A high school in South Africa has been apparently hit by a "evil spirit attack," according to reports.
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, February 23, at DR EP Lekhela High School, Galeshwe in Kimberly, Northern Cape, when females began acting hysterically after the first period.
About 18 girls, predominantly in grades 8 to 10, began sobbing, screaming, and rolling on the floor after supposedly witnessing a "scary creature that was making them weak".
After the first period, the girls from various classes allegedly began acting up. Following allegations that the students had eaten "space cookies," none of them could identify what they had eaten or drank.
The event was similar to one that occurred two weeks ago at St Boniface High School, when the school was forced to close due to disruptions.
On Tuesday, February 22, it is thought that a similar incident occurred at another high school in Galeshewe.
Pastors were summoned to EP Lekhela, and numerous parents also gathered at the school after learning of the occurrence. One of the students claimed it took her four hours to go back to her old self.
The affected students were taken home in the care of their parents, and the school was dismissed at 11 a.m before a representative from the Northern Cape Department of Education arrived.
One of the students who was affected is in Grade 8, and she expressed her amazement and exhaustion following her ordeal. Her grandma is a prophet, and her aunt is a traditional healer. She said she passed out in the women's restroom.
“I went to the toilet with two of my friends. I heard a powerful force shutting the door and got a shock and strong shivers. I started praying before getting out of the toilet. When I opened the door I saw a creature passing the toilet door where I was supposed to exit. I felt weak and everything went blank," she said.
"Apparently my friends brought me to the staff room, where they found other children in the same condition. My parents were called in and already knew what to bring to comfort me,” she said.
Her grandmother said that there was an evil spirit at the school.
The chairperson of the school governing body, Jerry Thekiso, said the school called the pastors because none of the staff were trained to deal with such situations. He said the affected learners were isolated.
"We called the parents of the affected learners directly in order for them to come to the school prepared and sent out notices to the rest of the parents.
"That way it was easier to determine which of the parents should be allowed in the isolation section. Almost all the parents of the affected learners knew exactly how to assist their children before going home because they used their own cultures and traditional methods,” Thekiso explained.
Religious leaders in Kimberley, including traditional practitioners, availed themselves for intervention measures and raised concerns that this trend of “evil spirits” is growing at schools.
They all shared the view that “opportunistic satanic methods” are being used on young people and children.
The Dean of the Kimberley Diocese, Father Victor Tlhole, emphasised that the department must bring prayer sessions back to schools. He said returning the school assembly back to normal was way overdue after lockdown.
He said he realised during the St Boniface incident how the children are currently lost, making way for the “devil’s activities to overpower them”
"Let us allow God back at the schools. Bring prayer back to schools. School assembly prayer is about the relationship with God, understanding yourself and who God is. The children must be encouraged from a young age that prayer should not only be practised at church but at home.”