4 witch-doctors arrested after South Sudan police crackdown

JUBA – At least four people have been arrested in South Sudan’s capital city, Juba in a crackdown on witch doctors linked to a wave of murder and other related crimes.

The witchdoctors were arrested by security forces on Saturday during regular inspection of the city by Juba City Council.

They include one female and five females.

They were caught with several photos of people believed to have been bewitched in Hai Al-Salaam and Gudele residential areas in Juba.

Kalisto Lado Faustino, Mayor of Juba City Council told the Dawn on Sunday that crackdown targets the entire network of witchdoctors in Juba, adding those arrested would appear before the law on Monday.

“We caught them yesterday and we took them to Malakia Central Police Station and the investigation has started. On Monday, they will be taken to court. The law has to take its course and they will be judged in accordance with the laws of South Sudan,” Lado said on Sunday.

Lado disclosed that the witch doctors are contributing negatively to the destruction of society.

“Witchcraft is not allowed in Juba. They are destroying our society, communities, families, and their activities led to the death of many people,” he stated.

He reaffirmed his office readiness to put an end to cases of obtaining money through false pretense by witchdoctors and the cases of ritual murder.

“We have just learned they (witchdoctors) have broken up families as well as bewitch others to death and perform to their clients to get money through spiritual activities,” he said.

“We have approval it beyond reasonable doubt when we caught women and men naked.  We found others smoking so that they can get husbands or wives. We found many goats slaughtered and cats were tie-down and some have their bodies cut,” he added.

He said local authorities will not stop until this dangerous practice of using human body parts in rituals to bring wealth and good luck stopped.

“It is the beginning and it will not be the end in all areas of Juba such as Hai Soura, Atlabara, Kator, Kasaba, Munuki, Juba-Ni-Bari, Tongpiny, Gudele, Jebel and other areas, I will be going to all the corners of the city to see into it that we end these activities spoiling our generation,” he said.