Heritage Cases

The current temple situated on the site has been in existence for over a hundred years. The temple stands as a monument to the indentured labourers that came to this country in 1860 to work in the fledgling sugar industry. The “Brake Barracks” was an area where the workers of Indian origin for the Tongaat Sugar Mill were housed. Public places of worship were few in this time, hence the need arose for the construction of the Temple. After negotiations between the community of the Brake Barracks and the management of the Tongaat Sugar Mill, a wood and iron structure was constructed in 1909. Initially built to cater for the community at Brake Village, the temple soon became firmly established in the lives of the people of the greater Tongaat and surrounding areas. The Brake Village SSS Alayam proposes new buildings on the site in addition to the existing buildings in order to accommodate the vast number of worshippers visiting the temple. The expansion will entail the construction of a single building and will be built to meet religious specifications. The size of the temple will be 751.8m² and the platform on which the temple stands will be raised 1.2 metres above the ground level at its lowest point. Gabion structures will be constructed on the river banks fronting the temple. The Brake Village Sri Siva Soobramaniar Alayam has been in existence for over a hundred years. During the hindu festivals, thousands of worshippers from around the country visit the temple. The current temple is not big enough to accommodate all the visitors. As such, the temple is being expanded to accommodate the vast number of worshippers visiting the temple.