Calls for urgent intervention after ‘evil spirits’ disrupt schooling

CONCERNED parents and residents of Ritchie have called for urgent intervention and prayer after several pupils at Rietvale High School apparently collapsed and fainted with no explanation this week.

Community members claim that pandemonium broke out at the school after “evil spirits” possessed several pupils at the school on Thursday.

The community members said parents, teachers and school staff members had their hands full trying to assist the pupils who had collapsed.

One parent said he rushed to collect his daughter from school after hearing about the incident from a neighbour.

He said he was greeted by “chaos” when he arrived at the school, where several learners were falling down and fainting.

“I rushed to the school and the children were just screaming. Everything was just upside down … some pupils were running while others were collapsing,” said the parent.

“I was panicking as I searched for my daughter. I managed to find her, but she had also collapsed and was lying on the ground. Her eyes were closed and she was not moving. My heart stopped for a moment as I feared for her health and well-being. I picked her up and took her to my car then rushed her to the clinic.

“It appeared as if my child was in a daze, as she would open her eyes for a brief moment but then they would shut again. At the clinic, they could not find any medical explanation for what happened. We took her home and let her rest. This is very stressful as we do not know what is the cause of this.”

The parent added that there had been reports of similar incidents on Monday already.

“On Monday we did not think that the matter was serious. The classes were dismissed and the children were sent home. The school continued again the next day, but then the same incident occurred again the next day. In fact, this incident happened the entire week. It kept getting worse and worse, with the number of learners affected increasing.

“Many parents had to rush to the school to get their children. The children who were affected by this unexplained incident were carried by their family and friends to the local clinic. The clinic was packed with children who were just lying on the floor. It was very scary to see the children so helpless,” he said.

Community members said that the children could not explain what had happened.

“We do not know how this happened. So many children who were fine just collapsed for no reason. It was like a spirit took control over their bodies. Once they recovered from the ‘episode’, they could not explain what had happened.

“We really need to pray for the school and the children. We cannot have evil spirits rule our schools. The next moment these spirits will take over our community. We need to perform an exorcism fast and not take this lightly,” they said.

A community leader, Abel van Wyk, called on church leaders to intervene in the matter.

“It is very sad to have been a witness to the demonic and evil spirit outbreak at the school. We urge spiritual and church leaders to heed the call to assemble at the school for prayers and a cleansing ceremony. Education is our only beacon of hope and we are obliged to protect it from evil spirits that are disruptive to learning,” said Van Wyk.

The Northern Cape Department of Education said it is working with the district office to investigate the matter.