Tamil Vedic hall slowly stripped, says trustee

The founding president of the Tamil Federation of SA has submitted an affidavit to Durban police asking that they investigate the theft of items to the value of about R500000 from the Tamil Vedic Society Trust.

Yana Pillay, a life member of the trust, says the items include appliances and furniture, taken from the Natal Tamil Vedic Society Hall in Carlisle Street, Durban.

Pillay resigned from his duties as the treasurer of the trust in 2008 when his father, Soobree, fell ill.

Last year, after his father's death in July, Pillay once again took up an active role at the 110-year-old trust. He said he found the hall to be "in a terrible, vandalised state".

"I brought it to the attention of the chairman and the trustees that over R400000 worth of movable properties had been stolen. None of this has been reported to the police or the insurance."

Pillay said he later brought up the vandalism at the trust's monthly meetings in August and November, but no action was taken.

"I have gone to the police out of frustration. This is not our money, it is that of over 300 people who put the money in 55 years ago. Many of them were indentured labourers and this money is supposed to be used to further the development of the Tamil society. This is all we have."

Among the items reported missing from the hall are electrical cables, basins, copper pipes, eight gas stoves as well as cutlery and crockery from the kitchens.

Pillay believes the theft took place slowly over a period of time as there has never been a break-in.

He claims the organisation is fraught with political issues, and that there was a split among the trustees.

Chairman Marimuthoo Vyapoorey Rajah said he could not comment until he had discussed the matter with the other trustees.

He added that the trustees would be "examining what Pillay's line of action was" in terms of the theft charge.

Rajah said the organisation was working towards finding a solution to the other issues it faced.

"There are shortcomings at the moment, but whoever is in the trust is addressing the situation. We don't deny that there are certain shortfalls but we are remedying those faults."

Pillay is to lay a theft charge.