In brief
A police operation in Mpumalanga province exposed an illegal rehab centre operating out of a church where 200 patients were found chained and suffering from sores. The facility, managed by a pastor and his wife, charged patients a monthly fee of 3,000 rand. Authorities discovered overcrowded rooms, no functioning toilets, and the presence of minors. Fourteen patients were hospitalized, and the couple faces kidnapping charges with potential additional charges pending.
Authorities raided an illegal rehabilitation centre in Mpumalanga province on Thursday, uncovering 200 patients, some chained and suffering from sores, in a church‑run facility.
A pastor and his wife were arrested after the raid; they face kidnapping charges and may face additional charges. They had billed patients a monthly fee of 3,000 rand (~$182), half of which went to the church.
The centre, operated from a church, had initially claimed to house 60 people, but police found two minors, 30 women and an estimated 200 residents in overcrowded rooms without functioning toilets or running water.
Fourteen victims have been taken to hospitals for medical treatment. The couple are scheduled to appear in court on Monday, while the Department of Social Development confirms over 100 unlawful facilities operate across South Africa, most in Gauteng.
