Witchcraft, Dementia, and Senicide in South Africa

The reported murder of a 76-year-old woman, Busi Letta Maseko, in South Africa once again underscores the link between witchcraft, dementia, and senicide. As reported, a mob accused and subsequently beat Busi to death after she was seen roaming the street in Etwatwa, Benoni, at night. Someone posted a video on the social media platform of the Etwatwa community showing the body of Busi Maseko lying on the ground. In the video, a person remarked: "Greetings, Etwatwa community. Here is an elderly woman they are saying they are going to burn. They say she is a witch and was found performing rituals at 3 am here."

Family sources said that Ms Maseko had dementia. Unfortunately, she found herself in the wrong place. Like other persons who have dementia, Busi often got lost. But family members would later find her. But on this fateful day, she went missing and was never seen alive. She strayed into a strange environment where she was accused of practicing witchcraft and was subsequently beaten to death.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches condemns the brutal murder of Busi Letta Maseko and other elderly people with dementia across Africa. AfAW urges South African authorities to ensure that those who murdered Ms Maseko are brought to justice.

In many African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, elderly persons are at risk of being accused and murdered for practicing witchcraft. Elderly people are more at risk if they have dementia. Medical experts say that dementia entails a decline in brain functions. This health challenge affects the thinking, memory, and behavior of sufferers. People with dementia have difficulty remembering things; they leave their homes and are unable to trace their way back, or remember contacts and addresses of where they live or where they are going. They hallucinate and speak incoherently when engaged in conversations.

Unfortunately, many Africans mistake people with dementia for witches. They associate the behaviors of people with this health condition with witchcraft and magic. When people with dementia are seen loitering the streets, people accuse them of being witches who missed their way while returning from the coven or witches who crashlanded while going to a meeting. When elderly persons with dementia cannot coherently explain where they are going or coming from, people regard their strange pronouncements as occultic and their utterances as 'witch confessions'. Too often, the mob tries to implicate or force people with dementia to 'confess'.

AfAW calls for public health education to enlighten and reason people in South Africa and other African countries out of these misconceptions and other harmful beliefs and practices. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches declares that elderly people with dementia are not witches. They should not be accused, attacked, or killed. The state should arrest, prosecute, and jail those who accuse, attack, and kill people with dementia. Elderly people who have dementia need our love, care and support. People should treat them with dignity and respect. African states should take all necessary measures to protect people with dementia and other health challenges.

Leo Igwe directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches