Special Reports - Boy, 12, Accused of Being a Witch, of Causing his Father Death, Beaten and Terrorized; Even his Mother Is Suspicious of Him

African Crucible: Cast as Witches, Then Cast Out

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Domingos Pedro, right, was accused by his family of being a witch and of causing his father's death. His mother, Maria, left, worries about attacks by his relatives so Domingos lives in a shelter. Vanessa Vick for The New York Times.

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Domingos insisted that he admitted he was a witch only to save his life. (Vanessa Vick for The New York Times)

Afonso Garcia, Armando Dos Santos and Joao Vemba played outside a shelter for boys run by the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Uige Province. (Vanessa Vick for The New York Times)

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Armando Dos Santos, 7, was forced to leave his family after being accused of witchcraft. In Angola it is socially unacceptable to push a child out because of poverty, but not if they are possessed. (Vanessa Vick for The New York Times)

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Manuel Smea, 15, at the shelter. Thirty-two boys occupy bunk beds stacked a foot apart, their few clothes stashed in cardboard boxes underneath. No shelter exists for girls. (Vanessa Vick for The New York Times)

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Afonso Garcia, 6, came to the shelter in July after his family paid 20,000 Angolan Kwanzas, almost $300, to cure him of witchcraft. His family still rejected him, saying he was not cured. (Vanessa Vick for The New York Times)

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Saldanha David Gomes, 18, right, lived with his aunt until he was 12. He said she turned on him after her 3-year-old daughter fell ill and died. (Vanessa Vick for The New York Times)

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Since July, all newcomers at the shelter have been turned away. "Children come here to ask for protection, but we have no space," said Bishop Emilio Sumbelelo. (Vanessa Vick for The New York Times)

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In Uige Province in northern Angola, the Church of the Catechism of Jesus Christ sometimes treats child witches by sprinkling holy water and prayers. Before anyone can enter the church a vigilante or watcher waves away the bad spirits. (Vanessa Vick for The New York Times)

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Once a child has been identified as a witch or sorcerer, they are subjected to various purification procedures. Elisa Tietie, right, said she is a seer who can identify witches. (Vanessa Vick for The New York Times)