By Tendani Tsedu
The use of muti - for warding off evil spirits or attracting luck - is widespread.
And, the subject has been causing havoc in the current episode of the local soapie, Isidingo.
In the series Refiloe went to a sangoma to get a potion that would make Bra Zeb love her more. In the beginning it seemed as though it was working, until Bra Zeb got sick. When he found out that Refiloe was putting muti in his food, he kicked her out.
Selina Letsoko, a sangoma in Johannesburg's inner city, said love potions topped the list of popular requests from her clients. Her business was booming and many people, including whites, consulted her to protect their cars, businesses and improve their relationships.
"Muti does work," she said, "when you use muti you have to believe in it, then it will work. Sometimes it doesn't work because the person you are trying to use it to has 'protected' themselves."
There was an anti-muti potion, she said.
Muti could be used by putting it in someone's food, mixing it with bath water or putting it under the bed.
According to Letsoko, using muti is not a bad thing and should not be associated with witchcraft. As a sangoma, she believed she was there to help those with problems whereas witches were the ones causing problems.
"Witches work as group and they are the ones spoiling everything. Their muti doesn't help, it kills. Sangomas are there to help, we have ancestors that guide us," said Letsoko.
She was glad that even in 2003 there were people who still believed in using muti, which showed they hadn't forgotten where they come from.
"Muti was part of blacks' tradition which they couldn't just leave behind.
"There are a lot of people who still believe in muti," she said.
General secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC), Dr Molefe Tsele, said they believed that there was a world of spirit and magic, so they couldn't rule out the power of muti.
"While it will be wrong to think using muti will help you pass exams, we must also be careful not to deny its success because that will be like saying those who use muti are stupid," said Tsele.
As the SACC represented various churches,that made it hard for them to have a particular view, as some churches did believe in muti while others didn't, he added.
A spokesperson for Isidingo said they had received faxes from viewers who said they did not understand the whole subject. However, she could not elaborate further.