From the news desk

Samora Machel residents to receive containers for salah

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The Muslim community in the impoverished Samora Machel informal settlement will be the benefactors of a ground breaking initiative between the Muslim Judicial Council and the City of Cape Town. After an application to the City, the MJC has received permission to set up containers for the Muslim residents in the Weltevreden Valley to perform salah.

“This community has been using various premises and sometimes performing salah in the open air. Recently, they used the home of a Christian brother to pray. So alhamdullilah, this weekend will see them being on their own premises through containers we have made available,” said MJC public relations officer Nabeweya Malick.

The MJC were alerted to the issue by a community member who works in the growing Muslim community in Samora Machel. Following a fire in the informal settlement two months ago, the MJC recognised the need to find a decent place of worship for the 150 musallees.

“Poverty is widespread in Samora Machel and we were concerned that residents had to pray in someone’s house. While we are grateful that someone made his premises available, we wanted do more,” said Malick.

The informal settlement is home to a diverse group of Muslims such as from locals, revert Muslims Somali’s and Zimbabweans.

“They are community that is battling and many of them are trying to open their own small businesses to make a living. What we admire is their faith and through all their difficulties, they put their trust in Allah.”

A special handover ceremony will take place this weekend at the site located at Lillian Ngoyi drive. Residents will be provided with iftar and MJC members will perform Maghrib and Taraweeh salah with musallees. Malick invited the community to join in the programme and to assist with other projects in the area.

“The community is so happy…they went out to the plot to clear it of grass and weeds. So by Thursday, we should have the containers erected onsite,” she said.

“This project and others can only be achieved thought the hearts of our community. One just speaks to a few people and in no time, their sleeves are rolled up. Alhamdullilah, we thank everyone for their support.” VOC


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