Chaos erupted at Kamvalethu High School in Langa, Cape Town, when several pupils began fainting and exhibiting trance-like behavior on the afternoon of Thursday, 30 January. Teachers struggled to manage the situation as more students appeared to be affected, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. “The kids were in a trance. It was like they were possessed, and as soon as we helped one, another would start. We had to call in community members because some students tried to run out of the schoolyard,” a teacher recalled.
Local vendor Neziswa Bunxu, who operates near the school, rushed in to assist after hearing alarming screams. “I saw a teacher chasing a learner, trying to grab her, and then two more learners came out looking possessed before collapsing on the ground. As I helped them, even more students began pouring out,” she recounted. Panic quickly spread to parents, many of whom rushed to the school to collect their children. Precious Magutshwa, a concerned mother, said she had no choice but to fetch her Grade 11 daughter after hearing that older girls were most affected.
Traditional healer Lonwabo Mqungwana from Mbekweni suggested the incident could be linked to ancestral callings. “If someone with a sangoma calling starts to manifest, others with undiscovered callings can respond, much like how people speak in tongues in church,” he explained. He urged parents to investigate whether their children might have ancestral callings and seek proper guidance to prevent such manifestations during school hours.
Authorities responded swiftly to the incident. Paramedics treated the affected students, and the situation was brought under control. According to the school administration, classes resumed as normal the following day, Friday, 31 January, and no official closure was necessary. However, the incident left the community shaken, sparking discussions about spirituality, mental health, and student well-being in schools.
