On March 14, 2024, the ISKCON Hammanskraal temple, located in a township in northern Pretoria, South Africa’s capital city, experienced a fire incident that caused significant damage to its front entrance.

In an interview with Co-Temple President Jai Nitai Das, ISKCON News learned that the conflagration was caused by an uncontrolled field fire that spread from neighboring grounds, particularly from a nearby church property.

According to Jai Nitai, the overgrown and unkempt grass on the church’s premises has led to frustration among locals. One individual, seemingly from the nearby informal settlement, took matters into their own hands and set fire to the grass. Unfortunately, the fire spread towards the ISKCON Hammanskraal temple, igniting the thatched entrance structure. This regrettable event serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining fire safety measures and communal cooperation in safeguarding shared spaces.

The damages from the fire are estimated to be USD 7,000, primarily affecting the front portion of the temple. Thankfully, despite the intense blaze, no devotees were injured during the incident. The devotees’ timely response and the dispatch of firefighters helped contain the fire before it caused further damage or harm. Currently, six devotees, including visiting Bhakti Narasimha Swami, reside at the temple full-time. Jai Nitai Das and Narottam Dasa, serving as co-temple presidents, can be directly contacted by anyone willing to assist in the repair and recovery efforts for ISKCON Hammanskraal. Jai Nitai +27 71 045 1965, Narottam +27 78 291 3631. You can follow the ongoing service and events at ISKCON Hammanskraal temple on their Facebook page.