Priest ‘refused’ to perform last rites

Siyabonga "Nazeer" Mahlongwa

Siyabonga "Nazeer" Mahlongwa

Published Oct 11, 2015

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Durban - A Phoenix mother was devastated by the sudden death of her 19-year-old foster son, who died of natural causes last month.

But Kantha Peerbhay claimed her anguish was made far worse when a priest refused to perform the last rites on Siyanda Hlongwa, known as Nazir, because he was not Indian.

Guru Sadar Maharaj initially agreed to conduct Nazir’s funeral service, but allegedly had a change of heart when he realised the deceased was black.

The priest used the fact that Nazir did not have a “rasi name” (a Hindu name with astrological significance) as the reason for not performing the last rites.

Nazir’s family believed the priest’s refusal was a “racist” act.

The family managed to hire another priest to do the required religious duty.

However, Maharaj has denied the allegation. He said he became unavailable owing to the serious illness of his daughter, who died yesterday.

Hindu religious leaders have condemned the priest’s alleged conduct and reaffirmed that Hinduism embraces all races.

Peerbhay, who had fostered Nazir, an abandoned child, since he was two days old, said the incident had left her disillusioned and traumatised.

The distraught Peerbhay said Nazir had his lutchmee (red string) on his hand when he died. The string is something devotees of the Hindu faith wear.

Peerbhay’s son Schabir was tasked with arranging Nazir’s funeral.

“When I told Maharaj that Nazir’s legal name was Siyanda Hlongwa, he told me that he only performed last rites for Indian people because they had rasi names,” Schabir claimed.

“That is not true,” Maharaj said: “I initially agreed to help with the last rites, but when my daughter got ill I had to refuse. I didn’t talk about a rasi name.”

Sunday Independent

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