Photo by [Al Islam]
eThekwini Secure created a project, aptly named Ramadan Secure, which focuses explicitly on prioritising the safety of Muslims during the holy month.
Over the past few years, criminals have been targeting and preying on places of worship for their minimal security, accessibility and ease of movement. This includes other religious centres as well.
During Ramadan, Muslims spend long evenings at the Mosque. There have been reports of previous incidents where armed criminals stormed into Mosques and held congregants at gunpoint. As per the reports, these robberies commonly occurred during evening prayers.
Recently, criminals attempting to rob a local Mosque in Johannesburg were shot in defence by an attendee. Though Mohammed Ismail of eThekwini Secure encourages vigilance and preparedness, he advises people not to take the law into their own hands.
“It’s always good to be prepared, but we mustn’t do it through a level of fear. We must do it through empowerment because if we do something from a level of fear, then we’re just going to live in fear all the time. You can’t live in a community where you’re fearful of anything that happens, but you need to be empowered. To know how to react, to be proactive and [know] what to do in any situation.”
Ramadan Secure Project
Ismail said, Muslim families are vulnerable to opportunistic crime as the men will be preoccupied with the evening prayers while the women and children will be home.
“Ramadan itself has been a playground for criminals. You find [crime] is not an isolated incident. A car is stolen, [worshippers] could possibly be robbed, or a home could be targeted by burglars. It’s multifactorial in terms of what we’re looking at, in keeping the community safe.”
To cater to the needs and safety of the Muslim Community, Ramadan Secure is a community initiative which places CPF members and volunteers at Mosques with regular patrols around the area.
Moreover, through various communication channels, community members at home can constantly communicate with the CPF, where they can report any suspicious activities.
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Stop Normalising Crime
Crime in South Africa is not a new phenomenon. However, it has increased over the years due to social and economic factors. As a result, many South Africans are desensitised to it, accepting it as part of everyday life.
Ismail believes people must break away from this mentality and start taking back aspects of society lost to criminals. The only way to do that is if people become active members of their communities.
“Criminals need to be put to a stop. And the stronger the community is, the greater we can become in our fight against crime.”
