By Ivor Markman

Bay councillor Terry Herbst has called a public meeting today as outrage mounts over a controversial plan to build an office block adjacent to a historic Hindu temple in Port Elizabeth‘s Upper Valley Road.

The High Court has ordered the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority to issue a permit to Pambili Developments within 10 days for the demolition of an old cash store next to the temple, a national monument.

The Hindu community opposed the move, but the authority failed to defend its appeal committee‘s decision to deny Pambili the permit.

“The idea is to combine our energies and have one voice rather than a series of splinter voices ... to oppose this appalling situation,” said Herbst, adding the meeting would be held at the temple at noon today.

“The Hindu community and councillors are going to be there” as well as representatives of the Baakens Valley Trust, Heritage Trust and South African Institute of Architects.

PHRA council chairman Monde Mkunqwana referred inquiries to attorneys, who said they had received no instructions on the matter.

Source: The Herald