Despite receiving more than 2 300 objections, the Queensburgh Islamic Society Trust is forging ahead with the building of a mosque in Malvern. The mosque is set to open its doors in Fairlight Road next month, 14 years after plans were first unveiled.
Describing the journey as challenging, the chairman of the trust, Iqbal Randeree, said the need for the mosque arose in 2001 with the increasing number of Muslim families moving into the area.
Many were travelling to surrounding areas for prayer and madrassah classes.
“This was becoming challenging but families had no choice. After a meeting with the Muslim community we started the trust and initially held prayers at another member’s home. Thereafter we rented classrooms at the Westpark School and the Queensburgh High School. Our numbers were growing and we needed a proper place of worship.”
Negotiations with the eThekwini Municipality yielded the land at a purchase price of R57 000, but trying to rezone it into a worship site
proved to be a challenge, with many individuals determined to stop the establishment of the mosque.
“The area has 77 churches and there are still temples who are fighting for a worship site,” Randeree said.
“We have 570 (Muslim) families but (other) residents did not believe there was a need for another religious site in the area.”
Having failed in their objection to the municipality’s sale of the land and the rezoning application, “these people then lodged an appeal against the decision with the Provincial Appeals Tribunal”, said Randeree.
The objections included traffic congestion, and the sound from the azan (call to prayers) .
“(Regarding) traffic, we have met the bylaws in terms of parking and we have given residents the assurance that we will address the issue of sound if it becomes a problem after the mosque is established,” he said.
After a public meeting in 2010 the tribunal ruled in favour of the trust.
“It’s been difficult; we have overcome many hurdles by the grace of almighty God,” Randeree said.
“Our aim is to uplift the community and we have already undertaken and established programmes.
The mosque will offer Madrassah classes and take over some of the activities of the trust, including hamper distributions during Eid, feeding schemes, the distribution of blankets and drug awareness campaigns.