Police in South Africa have arrested a pastor and his wife after discovering approximately 200 people held in inhumane conditions at a suspected illegal rehabilitation center. The facility, located at a church in the Mpumalanga province, was raided on Thursday.
Officials reported finding "gross inhumane conditions," with some individuals exhibiting "sores all over their bodies" and others chained together. The rescued individuals were found in overcrowded rooms.
The couple operating the center has been charged with kidnapping, and further charges are anticipated. They have not yet issued a comment.
This discovery highlights a growing concern in South Africa, where illegal rehabilitation centers have proliferated in recent years amid rising drug use. Last year, the department of social development identified over 100 such unlawful facilities operating nationwide, predominantly in the Gauteng province. The department stated that some individuals found at the Mpumalanga center originated from the Gauteng province.