The Touwsriver Islamic Society is appealing to the community to aid them in their project to construct a mosque in the Laingsburg area. The society has recently purchased a property with an incomplete building on it with the hopes of transforming the building into a mosque for the community of that area and for passers-by who require an area in which to pray.

“There are a lot of people travelling from Cape Town to Johannesburg and they have to pass Laingsburg,” said Ismail Bayet, chairperson of the Touwsriver Islamic Society (TIS).

TIS established itself in 2008 when the Muslim community in the area was few.

“In Touwsriver the Muslim population was almost non-existent, but now we read taraweeh and we read jumuah salaah and that’s why we also wanted to expand this to Laingsburg,” Bayet continued.

“Today we have established a thriving masjid here and our functions that we held every year paid for our building.”

Laingsburg is an area approximately 90kms from Touwsriver and the Muslim community in that region is also limited.

“It is our responsibility to spread the deen of Allah in Laingsburg,” Bayet added.

The property is said to be visible from the N1 and people will be able to use the facilities during their long distance journeys as well.

“We had a very difficult time collecting the funds to buy the property, but alhamdulilah (praise be to God) we managed to secure it,” said Bayet.

The task now is to complete the structure so that a proper mosque will be available for the Islamic community.

“We need to put in doors and windows and of course a roof to secure the place,” Bayet went further.

“After that comes the mats and the usual peripherals that one requires for a masjid”.

The funds to buy the property were raised through awareness of the project and the society is again appealing to the community for the assistance to complete it.

“If there are any brothers and sisters out there with advice or who all willing to donate then that would be much appreciated,” Bayet urged.

“It cannot be possible without the help of the community.”

For more information, contact fundraising coordinator, Zubeida Abrahams 0849823001.

Furthermore any donation, however small can be made into this account:

Touwsriver Islamic Society

Nedbank Mountain Mill

Worcester

Account number: 1410012360 B/C141-005

VOC (Umarah Hartley)