Valhalla mosque a reality
The controversial building of a mosque in Valhalla will go ahead after the Tshwane metro council last week finally approved the donation of land to the Thaba Tshwane Islamic Centre Trust.
The erection of a mosque in Valhalla in Centurion seems set to become a reality despite strong objections.
The donation of land in the suburb to the Thaba Tshwane Islamic Centre Trust was finally approved by the metro council.
More than 2 600 Valhalla residents have signed a petition against the building of a mosque in the predominantly Christian residential suburb.
Yet, the Tshwane council gave the nod for the land donation with an overwhelming majority on Thursday.
Tshwane announced in 2013 that it was giving the parcel of land on the corner of Finus and Hammerfest streets to the Islamic centre.
Residents and some political parties objected, saying required procedures, such as a public participation process, had not been followed by the metro.
Some residents were also concerned about being “disturbed” by the mosque’s azaan‚ the Muslim call to prayer chanted five times a day.
The matter was referred to the Public Protector’s office for an investigation into claims that due process had not been followed.
DA councillor Ina Strijdom said at the time that public participation and planning procedures were not optional.
“These are required by law and if approached in the correct manner, emotional reactions can be replaced with
rational thinking and decisions.”
The handover of the land was put on hold to allow all the processes to be followed.
On Thursday, the council finally approved the donation of the neglected recreational park to the Islamic Centre.
Christian Democratic Party (CDP) Theunis Botha said: “Thursday 24 March 2016 marks a sad day for democracy and the principles enshrined in the South African Constitution.”
Botha said the metro, against the will of the residents of Valhalla, approved the donation of the valuable piece of land on which the Islamic centre intended to erect a mosque.
“This monstrosity, in the centre of the residential area, will tower above the surrounding houses. One cannot help but think that skulduggery is at the centre of this decision and that the ANC will benefit from it in some way or another, especially with an election just around the corner,” he said in a statement.
“This travesty of justice took place amid a flawed public participation process that can at best be described as unjust administration and was therefore referred to the Public Protector by the CDP.
Botha said no feedback had been received to date from the Public Protector.
“This means, that the decision taken by council is invalid as the matter has not yet been resolved.”
Botha said the Tshwane metro was attempting to undermine the ethos and culture of Valhalla.
When the announcement was first made in 2013, the community responded by putting together a petition with over 2 600 signatures.
The petition was signed by many in the community which included Afrikaners, Hindu, Portuguese, Greek, English and others.
Botha earlier said that his party did not want to get involved in religious issues, but emphasised that a Christian cultural heritage and been established in the area. There were already two mosques in the nearby areas of Erasmia and Laudium.
At the time, Mohammad Kader of the Thaba Tshwane Islamic Centre Trust said the Constitution guaranteed everyone’s right to freedom of conscious, religion, thought, belief and opinion, among others.
“The Christian community has the right to raise their children to Christian ethos, but this right could not be used as an excuse to exclude the Muslim community in Valhalla or to deny the Muslims their right and freedom to worship freely and to build a place of worship in the area,” Kader was quoted as saying.
“The proposed building does not interfere with the rights or beliefs of any religious groups.”
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