A pastoral couple has been arrested in South Africa following the discovery of approximately 200 people held at an unlicensed rehabilitation centre operating from a church building in Mpumalanga province. The facility was uncovered during an operation by local authorities on Thursday, revealing what officials described as severely inhumane conditions.
Inspectors found residents confined to overcrowded rooms without access to basic amenities such as functioning bathrooms or running water. Multiple individuals displayed visible signs of physical hardship, including sores covering their bodies. Additionally, several detainees were found physically restrained with chains. The facility housed two minors—a 16-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy—alongside adult residents. When questioned, the operators claimed to be housing 60 people, but authorities discovered more than three times that number present, with over 30 women among those held.
The couple faces kidnapping charges, with prosecutors indicating additional charges may be filed. One resident, Gift Skhosana, described chaining as routine punishment and an entry procedure at the facility, though he credited the centre with helping him overcome drug addiction. Another former occupant reported suffering lasting psychological effects from the experience.
The operation reflects broader concerns about proliferation of unregulated facilities across South Africa. The department of social development reported discovering over 100 unlicensed centres operating nationally in the preceding year, with concentrations primarily in Gauteng province. The illegal centres have expanded as drug use rates have risen throughout the country.
The operators charged a monthly fee of 3,000 rand to house patients, with nearly half of that amount directed to the church. Following the rescue, fourteen individuals were transferred to hospitals for medical care, and 132 have been reunited with families. The couple is scheduled to appear before a local court on Monday.
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