Image Source: Voice of the Cape
Local – Custodian of Noorul Islam Mosque and Resident of Simon’s Town, Abdussalaam Cader, raised serious concerns regarding a proposed boutique development by Tintswalo, a company known for luxury hotels, that threatens to restrict access to the historic 100-year-old mosque.
The development, located approximately 100 meters from the mosque, plans to construct 13 units using Bikum Lane as the primary construction route.
Cader said the mosque serves a critical role in the deep south of Cape Town, being one of only three mosques between Muizenberg and Cape Point. He traced the Muslim community’s presence back centuries to when skilled Muslim slaves built the early European settlement buildings.
“The masjid is in what was the Malay quarter long ago. Simonstown sounds very old, actually, the third oldest European settlement in South Africa. And so since 1750, you could say the first buildings started going up, and of course, the slaves, the Muslim slaves, were used to build the buildings, and so they have lived, we have lived in this area since 1715 or that time.”
Infrastructure and Elderly Access Threatened
The custodian raised concerns about Bikum Lane’s structural integrity, noting the narrow road has a 5-ton weight limit and has collapsed multiple times.
The ageing infrastructure makes it unsuitable for heavy construction vehicles, and the developer’s plans to use the existing parking area as a staging point would eliminate spaces, even though the mosque already struggles to accommodate overflow crowds during Friday prayers.
Elderly worshippers face serious challenges with the proposed development. The steep terrain of Simon’s Town makes Bikum Lane the only practical vehicular access to the mosque for senior community members.
“The elderly worshippers, if you know Simonstown, it’s very steep access, and it’s impossible for the elderly to walk up, so they rely on access by Bikum Lane to get access to the masjid, and this will be denied to them.”
Engagement Efforts Yield Disappointment
The community has engaged with both the developer and city officials, with mixed results. Initial meetings with Tintswalo appeared promising, with assurances that construction would not proceed if it impacted residents and the mosque, but later developments left the community feeling misled.
After waiting for a promised management plan that would address their concerns, Cader said they received only a generic two-page document.
The mosque committee wrote to Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and the Premier, but were referred to Councillor Simon Liell-Cock, who reportedly dismissed their concerns.
“We waited quite a while for this plan to come. And what he gave us was a two-page generic document, which didn’t even have the names of Bickum Lane and the area on it. And so we were very, very disappointed by this approach. We felt he was leading us on.”
Balancing Development with Heritage Preservation
Cader acknowledged the potential employment opportunities the project represents in a country struggling with unemployment. But he said development must be balanced against the impact on residents and the area’s historical heritage, which attracts visitors to Simon’s Town.
He warned against sacrificing the community’s soul and the legacy of their forefathers for short-term economic gains.
The community wants to avoid costly legal action and instead pursue mediation through the Simon’s Town Civic Association, hoping to bring all parties to the negotiating table.
“You can’t impact on residents and heritages, especially you know this area is full of history and is part of the charm of the area and part of the attraction that people come to see.”
“If we just wash that aside in just in favour of a few jobs and opportunities, economic opportunities, but then reselling our soul, our forefathers worked very hard, struggled, and to just brush aside in favour of economies, I think it’s hardly shortsighted.”
