Stolen aluminum window at Drift Temple in Umdloti.
Temples in Durban are facing repeated thefts of windows, metalwork and other equipment, with worshippers calling for stronger security and police action.
Prem Balram of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA)said the recurring targeting of temples was concerning and had left worshipers feeling vulnerable and deeply distressed.
In a recent incident, the Shri Siva Subramaniar Alayam known as Drift Temple was robbed of a newly installed aluminum window on Monday morning.
The temple had been subjected to a string of previous robberies.
Balram said last month alone, they responded to more than six theft and robbery incidents from various temples in Durban.
Balram said the security crisis at temples was driven by several factors including unemployment and drugs.
"Criminals are stripping basic infrastructure, including aluminium window frames, chairs, steel pots, copper water pipes, light fittings, and cooking utensils, which are quickly funnelled to local scrap yards.
“Even more devastating to the community is the theft of irreplaceable, highly sentimental brass murthis (sacred statues), some of which are nearly a century old," he said.
Balram said some temples operated without on-site caretakers, incomplete fencing and no active alarm systems linked to immediate security responses.
"Drug users looking for quick items to trade, alongside scrap-metal syndicates, exploit these security blind spots," said Balram.
Balram said the Redcliffe Temple in Verulam was broken into twice in one day.
"I think we have a crisis as temples are being targeted by thieves in Durban. In these temples, including Drift Temple, Redcliffe Temple and Riet River Temple, we have responded to several theft incidents this year. There are other temples to which we have also responded," said Balram.
Balram said devotees, local community policing forums (CPFs), and private protection services were actively holding emergency meetings to secure funds for complete perimeter fencing, CCTV, and defensive infrastructure.
Raysellan Naidoo, Chairperson of Drift Temple in Umdloti, said: "We installed the fence two months ago to prevent thieves from stealing at our temple, but they cut through the fence to gain access to the facility.
“They recently stole about 10 aluminium windows which are very expensive and they have been doing this for months now," said Naidoo.
He expressed concern that police were not doing enough to stop thieves from selling the stolen items to scrap-metal dealers.
"I do not understand why police officers are not going to scrapyards to check for reported stolen items. We are a religious organisation and we do not funds to replace all the stolen items," he said.
Naidoo said they had a function at the temple this weekend and did not know how they would replace the stolen windows.
"We have been forced to hire guards to work during the day and at night. We have had about 10 to 15 theft incidents at the temple before the most recent theft," he said.
Redcliffe temple’s vice chairman Mukesh Inerjith, said they too had reported countless theft incidents.
"This is a crisis facing the temples across Durban and we need work together to fight it. We cannot afford to have more theft incidents in our temples. We do not have the money to fix the mess left by the thieves," said Inerjith.