Is witchcraft real?
In December 2024, near Kwa Zulu Natal, a man admitted to a terrible crime. The life of Zandile Kumalo was taken, horrifically documented, and then spread on social media. A reporter far away in Limpopo raised the question of witchcraft in connection with this vile string of events. Enos Magwabeni interviewed a witch doctor (name unpublished, hereafter WD), called a traditional healer by those trying to dignify the sad and dark ways of heathenism, and their exchange discussing the December murder of Zandile by Sibusiso was published in the Limpopo Mirror 17 January 2025 (article not archived online).
The WD argued that men who commit such crimes have been bewitched, and when the spell begins to wear off, they fall into a desperate rage. When the voodoo dominates, “the man becomes docile, almost like a walking zombie. He no longer can make his own decisions.”
According to the WD, these spells are most commonly cast by women who want to manipulate men, and the inexplicable choices of many men prove the reality of the magic. The reporter Magwabeni included a line that those living in rural areas will not be surprised to read: “This is not a radical perspective in Venda, where many people believe in the dark arts.”
The reporter asked, “What can I do if I suspect a friend or relative is under such a spell?”
WD: “There’s nothing you can do. A man in that position doesn’t listen to anyone except the person who cast the spell. … Some men lose control over their actions, almost like they’re being compelled against their will.”
The reporter ended his article with a warning: “We caution women who use such spells. … When it backfires, there will be no mercy.”
In some ways, this account is similar to the perspective provided by Christianity. Here are four of them.
Witchcraft is the work of demons.
This category is personal. Demons, with their intelligence and conspiracy, are behind what can be called witchcraft, voodoo, and sorcery. It is a spiritual power that is not from God. The Star Wars “force” or the powers Rhonda Byrne describes in her evil book The Secret are impersonal, so they deflect attention away from Satan and evil spirits.
Witchcraft is still here on earth and is even commonly found.
Are there not many accounts of demons and evil supernatural powers in the Scripture? Satan can heal (Matt. 24:24) and kill (John 10:10). His movements on the earth are best thought of as a lion or dragon.
Witchcraft hurts and kills, but it cannot build or beautify.
In my experience, I have never heard of a case of witchcraft where the spirit did some virtuous or pure activity. In the African Traditional Religion, it is used defensively to stop problems or offensively to hurt enemies, but it cannot make something good, true, or beautiful. Only the Father, Son, and Spirit can beautify and build.
Witchcraft presents an entirely hopeless scenario to the world.
To live in a world dominated by witchcraft is to live without any hope. Your life cannot get better permanently. There are no long-term solutions. There is no cosmic justice. Cry, search, and die, but you will find nothing in that entire gloomy religion that brings a settled smile to the lips, enduring peace to the heart, and specific knowledge to the soul.
After evaluating the four ways Magwabeni’s interview is similar to Christianity, we have identified the two areas that contradict the Bible.
Demons focus on deceiving men away from true conversion and Jesus Christ.
The great danger of witchcraft is that demons want to steal the Word of God from men’s souls (Matt. 13:19), infiltrate groups of Christians (2 Cor. 11:14-15), and encourage men to lie more and more (Matt. 5:37). Biblically speaking, witchcraft focuses most on spiritual matters such as covering the eyes so that men will not see the glory of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:14, 18), not merely making men poor or foolish. Yes, wherever demons roam freely, poverty will grow, but their main work is spiritual deception.
Men are still held responsible for their sins.
The murder of personal responsibility is one of the most consequential crimes committed by ATR. According to the WD, the man can’t be blamed for acting foolishly during the time of the spell, and after the spell wears off, the witchcraft worked on him is a mitigating factor in his guilt as if to say, “He was a victim of bewitching!” Further, there was a window left open justifying the rage of men who wake up from voodoo to see what has happened and respond aggressively in an attempt to fix the problems.
Conclusion
I believe that witchcraft exists because I believe that demons live and work. But it is neither possible nor necessary to know what specific crimes or sins were inspired by demons. Instead, we can and should run—not walk—to the Scriptures for a life of certainty, the crucified Son for a life of hope, and the judgment day for a brace against our worst temptations.
