Neopaganism in South Africa

Neopaganism in South Africa is primarily represented by the traditions of Wicca, Neopagan witchcraft, Germanic neopaganism and Neo-Druidism. The movement is related to comparable trends in the United States and Western Europe and is mostly practiced by White South Africans of urban background;^[1]^[2] it is to be distinguished from folk healing and mythology in local Bantu culture.

While there are no official statistics, the movement has been described as "small but growing" as of 2004.^[3] Representatives of the movement have published claims of numbers of adherents ranging in the five digits as of 2008.^[4]

^ Cite error: The named reference Wallace was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference Teppo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "This is the indigenous pre-Christian body of religions of Europe, which includes branches such as Druidism and Wicca. Pagan belief is based on the notion of life as an endless circle, with the promise of rebirth, renewal and recycling as embodied in the 'wheel of the year', a calendar of events following the solar and lunar cycles. Rituals are performed, in sacred places, on occasions linked to cyclic events such as the full moon, the summer solstice, the spring equinox and the autumn equinox. Pagans emphasise healing, the use of magic, and journeys to the 'other world' through meditation, drumming, dance, divination, and the use of an assortment of sacred tools including crystals, candles, drums, and feathers. Paganism is associated with a strong reverence for the Earth, and for human life, and places women in a special position in religious worship. Paganism is the religion of choice for a small but growing number of mainly white South Africans. Pagans have suffered prejudice and misunderstanding, and have been mistakenly classed with much-feared satanic worship." Harrison, Philip (2004). South Africa's Top Sites: Spiritual. Cape Town: New Africa Books. ISBN 9780864865649.
^ In 2008 Donna Vos, president of the Pagan Federation of South Africa (PFSA), stated there were an estimated 10,000 to 50,000 Pagans in South Africa. Jooste, Bronwynne (7 December 2008). "Paganism not a cult, say Donna Vos". Independent Online. South Africa. Retrieved 20 October 2012.

[Wallace-1] Cite error: The named reference Wallace was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Teppo-2] Cite error: The named reference Teppo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Harrison-3] "This is the indigenous pre-Christian body of religions of Europe, which includes branches such as Druidism and Wicca. Pagan belief is based on the notion of life as an endless circle, with the promise of rebirth, renewal and recycling as embodied in the 'wheel of the year', a calendar of events following the solar and lunar cycles. Rituals are performed, in sacred places, on occasions linked to cyclic events such as the full moon, the summer solstice, the spring equinox and the autumn equinox. Pagans emphasise healing, the use of magic, and journeys to the 'other world' through meditation, drumming, dance, divination, and the use of an assortment of sacred tools including crystals, candles, drums, and feathers. Paganism is associated with a strong reverence for the Earth, and for human life, and places women in a special position in religious worship. Paganism is the religion of choice for a small but growing number of mainly white South Africans. Pagans have suffered prejudice and misunderstanding, and have been mistakenly classed with much-feared satanic worship." Harrison, Philip (2004). South Africa's Top Sites: Spiritual. Cape Town: New Africa Books. ISBN 9780864865649.

[4] In 2008 Donna Vos, president of the Pagan Federation of South Africa (PFSA), stated there were an estimated 10,000 to 50,000 Pagans in South Africa. Jooste, Bronwynne (7 December 2008). "Paganism not a cult, say Donna Vos". Independent Online. South Africa. Retrieved 20 October 2012.

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