Hindu organisations clash over foreign priest visa controls

THE South African Hindu Maha Sabha's (SAHMS) proposal to become the sole authority for vetting foreign Hindu priests' visas has sparked controversy among Hindu organisations, with some claiming it undermined religious freedom while others supported improved regulation.

- NADIA KHAN [e-mail]

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Professor Brij Maharaj, deputy president of the SAHMS, said the proposal was aligned with the Department of Home Affairs' (DHA) 2025 Draft Revised White Paper on immigration reform.

In December, the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, published the Draft Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection in the Government Gazette for public comment.

Maharaj said it called for strengthened pre-vetting by recognised sector bodies, improved integrity of visa streams, and the prioritisation of local skills.

"The SAHMS submitted the motivation regarding the regulated issuance of special work visas for foreign Hindu priests serving Hindu temples and religious institutions within South Africa," said Maharaj.

He said while South Africa had a growing pool of locally-trained Hindu priests, there are circumstances in which suitably-qualified local candidates were unavailable to meet the specific liturgical, linguistic or traditional requirements of certain temples.

"In such exceptional instances, limited recruitment of foreign Hindu priests is necessary to ensure the continuity of religious practice and service to the Hindu community.

"However, visas should be issued only after a rigorous, standardised vetting process led by SAHMS in partnership with the relevant temple boards to ensure integrity, compliance and protection of national interests," he said

Ram Maharaj, president of the South African Hindu Dharma Sabha, said the "overreach" by the SAHMS was unconstitutional and unacceptable".

"It is in the best interest of Hindu advancement that no seemingly 'power hungry and hegemony-seeking' organisation should be allowed to masquerade as an exclusive gatekeeper. Shared goals can only be achieved through shared roles and responsibilities."