QWAQWA – The National School Governing Body has called for a full Commission of Inquiry after a prayer session for exams turned into chaos – leaving Bodibeng Primary learners claiming to see snakes, faces and swords, and hearing voices in their heads.
The incident has sparked outrage in Marakong village, QwaQwa, after the school principal allegedly took learners to House of Glory Global Church (HGGC) led by Apostle Samuel Raboteng without parental consent.
NSGB Chairperson Matakanye Matakanye said only an independent commission can uncover the truth.
“We need a commission to establish exactly what happened to the learners at that prayer session, whether the Children’s Rights and Child Protection Act were violated, and whether the principal acted properly,” he said.
On Tuesday 20 October, angry parents stormed Bodibeng Primary and physically removed the principal from the premises. For two days the school was under siege, with parents demanding her immediate dismissal.
Parents said their children returned home traumatised – weak, crying, unable to walk or sleep.
A mother, who cannot be named to protect her child, described the horror:
“When she came home, she was crying and trying to run away, claiming that she could see threatening weapons coming towards her and hearing voices of unknown men. She could not sleep the whole night. I had to rush her to the clinic.”
Other learners reported seeing snakes, swords and strange faces, and hearing noises in their heads.
“If the principal is found to have acted wrongly, she must face the music and be fired,” Matakanye said.
Apostle Samuel Raboteng confirmed he held an annual examination prayer for learners from 44 different schools at his church.
He admitted pupils started falling to the ground when he used anointing oil and anointing water.
“It is true that some of them started falling to the ground when I applied my prayer method using anointing oil and anointing water. That could only be the Lord’s work,” Raboteng told _The Guard_.
“I had prayer sessions with pupils from different schools. It is only learners from Bodibeng who had such problems even upon getting home. It is bad evil spirits that were coming out.”
Raboteng said the principal called him later that night saying learners were having problems, and he asked for parents’ numbers to pray for them over the phone.
He conceded the principal did not get parental consent.
“The biggest problem is that the principal did not ask for permission from the parents or sign consent forms,” he said.
He claimed learners came forward voluntarily.
“I did not call pupils to come forward, they approached me voluntarily. Some come from families that practise traditional customs. I am not in a position to judge anyone.”
Free State Department of Education spokesperson Howard Ndaba said the department is investigating and will release a report once complete.
The SGB says that is not enough – only a public commission will restore trust.
