Rethinking occultism and crime: satanism, the occult and youth gang subcultures in the global and South African context

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dc.contributor.authorRoelofse, Cornelis
dc.contributor.authorPhillips, Ashwill Ramon
dc.contributor.authorMaritz, Leanné
dc.contributor.authorPetrus, Theodore
dc.date.accessioned2025-04-29T14:40:15Z
dc.date.available2025-04-29T14:40:15Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractThe relationship between occultism and crime has often been explored in the criminological literature within the context of ritualistic crimes. In many instances, such crimes have been linked to Satanism and the occult (in its various guises). In the United States (US), Perlmutter’s (2004) text on religious terrorism and ritualistic crimes sought to provide some insights into the ritualised context of occult-related crimes and identified various subgroups whose criminal activities are underpinned by specific religious and ritualistic beliefs and practices. In the South African context, various scholars have explored occult-related crimes ranging from Satanism-related crime to African witchcraft-related crime. However, in the South African context, little work has been done on the relationship between the occult and crime within the context of youth gang subcultures. This discussion seeks to contribute to this under-researched issue by arguing for a rethinking of occultism and crime. It is argued that the emergence of occult beliefs and practices among youth gangs in South Africa necessitates a new way of approaching the occult and crime relationship, one that seeks to apply perspectives on this relationship to gang subcultures. This suggested rethinking of the occultism and crime relationship is timely, especially considering the apparent rise in occult-related dynamics among youth gang subcultures in South Africa and elsewhere.
dc.description.versionPublisher's version
dc.identifier.citationRoelofse, C., Phillips, A. R., Maritz, L., & Petrus, T. (2018). Rethinking occultism and crime: satanism, the occult and youth gang subcultures in the global and South African context. Acta Criminologica: African Journal of Criminology & Victimology, 31(2), 168-185. https://doi.org/10.10520/EJC-139ff530b6
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.10520/EJC-139ff530b6
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-139ff530b6
dc.identifier.urihttps://journals.co.za/doi/10.10520/EJC-139ff530b6
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11660/13047
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherCriminological Society of Africa (CRIMSA)
dc.rights.holderAuthor(s)
dc.rights.licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectAfrican witchcraft
dc.subjectSatanism
dc.subjectOccult
dc.subjectOccult-related crimes
dc.subjectYouth gang
dc.subjectSubcultures
dc.titleRethinking occultism and crime: satanism, the occult and youth gang subcultures in the global and South African context
dc.typeArticle
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