MORE than 100 schoolgirls underwent an exorcism in the Eastern Cape town of Umtata on Thursday to rid them of “evil spirits” which have apparently caused them to collapse en mass. Anglican priest Ebenezer Ntlali, who conducted the ritual, said that although the demons resisted him, the exorcism has been successful. Afterwards, 32 girls were admitted to hospital in an “hysterical state,” another 25 were sedated and sent home, and others were sent for medical observation. The principal of St John’s College Reginald Ndabeni called on the priest to help his pupils after they collapsed screaming, writhing and crying after assembly prayers on Wednesday. Ndabeni said some schoolgirls had shown similar behaviour last week, but he had dismissed this as a hoax ahead of the June examinations.