South African Pastor, Wife Arrested After 200 People Found at Suspected Illegal Rehab Centre

A pastor and his wife have been arrested in South Africa after authorities found about 200 people, including two children, at a suspected illegal rehabilitation centre operating from a church in Mpumalanga province.

The facility was raided on Thursday, with officials reporting what they described as “gross inhumane conditions”. Some people were reportedly chained to one another, while others had sores across their bodies.

Police charged the couple, who operated the centre, with kidnapping. Authorities said additional charges could follow. The couple had not publicly commented on the allegations at the time of reporting.

The people found at the facility, most of whom were believed to be struggling with drug addiction, were living in overcrowded rooms without functioning bathrooms or running water.

Among them were a 16-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, who were reportedly kept in the same room as adults.

Officials said the couple had claimed to be housing 60 people, but an inspection uncovered more than three times that number, including over 30 women.

One of the people found at the centre, Gift Skhosana, told local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that chaining patients was common practice and was used as punishment or when someone first arrived.

Despite the reported conditions, Skhosana said the facility had helped him overcome his drug addiction. Another person said the experience had left him needing mental health support.

The couple reportedly charged each person 3,000 rand a month, equivalent to about $182, with nearly half of the money going to the church.

Police said 14 people had been taken to hospital for further treatment, while officials reported that 132 had been reunited with their families.

The couple are expected to appear in a local court on Monday.

The case comes amid growing concerns over unlicensed rehabilitation centres in South Africa. Last year, the Department of Social Development said it had identified more than 100 unlawful facilities operating across the country, most of them in Gauteng province, which includes Johannesburg.