In brief
South African police raided a suspected illegal rehabilitation centre in Mpumalanga, discovering over 200 people locked and chained. The facility, run by a pastor and his wife, operated out of a church and charged high fees. The raid exposed gross inhuman conditions, with patients suffering from sores and lack of basic services. Authorities now face kidnapping charges, while the wider problem of illegal rehab sites across the country grows.
The Raid
South African police turned up in Mpumalanga town Thursday night for a surprise raid that uncovered 200 patients stuck in raw, crowded rooms of a church‑run facility. Some adults were still chained to each other, while others had horse‑whipping‑like sores on their bodies.
Who Runs It?
The centre was owned by a pastor and his wife, who claimed to house only 60 people but were found with two minors and 30 women. They charged 3,000 rand ($182) a month, a large portion of which went to the church.
Police Action
The couple faces kidnapping charges, with more possible. Fourteen inmates were taken to the hospital, and the pair are due in court Monday.
The Bigger Picture
BBC reports that drug use across South Africa has spiked, leading to an explosion of illegal rehabilitation sites. Last year the department of social development uncovered over 100 unlawful facilities, mainly in Gauteng.
