SA TREASURE HUNT FOR INDIAN’S TOMB IN TONGAAT, NORTH OF DURBAN, IN SOUTH AFRICA

 

     

 

While researching my files of stories and articles that I had written during the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, I came across an article in July 1986 about “gold” diggers lining up to drill the grave of an indentured labourer who is believed to have been buried with his wealth.

At this time, I was involved with the Press Trust of SA News Agency and we used to supply the Press Trust of India, based in New Delhi, India; other international news agencies and radio stations around the world with all types of news, especially the struggles against white minority rule and domination.

But one of non-political developments that attracted a great deal of attention in 1986 was the “treasure hunt” in the town of Tongaat, north of Durban.

We wrote the article and submitted it to the Press Trust of India.

The article was published in several newspapers in India. The Indian Express published the article on July 19 1986 under the headline: “SA treasure hunt for Indian’s tomb”.

The article read:

Durban, July 19 (PTI): South African treasure hunters are heading for the Tongaat town on the North Coast of Durban in the search of the remains of an Indian indentured labourer believed to have been buried with his riches when he died in the area in 1885.

The century-old tomb, situated near the Vanrova Gardens township in Tongaat, is believed to contain the remains of Jhapsi Raam and his wife. Both came to South Africa in the 1860s to work on the sugar plantations in the then Natal Colony.

The tomb, protected by the trunk and roots of a huge banyan tree, is believed to contain fabulous wealth.

According to Mr Manoj Singh, 60, of Gandhi’s Hill near Tongaat, his grandmother, Mrs Tetrie Singh, came to the Natal Colony on the same ship as the Raams and they were good friends, reports the Press Trust of SA.

Jhapsi Raam was a member of a cult in India whose dead were buried with their possessions.

Mr Singh said he was told by his grandmother that Jhapsi had built a tomb for his wife and he was later buried in the same tomb.

Mr Singh believes that a vast amount of wealth was buried when Mr Raam died in 1885. He said some indentured labourers were paid in gold sovereigns and coins and kept these in their homes.

Already there are signs of attempts to unearth Jhapsi’s treasure. A hole about two metres deep has been dug on the ground at the base of the tomb.

Mr Singh said people had been excavating the tomb from 1950 in the hope of finding the gold and other treasure believed to be hidden.

In recent months, news of the tomb site had spread and the number of people “trying their luck with shovels” had increased.

So far, there has been no trace of gold.

Mr Singh added it was surprising that residents of Vanrova Gardens township were staying away from the tomb, believing that those who dare to enter will be cursed. Ends – PTSA News Agency July 19 1986