About 200 people found at unregistered rehab centre in South Africa's Mpumalanga

Mixed · 2About 200 people were rescued from an unregistered rehabilitation centre in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, police said. 1 2 Mixed · 2Reuters, carried by The Straits Times, dates the rescue to Friday, while the BBC says the facility was discovered during an operation on Thursday. 1 2 Mixed · 2Police arrested two people and are investigating allegations of kidnapping and breaches of health and safety regulations. The BBC identifies the two as a pastor and his wife, who ran the facility from a church; it says they have been charged with kidnapping, could face more charges, and had not commented. 1 2

Mixed · 2The BBC reports authorities described "gross inhumane conditions", with some patients found with "sores all over their bodies" and "others chained to each other", in crowded rooms without functioning bathrooms or running water. Reuters says local media reported some people had been chained and denied food, but that police did not confirm reports on their condition. 2 1 Mixed · 2Fourteen people were taken for medical treatment or to hospital. 1 2 Centre · 1According to the BBC, the couple told officials they housed 60 people, but inspectors found more, including two minors and 30 women. The group were mostly believed to be drug addicts. The couple charged 3,000 rand ($182; £137) a month, almost half of which went to the church. 2

Mixed · 2Provincial police spokesperson Donald Mdhluli said many of those found came from townships in Johannesburg and Rustenburg, though this was still being investigated. The social development department said others came from Gauteng province. 1 2 Centre · 1The BBC says illegal rehab centres have multiplied in South Africa as drug use rises, and that the social development department uncovered over 100 unlawful facilities last year, mostly in Gauteng. The couple is expected in a local court on Monday. 2