Hundreds of chained up 'hostages' including children are found in 'grossly inhumane' religious 'rehabilitation centre' in South Africa

Published: 10:06 EDT, 16 October 2026 | Updated: 10:09 EDT, 16 October 2026 A pastor and his wife have been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping after hundreds of alleged hostages were found living in 'grossly inhumane' conditions. Around 200 people including children were rescued from a church in Mpumalanga after inspectors alerted police to the grim state of the suspected illegal rehabilitation centre. The property was one of several that officials were targeting when they found the alleged hostages, some of whom were chained to one another, according to local reports. Police said 14 people were taken for medical treatment while the couple were brought in for questioning. The pastor, 59, and his wife, 58, were arrested on Friday morning on suspicion of running an illegal rehabilitation centre at the church in Waterval B, Siyabuswa. It is also alleged the couple were running the facility without the required registration authorisation. The South African Police Service said the man and woman also face kidnapping charges. The couple are expected to appear at the Mdutjana magistrates' court in Siyabuswa on Monday. Health officials inspected the church to find 200 alleged hostages crammed into rooms meant for only 60 people, describing 'grossly inhumane' conditions. Pictured: A South African police officer inspects one of the rooms at the suspected illegal rehab centre More than 30 alleged hostages were women and the rest were men aged 22 and over with an 11-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl among them A number of people were found chained to one another. Pictured: The ankles of three alleged hostages are shackled by metal chainsAccording to local media, officers found the alleged hostages living in overcrowded rooms with a lack of ablution facilities and water taps which had been locked. The pastor and his wife had reportedly told health officials they had 60 people in their charge despite investigators discovering more than 200 at the property. More than 30 women were found in addition to an 11-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl. The rest were men aged 22 and over.Officials said some of the alleged hostages had sores on their bodies and that they found some people chained to one another. They also found 37 people sharing a single room. Investigators said conditions at the church were 'grossly inhumane', according to Times Live. Those living at the property reportedly paid a R3000 (£137) monthly fee to the alleged illegal rehabilitation centre. A police spokesman said in a statement: 'The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga has arrested a couple, a man (59) and a woman (58), this morning, 16 October 2026 following the discovery of a premises where approximately 200 people were allegedly being kept.'The arrests stem from an operation conducted on Thursday, 15 October 2026, at Waterval B in Siyabuswa. 'Officials from the Department of Social Development in the Nkangala District were conducting inspections targeting illegal rehabilitation centres when they went to the said premises and requested assistance from the SAPS.'Preliminary investigations suggest that the premises was being allegedly operated as a rehabilitation centre. 'It is further alleged that the couple was running the said facility without the required registration authorisation and was accommodating approximately 200 people on the property. 'Last night (15 October 2026) during the operation, 14 people had to be taken for medical treatment meanwhile the couple was taken in for questioning by the Police.'Currently the suspects are facing charges of kidnapping; contravention of section 19(1) read with section 19(13) of Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act, Act 70 of 2008; establishment and management of an unregistered treatment centre; and failure to comply with health and safety standards in terms of applicable environmental health by-laws and the National Health Act.' The spokesman added that police worked at the property today to 'ensure that no stone is left unturned'. They said officers could not rule out further arrests as the investigation continues and that additional charges against the pastor and his wife could possibly follow.