Holy row over mosque

PLANS to build a place of worship in “leafy” Atholl, Johannesburg, have caused a tense standoff between wealthy residents and the owners of the land.

More than 500 ratepayers in the suburb — where the average house price is around R4-million — have objected to plans to build a R20-million mosque and academic institute on a 4 000m² plot.

“It will be smack in the middle of Atholl,” said Sotero Capazorio, the chairman of the ratepayers’ association.

“We have a 15-year plan to turn this precinct into a green suburb. We want our residents to be able to enjoy it without additional traffic.”

He said the ratepayers association was not singling out the mosque; it would object to any place of worship.

Mohamed Minty, a trustee of the Al Mazaahir Institute Of Islamic Science — which lodged the application to build the mosque — said there was a need for such an institute in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg.

“We purchased the land with a long-term view of creating an institute to service the residents and the Muslim businesses in the area.”

The architectural consultant who submitted the application, Zaid Cassim, said the reaction was nothing more than ‘‘Islamophobia”.

Cassim dismissed fears that the mosque would overburden parking in the area, saying space had been allocated within the site for this.

Asleem Amod, an Atholl Muslim Community Forum representative, said: “Having a mosque within walking distance to my home means that I don’t have to travel to Houghton or Marlboro.”

Virgil James, spokesman for the City of Johannesburg, said the application for rezoning was still in the initial phase and objections to the development may be filed until next week.