In brief
A police raid in Mpumalanga uncovered an illegal medical facility run by a pastor and his wife that housed 200 patients in inhumane conditions, many chained together. The patients suffered from sores, lack of food, water and sanitation and were charged on the spot with kidnapping. Authorities arrested the couple and said the site operated under a religious pretext while collecting hefty monthly fees. The incident highlights the surge of unlawful rehab centres across South Africa amid a drug use crisis. The 200 patients, including minors and women, were transported to hospitals and the couple is expected to face court.
A pastor and his wife were arrested after police raided a secret rehabilitation centre in Mpumalanga that held 200 patients, many chained together.
The facility, disguised as a church, was found during a Thursday operation by officials in the north‑eastern province of South Africa.
Authorities described the conditions as “gross inhuman” – patients had “sores all over their bodies”, “others were chained to each other” and there were no functioning bathrooms or running water.
The couple faced kidnapping charges, with the possibility of additional charges, and have not yet commented.
The incident follows an uptick in illegal rehab centres across the country as drug use spirals. Last year, the Department of Social Development uncovered over 100 unlawful facilities, mostly in Gauteng.
Investigators said the patients were originally said to number 60, but the raid revealed 200, including two minors and 30 women, many of whom had been there for a long time.
Patients were charged a monthly fee of 3,000 rand ($182) – about half of which went to the church. Fourteen patients were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
The couple will appear in a local court on Monday.
