The Office of Tibet in South Africa was extensively damaged in a fire following a reported petrol-bomb attack late on Wednesday, 14 October, at its premises in Lyttelton Manor, Centurion, near Pretoria.
The attack occurred at approximately 11:15 p.m. local time, when petrol bombs were reportedly thrown through the windows of the property, which serves as both the office and residence of the representative of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
The resulting fire destroyed much of the building, including office furniture and official documents. The premises were left uninhabitable, significantly affecting the office’s physical facilities and the records maintained there.
According to a report by South African news outlet Daily Maverick, the fire was reported to security services and Tshwane Emergency Services, which dispatched several fire engines to extinguish the blaze.
South African Police Service spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that Lyttelton police were investigating a case of arson. Police crime-scene experts, detectives and members of the Local Criminal Record Centre attended the scene. No suspects had been arrested as of the latest published report on 15 October.
Second reported attack on the premises
The October incident follows an earlier reported petrol-bomb attack on the same property on 6 July 2026. According to Dhundup Gyalpo, the Dalai Lama’s representative in South Africa, three petrol bombs were thrown at the premises that night. One exploded on concrete steps without causing damage, while the other two failed to explode.
The latest attack has raised concerns about the security of the Office of Tibet and the safety of those who work and reside there. Whether the two incidents are connected remains unclear.
Concerns over possible political motivation
The circumstances of the attack have prompted concerns about possible political motivations. Gyalpo told Daily Maverick that he believed the attack was intended to convey a political message. However, investigators have not publicly established the motive or identified those responsible.
The International Tibet Network condemned the attack in a statement published on 15 October, describing it as the second serious incident involving the Office of Tibet this year. The network called on South African authorities to conduct a full investigation and ensure the safety of the representative and his staff.
The Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation has also condemned the reported petrol-bomb attack and called for both incidents to be investigated. The foundation emphasised the responsibility of South African authorities to protect the people who live and work at the premises.
An office serving the Tibetan community
The Office of Tibet in Pretoria was formally opened in 1997 and serves as an official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration, based in Dharamsala, India. Its work includes promoting awareness of Tibetan culture, religion and history; facilitating cultural, educational and religious exchanges; and sharing information about the situation of Tibetans with the public, institutions and diplomatic representatives across Africa.
The destruction of office documents and facilities raises concerns about the practical consequences of the attack for its ongoing work.
The immediate priority is for South African authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the fire, identify those responsible and determine whether the October incident was connected to the earlier attack.
As the investigation continues, the perpetrators and motive remain unknown. No verified evidence has yet established responsibility for the attack or confirmed a political connection.
