Sth African pupils suspected in 'witch' murders
By Sebastien Berger In Johannesburg
Last Updated: 6:20pm BST 05/09/2007



Two elderly women have been burnt to death by a crowd of South African schoolchildren on suspicion of witchcraft, according to reports.

Police said pupils at Manhlenga high school in Mangezi became convinced they were the victims of spirit possession.

"Many of the pupils started crying for no apparent reason," said Jabulani Mdletshe, a police spokesman.

advertisement"Some claimed they wanted meat during their crying.

"There was apparently a few meetings held by the pupils to discuss the matter. At one of the meetings, it was allegedly suggested that two women may have bewitched the school."

A crowd of youths dragged Mangubane Msaba Zungu and Qibile Thabitha Thusi, both 60, from their home to a sports field where they were doused with petrol and set alight, Mr Mdletshe said.

One of the women died at the scene and the other later in hospital.

Police are investigating but no arrests have been made, the spokesman added.

Belief in the supernatural is common across Africa and there are regular reports of people being killed so that their body parts can be used for 'muti' - objects with supposed magical powers, which are thought to be stronger if they include human elements.

"If it is true, it's absolutely terrible and action should be taken against those responsible," said Christie Naude, spokesman for the KwaZulu-Natal education department.
 
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/05/witch105.xml

It reminds me a great deal of The Crucible for some reason. Very scary, isn't it?

Normally that is how it works... For the person that is Joe Nobody they get blurb but if the person has a different point of view or deviate  from the norm, a story gets shouted from the rooftops. Which I think is BS, plan and simple. Seems like the people (not to sound like a conspiracy theorist) are wanting to pull what they think is abnormal out into the open and bash them until they either give in or become outcast. Just crap!