Devotees tell of temple robbery horror
A DURBAN woman has told of how her motherly instincts kicked in when she cowered over her distraught 5-yearold twin daughters as robbers carrying “massive guns” barged into a Sea Cow Lake temple on Monday night.
About 50 people were praying at the Maha Siva Mandir when as many as 10 robbers stormed in.
“They were screaming at us to get down on the floor. I immediately pulled my two girls down on to the floor and wrapped my arms over them, while my 16-year-old son lay down next to my husband,” said the woman, who is also an official of the temple.
“We watched as they went to each person, pointing the gun at their heads, and taking their cellphones, jewellery and handbags.”
When one of the gunmen approached her, he yanked her head up by her hair, she said, and ripped off her gold chain.
“Everything was happening so fast. I just felt this hand on the head and next thing my chain, which I had never taken off, was gone.”
The terrifying ordeal, on the eve of the Hindu festival Krishna Janmastami, began just after 8pm when devotees had finished reciting Satsang and prasad (food offering) was being handed out.
Some, who were leaving, were suddenly pushed back inside the hall by men in balaclavas, she said.
One of the men went to her husband and son, indicating he wanted the boy’s school bag. When he replied there were only books inside, he was kicked in the face.
“The one man kicked him in the face repeatedly, then struck him across the head with the butt of his gun. They also hit my son across his hand, as they were rushing him to remove his watch,” she said. The priest’s tablet was also taken. Three vehicles belonging to devotees were also stolen, although one was later recovered.
There have been several armed robberies at places of worship this year.
The theft of vehicles during services is also increasing.
Earlier this month, three cars were stolen during a church service at a Silverglen primary school.
SAPS spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbhele said the gunmen had fired one shot during Monday night’s robbery, but no one had been injured. There have been no arrests.