The fasting month of Ramadaan is a time of prayer and reflection, but for the small Muslim community in Tzaneen, Limpopo, the first fast ended with an incident that has left many shaken.
As worshippers were leaving the Taraweeh prayer at Masjid-e-Salam, the town’s only mosque, bottles believed to contain acid were thrown into the crowd. One man was injured in the eyes and leg and was taken to hospital.
“The Tzaneen Muslim community expresses deep concern and condemnation with regard to the events which unfolded on the evening of the 20th of February at 9:40 p.m.,” said Yasmeen Moosa, who is from the area and monitoring the legal proceedings. “As congregants were returning home… they were attacked by four youth wielding homemade acid bombs contained in water bottles. One man sustained injuries to his eyes and leg. He was taken to the nearest hospital.”
The matter was reported to police immediately, and top provincial officers are handling the investigation. But the community remains confused and frustrated over one key issue: why was one of the alleged attackers released without charges?
“Three of the teenagers ran off. One barricaded himself behind a security gate. Police were called, but it took hours for them to arrive,” Moosa explained. “The youth was taken into custody, but it is believed that he was released an hour later. To date, no arrests have been made.”
For decades, Muslims and non-Muslims have coexisted peacefully in Tzaneen, making the attack all the more unsettling.
“It is a diverse, multicultural society within which we live. There is no place for hatred,” Moosa said. “Members of the community have been called to practice dignity, respect and compassion in this trying time.”
The South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) has condemned the attack and is demanding that police treat it as a hate crime, meaning the investigation must be prioritised and cannot be treated as an ordinary petty crime.
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