The Belvedere Shree Subramaniar Draupadiamman Kovil in Tongaat.
Image: Supplied
A WELL-ESTABLISHED Hindu temple in Tongaat faces demolition after 21 years of serving the community, despite maintaining municipal land and hosting significant religious ceremonies.
The Belvedere Shree Subramaniar Draupadiamman Kovil initially operated from the home of Guru Trevor Maistry until he moved in 2004.
At the time, Maistry did not want to close the temple and looked for a vacant piece of land to erect a makeshift place of worship. He identified the land in Sastri Circle in Belvedere.
The make-shift temple has operated from this location for the past 21 years.
A fixed structure, which was built in August last year, now stands to be bulldozed by the local municipality.
“The temple was initially a small wood-and-iron structure. More than 1 500 devotees attended our fire-walking prayers every year. This motivated me to seek funding to build a proper structure,” said Maistry.
He said over the years, he had attempted to adopt the land from the municipality, to no avail.
“The then ANC ward councillor, Micheal Abrahams, who was a pastor at the community church, gave me verbal consent to use the land,” added Maistry.
He said thanks to the generosity of businessman Ricky Naidoo, a proper brick structure was constructed last year.
Maistry claimed the community had no issues with the temple for the past 21 years, until last Monday when he was confronted by law enforcement officers from metro police.
“On the day, it was the temple’s flag hoisting for our fire-walking ceremony. The metro police threatened to close the temple,” he said.
“We have been trying for many years to legally get the land but we always faced difficulties. We don’t just occupy the land. We also maintain it, which the municipality fails to do. We were affected by the recent flooding and the municipality did not assist us. We fixed the grounds ourselves,” claimed Maistry.
He added they had spent money on concrete and drains to prevent future flooding of the temple.
“The land is zoned as recreational. But no one ever cuts the grass or upkeeps the jungle gym. Everything is neglected. We maintain the grounds. This attack on the temple was after we had burnt the grass that we had cut,” said Maistry.
He said the building of the temple took place from August 2024 to January 2025 and they had not been confronted once by the municipality.
“They did not come and object to our building. We spent R80 000 on the temple and now they are asking for it to be demolished. I cannot allow it,” said Maistry.
He said two temple members went to the municipality parks department in Umhlanga to fill out forms once again to acquire the land but were met with no joy.
“They waited two hours and received no help. They were asked to quickly fill out the form as the person in charge of the department was going on leave.
“Since then we have received no help and the law enforcement officer instructed us to either ask for permission to pray or receive a fine. We have no choice but to take the fine,” he said.
He said until the land was rezoned by the municipality, adopting it would be difficult. This he said was according to the town planner.
Maistry claimed that other religions did not suffer the same fate as the temple for using public spaces or municipal land to pray.
“Pastor Abrahams was a Christian but he still respected us and allowed us to use the land for prayers. It’s a pity we didn’t get his agreement in writing,” said Maistry.
“We are now at the mercy of the municipality. Our pray is scheduled for Saturday. The devotees fast for 18 days just to walk on the fire. Now it seems they will not be able to fulfil their vows because of this dispute,” he added.
Ricky Naidoo said he is shocked by the controversy.
“The grounds is maintained by the temple and is not used for any activities, neither sporting or picnics. Informal housing is being built on any vacant ground all around South Africa with zero action from the government. With Tongaat having a long history of Indian culture this little temple is causing no danger or disturbance to anybody but is being targeted by the municipality.
“Surely this needs to be taken up by any of the various bodies in Tongaat. Due to my religious beliefs, I will make it my duty to ensure that permission is granted for the continuation of this temple on this premises,” said Naidoo.
Naidoo said he had contacted the eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba to intervene.
“I need your personal intervention in this matter. It's a huge religious issue and could lead to unnecessary problems in a community that is already suffering with various service delivery issues.
“Can the temple not adopt this small piece of ground, 100m square and in turn take care of the surrounding area which is not used for any other activities. Should you wish, I am also prepared to pay the lease for this 100m square for this temple,” Naidoo wrote in an email to Xaba.
The city did not respond at the time of publication.
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