What was supposed to be a joyful and festive celebration for all Hindus who celebrated Diwali on Sunday, 3 November in Secunda, did not end well for us.
Diwali is a universally respected festival celebrated by Hindus worldwide.
It is dedicated to the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and light over darkness.
Sadly, this special evening which is regularly enjoyed by parents and their children by lighting fireworks in joyous celebration was soured and spoilt by the offensive and insulting treatment that we experienced at the hands of Secunda Police and the Secunda Sector Policing.
On Diwali evening, many Hindu families gathered at Secunda Stadium to celebrate by lighting fireworks, as has been done for years.
The celebrations were also attended by members of the Muslim faith and several of our fellow white Secunda residents.
The children were excited and thrilled as we had lit our first fireworks.
Suddenly a number of fast speeding police vehicles and other unidentified vehicles drove up to us.
At the speed they drove they could have easily run over and injured the children.
A policewoman ran out of one of the vehicles and spoke rudely to the children, demanding that they stop lighting the fireworks.
She threatened to confiscate the fireworks.
The children were terrified at her demeanour and loud voice.
When my husband spoke to her and asked for her details, she rudely replied “What for” and turned and walked off without supplying her details.
The rest of the sector policing members also harassed the other families who were there.
We were deeply offended by this treatment as law abiding and honest citizens of this country and our town Secunda.
The police and members of the sector policing were heavily armed.
Due to the many publicised incidents of police brutality in our country and fear for our own safety and that of our children, I phoned Shane Bhagwandeen, a senior police officer in the Secunda Flying Squad, for his assistance.
He came over and assisted us.
When he arrived and questioned the sector policing members, they changed their attitude and spoke in a more decent manner.
They then wanted to know if we had a permit to light fireworks and if a fire brigade was on standby.
We have never in all the years that we have gone to the stadium to celebrate Diwali been confronted with these requirements.
Furthermore, the previous weekend, at the car festival, several fireworks were lit, so we had no idea that permits were needed.
We were under the impression that this area was specially designated for firework celebrations as it has been the practice for years.
When we mentioned this to the police officers they indicated that the local bylaws had changed and that an article requesting public comment on this change was published in the local newspapers.
This was not known to any of the people at the stadium, including Shane Bhagwandeen.
They could not explain to us why the lighting of fireworks was allowed at the car festival, during News Year’s celebrations in the residential areas and other festivals.
What really is upsetting to all the families is the treatment we had to face that evening as honest and law abiding citizens of our town.
As I mentioned, the police and sector policing officers were heavily armed and behaved in an aggressive manner.
Surely, they could have approached us in a more respectful manner and advised us of the change in laws and offered an alternative solution.
Instead, they were insensitive.
Most of the adults present hold senior positions at Sasol and are not irresponsible.
We would like to request that in future either this area is designated as a place in Secunda where we can continue to light fireworks, or alternatively that another safe and convenient location within Secunda can be allocated.
As a community we are willing to abide by any regulations in this regard, such as arranging with the chief fireman for a fire brigade to be present or on standby.
Please also advise whether we need a permit and how we go about applying for such.
To prevent any semblance of partiality in treatment of members of different faiths we request that the rules be applied universally to all regardless of festival and cultural background.
We also request an official apology from the sector policing members for their insensitive and offensive behaviour.
The majority of the Hindu people that live in Secunda work for Sasol and Sasol sponsors and invests millions of rand in the Govan Mbeki Municipality for various projects.
Part of that money, come from us – as employees and shareholders – so my question is: “Why are we being denied the right to exercise freedom of religion, culture and tradition?”
“Why is it that what works for one does not work for another, a double standard in Secunda?”
We await a response and hope that this issue can be resolved, so that we as residents of Secunda can celebrate our festive occasion in our own town without being afraid for our children and feeling threatened.
The Bhagwandeen, Chanthkurn, Chathury, Singh and Sookram families, Secunda.
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