Parents were left reeling in shock following an alleged incident which took place on Friday, 4 March, at Immaculata Girls High School in Wynberg, where a group of girls reportedly fell ill after receiving a call from their ancestors.
The school was evacuated and classes were disrupted according to reports from IOL while news site 1Second shared a post on Friday which read “Incident at Immaculat[a] School in Wynberg. Reports of 8 to 10 girls falling ill.”
One Facebook user said “04.03.22 literally a day to be marked as a remembrance at immaculata high” while the comments were flooded with crying emojis. One person asked “what happened” and the Facebook user responded by saying “alot happened”.
This alleged incident comes after a student at Portland Secondary School in Mitchells Plain also reportedly received a spiritual calling at school which left other learners and parents spooked. The learner allegedly began acting strangely and speaking in tongues.
In a letter, the school described the event as a “cultural incident” that was “blown out of proportion”. Students allegedly informed their parents without proper background information and before the school could do so. According to Portland Secondary School, this resulted in unnecessary panic as parents came to collect their children from school.
The Western Cape Department of Education spokesperson said that the alleged incident at Portland Secondary School needs to be addressed with parents and a spiritual healer according to family beliefs, and that no school could intervene in spiritual matters as they are not equipped to do so.
This was also seen in Durban after learners had to be sent home earlier following pupils experiencing an ‘ancestral calling’.
The AD Lazarus Secondary School in New Germany Road, Reservoir Hills and the P.R. Pather Secondary School in Merebank suspended classes on Thursday (24 February) and Friday (25 February) respectively, The South African reports.
PT Alarms Tactical units and PT Ambulance Service also shared an earlier post on Facebook confirming the ‘ancestral calling’ incident at PR Pather Secondary school. “Pupils have been dismissed. Those pupils displaying strange behaviour are being attended to by PT Ambulance Medics. Pupils appear to be displaying movements resembling a seizure. Medics are attempting to calm the affected pupils. The situation is under control.”
The company went on to say: “A similar incident occurred at AD LAzarus Secondary in Reservoir Hills, yesterday [24 February]. Reported ‘ancestral calling’. Pupils were dismissed there after teaching was disrupted.”
In a letter, P.R Pather Secondary School said: “We appeal to parents of affected learners to seek the necessary help. Learners are to be kept at home until they are completely healed.”
Also read:
Mitchells Plain student reported speaking in tongues during “spiritual calling” at school
Picture: Supplied