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Church taken to HRC for chaining mentally ill patients

SABC, South Africa
July 30, 2004
www.sabcnews.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Friday July 30, 2004

The Central Gauteng Mental Health Society (CGMHS) has lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) relating to the shackling of at least eight mentally ill patients by the St. John’s Apostolic Faith Mission Church in Etwatwa, east of Johannesburg.

The dispute between the CGMHS and the church seems to be centred on approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of mentally ill patients. Ruth Rensburg, a CGMHS spokesperson, says they came to know about the chaining through a local psychiatric clinic in Etwatwa. “Our standpoint is that chaining is a violation of their human rights. It is a violation of their rights to freedom and security as ironic as that sounds in this context. We are in support of traditional healing and spiritual healing practices done within a humane manner with that person’s consent,” Rensburg said.

Karuna Singh, the CGMHS executive director, said: “We met with the church. We interviewed people and their families. Difficulties and challenges came forward and we have reported to the HRC and are waiting for findings from them. What we want is to work with the church to deal with people with mental illness more productively.”

Meanwhile, Christopher Tabudi, a spokesperson for the church, admitted that in some cases chains are used to restrain patients deemed a danger to themselves or others. He said this is a community based church and all patients come from the community and are referred for treatment by relatives.

“The chains are there for very sick people … aggressive sick people, violent people. We don’t just wrap chains around legs and hands. We put chains inside a rubber. We try to make a person comfortable.”

Tabudi says he also underwent treatment for mental illness at the church many years ago. He revealed scars caused by chains during his treatment.

Two patients at the church have meanwhile expressed their belief in the church’s treatment plan, saying the congregation succeeds to cure where Western doctors failed.

The SAHRC has reserved its comment.

[keywork: St John Apostolic Faith Mission]