Durban — A Lord Ganesh statue was hit and several other idols were damaged in a temple in Verulam during a drive-by shooting that left two people dead at the weekend.
The murders happened days before Hindus in South Africa observe the festival of Ganesh Chaturti.
Reaction Unit SA spokesperson Prem Balram said the statue and other idols were damaged during a double assassination in Dawncrest, Verulam, on Sunday afternoon.
The victim’s white Toyota Fortuner crashed into a fence and a temple at a home during the attack.
“The temple was extensively damaged,” Balram said.
South African Hindu Maha Sabha president Ashwin Trikamjee said the festival is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesh. Ganesh Chaturti is also known as Siddhi Vinayaka Chaturti or Ganesh Chauth.
“Lord Ganesh is the benevolent, elephant-faced Lord of obstacles. He has been described as being happy, playful, and wise. Many consider Ganesh to be the patron of art and science. His image is often found at the entrances of homes and other buildings,” Trikamjee said.
Lord Ganesh is worshipped as the God of wisdom, prosperity, and good fortune. It is believed Lord Ganesh was born during Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month.
“According to Sanathan Dharma, every lunar date from 1 to 15 is associated with the names of deities. Hence the 4th day in the month of Bhadrapada, Shukla Paksha, is a special occasion sacred to Ganesha,” Trikamjee said.
“Ganesh Chaturti is marked by fasting, deity worship with the prescribed pooja items, the narration, and listening of Katha (stories), chanting of mantras and reading scriptures.
“Ganesha combines two words – Gana (the entire cosmic creation) and Isha (controller and presider). The name has become synonymous with words like Sidhi (perfection), Buddhi (intelligence or wisdom), and Vignahara (dispeller of obstacles). The worship of Ganesha brings prosperity to the worshipper.”
Commenting on the shooting and damages to the temple, Trikamjee said: “The alleged ‘hit’, loss of lives and damage to the temple and murthis at the temple in Dawncrest must be condemned in the strongest terms possible.
“Many places of worship have become soft targets in our crime-infested country. Criminals operate with impunity and show little respect for the law.”
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said police received a complaint of a shooting on Oaklands Drive in Verulam and proceeded to the scene.
“Upon arrival, they noticed a white vehicle that had collided into a fence at a house in Oaklands Drive. There were two unknown men with multiple gunshot wounds. One deceased was found on the driver’s side and the other on the rear seat,” Gwala said.
“The motive for the killing is unknown. Two counts of murder were opened at Verulam police station for investigation.”
Balram added the driver was found lying across both front seats and the second occupant was found on the rear passenger floor. Both men suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head, torso, back and legs.
“According to witnesses, the gunmen approached the victims after the crash and shot them both at close range with high calibre weapons,” Balram said.
Daily News