After an alleged attempted terrorist attack earlier this week, the Durban North mosque, Musjidur Rahman, will stay open.
According to the mosque's leadership, the legislation won't stop Muslims from practising their religion or having conversations with people of other faiths.
The mosque is still open and welcomes guests as usual, trustee Yusuf Desai of Musjidur Rahman said. Two homemade explosives were allegedly set at the mosque, located at 131 Kenneth Kaunda Road, by suspects.
According to Desai, a security officer saw a car pulling into the mosque's driveway.
A guy exited the car on the passenger side and put something in the bushes at the mosque door. When he noticed a security guard getting closer, he returned to the car and ran away, according to Desai.
The guard promptly alerted mosque management, who contacted the police for further investigation. The package contained a bomb and approximately 40 meters of detonation cable.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said South African Police Service (SAPS) bomb technicians confirmed that it was homemade explosive devices that consisted of commercial explosives.
The matter is under investigation.
Meanwhile, Desai said despite initial opposition to the mosque's establishment, it has become a symbol of community support, providing various services such as open day programs, social cohesion initiatives, and humanitarian aid during crises like the 2021 looting and water shortages.
The Muslim community's contributions to Durban North's economy and social fabric have significantly mitigated earlier misunderstandings and stereotypes.
