There has been a pouring of outrage and condemnation from various local organisations across all religious beliefs, following the shocking discovery of vandalism that took place at the Shree Pretoria Hindu Seva Samaj (SPHSS) complex on 13th Ave in Laudium, this past weekend.
Some outer walls leading to the Samaj Auditorium, on the corner of 13th Avenue and Olivine Street, were found painted with Islamic scriptures, clearly indicating that it was the work of cowards showing disrespect for the sanctity of the Hindu Temple Complex. The vandalism which was discovered this past Sunday morning (May 24) by officials of the Samaj, has been seen by many as an attempt to divide the long standing unity, the community of Laudium and surrounds enjoy across all religions and an attempt to sow divisions within the various sections of the community. It is believed that this cowardly act carried out by an unscrupulous person or persons took place on Saturday night (May 23).
Sanjay Govind, President of the Shree Pretoria Hindu Seva Samaj, told the Laudium Sun, “This is really a serious concern for our temple. We found out on Sunday morning May 24 and we are really devastated about such kind of vandalism by some unknown individuals. We condemn the act and I hope this kind of ugly thing may never happen in future in our community. The graffiti Islamic writing was found on the front wall of the Hindu Seva Samaj and it is really horrendous. This incident has caused deep concern among the members of our organisation, as the temple has always been a place of peace, prayer and unity for the community. Such things have never happened in our temple before and this makes the situation even more painful and shocking for all those who are connected to the Samaj. We are really devastated about such kind of vandalism and the emotional impact of seeing the wall of Hindu Seva Samaj in such a condition is very difficult for the community to accept. As a place of prayer, reflection, and community gathering, the Samaj holds deep spiritual significance, and we are committed to maintaining a sanitary, safe, and respectful environment for all who visit. The temple is not just a building, but the home of Hindus where people come together for worship, cultural activities and community support and such kind of vandalism is not accepted in any manner. We appeal to members of our community to remain vigilant and to support efforts to protect not only this sacred space, but all shared public environments. It is important that the community stands together during such times and ensures that such kind of ugly things may never happen in future in our community. We believe that awareness and unity are important in preventing such incidents from taking place again. Should anyone observe individuals engaging in such activities, we kindly urge that this be reported to the Samaj and to the appropriate local authorities. Any information can be shared with us via email at: admin@sphss108.co.za. We believe that, by standing united as a community, we can meaningfully discourage such conduct and protect all our shared public spaces, upholding values of respect, care and collective responsibility for the environments we are privileged to share.”
Laudium’s oldest and largest Islamic organisation, the Pretoria Muslim Trust’s Mohideen Hasware told the Laudium Sun, “We, the Pretoria Muslim Trust, Board of Trustees, strongly reject and condemn the act of vandalism on the Seva Samaj Hindu temple. This disgraceful act does not represent the Muslim community, nor does it reflect the teachings and values of Islam, which promote peace, respect, and the protection of all places of worship. We believe this was a deliberate political act aimed at creating division, mistrust and racial tension between the Muslim and Hindu communities. Such actions are intended to provoke emotions, spread fear, and damage the long-standing relationships that have existed between our communities for generations. We urge the public not to allow irresponsible individuals or groups to use this incident to fuel hatred or communal conflict. The Muslim, Hindu, Christian and those from other religious beliefs, have as a community shared a history of peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and solidarity since the days of apartheid. Through difficult and challenging periods in our country’s history, our communities stood alongside one another, worked together and contributed towards building a united and democratic South Africa. That spirit of unity and respect remains stronger than the actions of those seeking to divide us. We stand in full solidarity with the Hindu community and condemn any attack, vandalism, or disrespect directed at places of worship. Religious institutions are sacred spaces that must be protected and respected by all members of society, regardless of faith or background. We call on community leaders, religious organisations, law enforcement authorities and members of the public to remain calm, act responsibly, and reject any attempts to inflame tensions. We also encourage a full investigation into the incident so that those responsible can be held accountable. At a time when unity and social cohesion are needed more than ever, we reaffirm our commitment to peaceful coexistence, interfaith harmony, and mutual respect. No act of provocation will destroy the relationships built over decades between Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities. We remain united against hatred, racism, and all forms of religious intolerance.”
Imraan Ahmed, from the Concerned Community Forum (CCF) told the Laudium Sun, “The Concerned Community Forum (CCF) unequivocally condemns the reprehensible act of spray-painting Arabic writing on the walls of the Mandir. This act is deeply disturbing, unacceptable, and wholly inconsistent with the values that have long defined our community. Our community has, for generations, co-existed in peace, mutual respect and religious harmony. We have never allowed differences in faith, culture, or background to divide us, and we reject in the strongest possible terms any conduct intended to sow hatred, provoke religious intolerance, or create division amongst residents. An attack, whether symbolic or physical, on any place of worship is an attack on the collective peace, dignity and unity of our entire community. Regardless of the language, message, or motive behind this act, such behaviour has no place in our society and will not be tolerated. We call on the relevant authorities to urgently investigate this matter, identify those responsible, and ensure that decisive action is taken without delay.”
Community Forum (CCF), said, “An attack, whether symbolic or physical, on any place of worship is an attack on the collective peace, dignity, and unity of our entire community.”
Yusuf Motala, a concerned Laudium resident, told the Laudium Sun, ”The incident which happened at Hindu Seva Samaj is really bad and whoever did this kind of act are surely not Muslim brothers. I am Muslim too and in our Holy Book we are not taught to hate other religions. So I am pretty sure that whoever tried to vandalise or disrupt the harmony and peace between Muslims and Hindus in our community are not acting as Muslims, because we Muslims always live in peace and promote peaceful coexistence. Any attempt to divide the community will never succeed and we, the residents of Laudium, will never allow these culprits to win or create division among us. Our community has always stood for unity, respect and mutual understanding between different religions and we must continue to protect that harmony at all times. Our religion teaches us to respect other people’s religion, and to respect other people’s sacred rights and sacred sites. We have no right to vandalize or damage anyone’s property, especially places of worship that hold deep spiritual meaning for their communities. Those who are responsible, if there is any camera footage or evidence available, should be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. As residents of Laudium, we must remain united and not allow isolated incidents to destroy the long standing peace that exists between communities. It is important that people do not jump to conclusions or allow such acts to create hatred among neighbours. Instead, we must continue to support each other, report wrongdoing through proper channels, and ensure that those responsible for disturbing peace are held accountable. Only through unity and mutual respect can we protect the harmony that has existed in Laudium for many years,”
Rashard Suliman, a concerned resident from Laudium, told the Laudium Sun, ”The recent incident at Hindu Seva Samaj has caused concern among many people in our area, as it involves a place that holds deep religious, cultural and spiritual value for the community. Acts of this nature do not reflect the teachings or values that most people in Laudium believe in, especially when it comes to respecting places of worship belonging to different faiths. From my understanding as a Muslim, faith is built on principles of dignity, compassion and respect towards all human beings and their sacred spaces. Any behaviour that goes against these principles creates unnecessary tension and misrepresents the true message of religion. It is important to recognise that individuals responsible for such actions do not represent the wider community or the beliefs we uphold. Laudium has always been known for its diverse population living side by side in relative peace, where neighbours of different backgrounds interact daily with understanding and cooperation. Situations like this risk creating misunderstanding if not addressed carefully and responsibly. However, it is equally important not to allow isolated incidents to define entire communities. Community members should continue to promote calm and avoid assumptions that may lead to further division. Instead, attention should be placed on strengthening unity and ensuring that all religious and cultural sites are treated with dignity. Respect for each other’s spaces is essential for maintaining social harmony. I hope that relevant authorities take the matter seriously and review any available evidence to establish the facts of what occurred.