Gurdwara opened near Johannesburg

Johannesburg: The Sikh community here have got its first gurdwara inaugurated after an eight-year-long legal battle with their South African neighbours who opposed to its construction. The 2,500 square metres gurdwara was officially opened in the suburb of Sandton, the economic hub of the country, by the country’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Mashabane-Nkoane. “Every humble human being can now walk in and pray at any time, irrespective of colour or creed,” the Minister said as she conveyed congratulations on behalf of President Jacob Zuma and all South Africans to the Sikh community. Mashabane-Nkoane, a former High Commissioner to India, said she had been privileged to visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar, and was amazed at the Sikh community’s principles of caring for humanity.