. Both benefit not in teaching rational thinking but, in both the perpetuation of their ‘traditional beliefs’ as well as the schools own religious doctrine. Each generation is brainwashed from childhood, making it exceedingly hard and unlikely they will find their way to reason; thus another generation of those who will “never suffer a witch to live” are born. A witch doctor IS originally a type of healer who treated ailments believed to be caused by witchcraft. It is currently used to refer to healers, particularly in third world regions, who use traditional healing rather than contemporary medicine. In contemporary society, witch doctor is sometimes used derogatorily to refer to chiropractors, homeopaths, and faith healers. In its original meaning, witch doctors were emphatically not witches themselves, but rather people who had remedies to protect others against witchcraft. Witchcraft-induced conditions were their area of expertise. In order to perform rites of healing, the witch doctor frequently required payment in the form of food, weapons, or other valuables. In many cases, a sacrifice was required to be made to the gods, typically in the form of a slaughtered animal. Usually, the value of the sacrifice reflected the nature of the illness. A slight medical complaint might require the sacrifice of a small animal, such as a rabbit, while a more serious illness would typically require a larger animal, such as a lamb or deer.
