TimesLive reports that three businessmen from KwaZulu Natal have pledged R2 million to assist the families who lost their belongings in Monday’s fire in the Juma Masjid mosque precinct in Durban.

R1.5 million was pledged by tobacco magnate, Yusuf Kajee, and his business partner, Paul De Robillard. Meanwhile, Durban billionaire Vivian Reddy pledged a separate amount of R500,000.

Kajee said, “I grew up here. My father had a shop here. We’re part of this community, and if we can’t help these people, we mustn’t call ourselves Muslims.” He said Mr Reddy had phoned him and told him that he too was part of that community and he would pledge R500,000.

According to TimesLive, AB Mohamed, chairperson of the Juma Masjid Trust, welcomed the donation, saying, “This was one of those unexpected developments, and obviously we will need funding.” He added that the mosque had historical and geopolitical links with Turkey and the British Empire. Mohamed said that just as London could not be imagined without Trafalgar Square, so could Durban not be imagined without the Grey Street mosque.

Umm Muhammed Umar