The Commission for the promotion and the protection of the Cultural, Religious and Linguistic communities (CRL Rights Commission) is concerned about the ongoing violent victimisation and the killing of elderly persons labelled as witches. The recent attack of elderly couple in Ntuzuma, KwaZulu-Natal should be unreservedly condemned. This practice is seen to be prevalent in rural areas where victims were killed by the mob members of the communities.
This continued humiliation is contrary to the values of the spirit of ubuntu, nation building as enshrined in Chapter 2 of our Constitution. The Constitution states that everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected. Everyone has the right to life and everyone has the right not to be deprived of freedom arbitrarily or without just cause; to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources; not to be tortured in any way; and not to be treated or punished in a cruel, inhuman or degrading way.
It is against this background that the CRL Rights Commission as a human rights watchdog calls and urges Community Traditional leaderships, CRL community councils and relevant departments to assist in deepening peace, friendship, tolerance and respect for human dignity and communal cohesion among all the people of South Africa in pursuit of social justice and equality, irrespective of suspicions that would not be proven in the court of law.
Enquiries:
Botle Letsebe
Communications and Marketing Officer
Tel: 011 537 7625
Cell: 079 238 1485
The CRL Rights Commission condemns the killings of alleged witches in Ntuzuma, KwaZulu-Natal
