Cape Town - Schools on the Cape Flats have called in religious leaders to warn children about the dangers of playing “Charlie Charlie”.
Priests say in recent weeks they have seen an increasing need to perform exorcisms on the Cape Flats.
The Daily Voice was invited to Prince George Primary School in Lavender Hill on Friday, where religious leaders spoke to learners about the supernatural game which has been sowing fear and panic among children and their parents.
Prince George Primary’s principal says they decided to call in spiritual help after children “placed spells” on teachers.
A shocked Lameez Rabbaney says: “We had reports of children placing spells on teachers to die.”
Many schools across the Flats have already banned the game and have warned that anyone caught playing it game will be expelled.
Charlie Charlie is a game played with two pencils and a piece of paper on which “yes” and “no” are written.
The player then calls on the spirit of Charlie and asks a question which is answered when the pencils start moving, seemingly of their own accord.
Rabbaney says some older children are also forcing the younger ones to play the game.
“I had two Grade 1 pupils in my class and they were so frightened because they were forced to play the game and this is a form of bullying,” she says.“We want to say that in our code of conduct, that’s called intimidation and bullying.”
She says the children involved will be sent for counselling.
The school called in the help of well-known exorcists Moulana Nazeem Salie and pastor Karen Maarman.
The Moulana is the founder of the Spiritual Eye Healing Institute.
Nazeem told the frightened children: “The game you are playing is making deals with the devil and we do not belong to evil, we belong to God.”
Nazeem spoke about the importance of prayer to stay spiritually healthy.
“It is very important that we always pray and ask for protection from evil,” he said.
Pastor Maarman told the children not to allow themselves to be bullied into playing occult games.
“Our friends will try and influence us... but we have a choice to say I do, or I do not want to partake,” she said.
“Whatever choices you are making will affect your life.”
Daily Voice