Faizel Patel, 2016-04-14
The handing over of land in Valhalla by the Tshwane Municipality earmarked for a masjid has been marred by objections and racism.
Tshwane Mayor Sputla Kgosientso Ramokgopa officially handed over the title deed for a piece of land to the Muslim community of Valhalla at the Vallies Park primary school hall this week.
However the ceremony was disrupted by a group of protestors who denounced the development of the masjid arguing that the land could be better used to raise funds of up to R250 million to assist needy communities instead.
Ramokgopa’s spokesperson Blessing Manale told Radio Islam the mayor emphasised that there can be no rand value that could stand before the presence of the Lord and want everyone to know that all faiths seeking space to propagate their religious beliefs are welcome in the capital city.
“He was reaching out to the Islamic and Muslim community saying ‘I will always be with you.’ He used the opportunity also to thank them for the kind of community work they’ve done in times of drought, bad weather conditions and during times of general social strife.”
Community activist Yusuf Abramjee says emotions ran high at the event.
“When the meeting started, a few of the protestors started shouting and making various comments and a fracas broke out between members of the audience and the protestors.”
Abramjee says the objections to the building of the masjid may be allegedly racially motivated by right-wingers who have threatened via social media to incite violence and throw pigs heads during Jumuah.
“Many of them are saying ‘we want Muslims as neighbours, but we don’t want a mosque.’ They spoke about ISIS, Brussels, Paris and now Valhala. The placards that they showed last night were clearly indicative that these people have no idea that Islam is a religion of peace and we don’t support terrorism.”
“I hope that they’ll be reported to the South African Human Rights Commission and Equality Court,” Abramjee said.
He says people need to be educated on the tenets of Islam and that places of worship should become the centre of activity to promote tolerance and goodwill.
Meanwhile residents against the erection of a masjid say they were not consulted during the entire process.
Freedom Front Plus party member Anel Geyser says members were not protesting against Muslims coming to live in their community, but only against the noise a masjid would create.
“The land was donated for free when there were people who wanted to buy the land to use it to build an old-age home and for a special school. We pray in silence and we would like to be afforded the same consideration.”
Geyser says they were supportive of people practising their own religious beliefs but not when this infringed on others’ beliefs while Resident Amanda Schoeman told Pretoria News they did not want a masjid in their community as it was a quiet and peaceful neighbourhood.
“What will happen to our animals if they will be blaring out prayers and ringing bells five times a day?”
Abramjee says the City of Tshwane must be complimented for taking the lead and allocating the land at no cost to the Muslim community.
“We are told its one of a 142 pieces of land that they’ve distributed at no charge to various communities for the erecting of places of worship.”
Construction of the masjid is expected to begin soon.
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