This is not 17th century Massachussets

by Feòrag

A specialist police unit in South Africa is investigating claims made by a young woman that a "chief witch" instructed her to kill her mother and disrupt her uncle's wedding. 20-year old 'Tshidiso' says she has been posessed by demons for the last eight years and has implicated several family members. The claims are surprisingly similar to 'confessions' made during the classic European witch hunts:

In a recent interview with Vaal Weekly at her home 'Tshidiso,' who is currently in Grade 8, named the chief witch who had taught them how to 'turn themselves into birds that could fly during the night.'

Before leaving the house at night to perform our routine duties for Manku (not her real name), I could feel my belly button (mokhubo) contracting. Then I knew my team mates were waiting outside for me.

Suprisingly, 'Tshidiso' said she managed to slip underneath a closed door or through a small window to meet her mates; she did this in the form of a demonic spirit.

Outside, they were transformed into birds, she said. They used sign language to communicate. Given the time she spent as a creature of the night, 'Tshidiso' is apparently the vehicle most frequently used by the alleged demons.

Asked how they identified one another, she said it was by the smell. Our smell is much different from that of ordinary people. During the day, we called one another 'Dombolo' or 'Mfo' and during the night 'Abasindiswa,' she explained.

She explained that their main task was to kill people the chief witch hated because of jealousy. Occult Unit investigates lethal hexing - Vaal Weekly, October 3rd 2002.