SA cops on the trail of zombies and witches

This is another article that appears to follow a re-current theme of late and may be likened or reminiscent of the "satanic panic" experienced here in the US.  As with other articles there seems to be a tendency to lump the occult with Paganism and Witchcraft calling it satanism and then throw in local religious beliefs and mythologies.  I think it is troublesome that in the 21st century we are still fighting against supernatural beliefs whether it be as a victim or perpetrator.
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Some call them the Ghost Busters. Other call them the X-Files. They’ve even been dubbed the Vampire Cops.

But for the Harmful Occult Related Crimes unit, their cases are every bit as real - and the victims every bit as violated - as any other.

Colonel Dr Attie Lamprecht’s job is to see beyond the tokoloshes, zombies, curses, muti and witchcraft to gather evidence that will stand up in court.

It’s also his job to know about new trends such as “more and more young people drinking each other’s blood”.

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“Satanism is not a crime,” he emphasised. It’s only if religious or spiritual beliefs result in a legally defined crime that his officers will make an arrest.

But every supernatural report has to be taken seriously.

“In certain parts of South Africa, if a person is identified as a witch… they will be killed, and sometimes their family too. In the northern parts of the country women seek shelter in police stations because they have been pointed out as a witch.”

SA cops on the trail of zombies and witches