By: Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
South African police have rescued 200 people from a suspected illegal rehabilitation centre in the north-eastern region of the country. A pastor and his wife were arrested during the operation on Thursday. The raid targeted a facility operating directly out of a church in Mpumalanga province.
Shocking Conditions Uncovered During Raid
Authorities said they uncovered “gross inhumane conditions” when they raided the facility. Inspectors discovered severe human rights violations across the premises.
“Sores all over their bodies” were visible on several patients. Officials noted “others chained to each other” inside the facility.
The living arrangements presented severe health risks. The captives were held in crowded rooms without access to functioning bathrooms or running water. “Some [of them had] been at the alleged illegal centre for a while,” confirmed the Department of Social Development in an official statement on Friday.
Discrepancies in Patient Numbers and Fees
The operators provided inaccurate information to investigating officers regarding the occupants. The couple running the centre told officials they were housing 60 people. Upon inspection, a higher number was found, which included two minors and 30 women.
The facility functioned as a commercial operation for the church. The couple charged a monthly fee of 3,000 rand ($182; £137) to house the patients, of which almost a half would go to the church.
Legal Actions and Medical Interventions
Law enforcement moved quickly to process the scene and care for the victims. Police have since charged the couple, who were running the facility, with kidnapping but could add more charges. The suspects have not yet commented publicly on the allegations.
Immediate medical support was required for the most severe cases. Fourteen of those found at the centre have since been taken to hospital for further medical treatment, police said. The couple is expected to appear in a local court on Monday.
Proliferation of Unlicensed Facilities
The raid highlights a growing national crisis driven by expanding substance abuse issues. Illegal rehabilitation centres have mushroomed in South Africa in recent years as drug use spirals in the country.
Victims are frequently moved across provincial lines to these unregistered sites. Last year, the department of social development said it had uncovered over 100 unlawful facilities operating across the country, mostly in Gauteng province. This is where some of those found at this facility come from, the department said in a statement on Friday.
Socioeconomic Pressures Fueling Unregulated Care
The crisis underscores severe systemic gaps in public health infrastructure across South Africa. Desperate families often turn to unregulated church-run facilities due to a critical shortage of state-funded addiction treatment beds. High private rehabilitation costs force low-income households to rely on low-cost spiritual retreats, leaving vulnerable individuals exposed to extreme exploitation and abuse.
