The South African police are on the lookout for a Hindu priest who is missing since the murder of a devotee at the temple where he worked in Durban.
The priest, Gonnie Thangavelu Govender, disappeared from the Shree Ramulu Temple last Monday after a Durban businesswoman, Premla Pillay, was found strangled to death in the priest's temple home.
Pillay, 49, had gone to the temple to collect a lamp, which she had given to the priest to bless.
"The priest was seen entering the Suncoast Casino complex in Durban and his car was in the parking lot," said police spokesperson, Superintendent Daniela Veldhuizen.
"Security tapes also show that the priest was in the casino. We want him to contact us urgently so as to find out what had taken place.
"Mrs Pillay's laptop was still in the car but her purse had been emptied," said Veldhuizen.
The temple murder has shocked the local Indian community with people calling on the police to bring the culprit or culprits to justice as soon as possible.
"We know violent crime is very high in our city but for a person to be killed in a temple complex is tragic," said Mrs Cookie Govender, a local accountant.
"We are all shocked and concerned at what has taken place."
© 2025