Satanism on its highest peak

The abolition of prayer assemblies and religious education in schools in the 1990s, combined with children's natural curiosity, may have opened the way for satanism to take hold on so many South African teenagers.

At least four deaths linked to satanic attacks were reported in the last three years , making Johannesburg a new “witches’ Mecca” of Gauteng, with hundreds of minors including primary school pupils allegedly involved in satanism. According to KwaZulu’s Childline, released in March 2013, police had found an underground stormwater drain where new satanists were initiated.

The Department of Education in Gauteng has called upon parents, guardians, caregivers and communities at large to assist in fighting the “satanic murder scourge” that is now spreading into the school yard.

Department of Basic Education director of communication, Mr Elijah Mhlanga said, “Many of these phenomena occur outside of the school gates and in spaces that we as the DBE cannot reach. Regardless of our limitations, we have programmes in place that are raising awareness among learners about taking responsibility for their lives, personal development and safety. These programmes aim to ensure that learners conduct themselves in a way that ensures that they reach their goals of a career and a successful life.”

Responding to the call, UCKGs' youth power group coordinator, Pastor John said the church is fully prepared to become a part of the solution and is awaiting the time when it will be welcomed into all schools in the country.

There was a need for the church to highlight the importance of prayer “because only God can set them free and open their eyes to see danger ahead,” said Pr John.

“The church started school programmes that are aimed to address different challenges faced by learners. The results are enormous in the few schools we working with and our goal is to see these programmes taking place throughout the country,” he said.

He also warned young people about scavengers who are out there to lure them into false promises.

“They promise fame, wealth and power to young people and later threaten them that something bad would happen to them or their family members should they change their minds. Most of young people who come to the church after this encounter are paralysed with fear and that is when we come in as a church to give them assurance and protection in God's hands.

Among the most gruesome incidents in Gauteng recently have been the deaths of two Soweto girls aged 14 and 15 in satanist related killing in Dobsonville. Two years ago an 18-year-old girl was burnt in an apparent satanic ritual that took place in southern Johannesburg. Around the same time, a 15-year-old girl was sentenced to 10 years in prison, in the Palm Ridge court for stabbing a fellow pupil to death as part of an alleged satanic ritual.

By: Nomzamo Thukwana