Public outcry following vandalism of sacred burial site

There has been public outrage after a designated national heritage site at the Mowbray Cemetery was broken into and vandalised by criminals. 

The Kramat of Sayed Moegsin Bin Alawi was severely vandalised on Tuesday evening. 

A kramat, also known as a mazaar, is a shrine or tomb of a revered Muslim holy person, particularly prominent in South Africa. These shrines are places of pilgrimage and respect for Muslim communities, often marking the graves of individuals who played a significant role in the early spread of Islam in the region. 

The Moslem Cemetery Board condemned the actions and stated this incident follows another theft where the katal, the bier used for the transportation of deceased persons, was stolen from the same premises just weeks ago. 

“The confluence of these incidents reveals an emerging pattern of targeted criminality that strikes at the core of religious reverence, heritage preservation, and communal dignity.

"It must be emphasised that these violations occurred despite the recent implementation of comprehensive and high-level security upgrades across the Mowbray Cemetery precinct,” the board said. 

CCTV cameras, advanced motion-sensitive alarm systems, and additional burglar bars have not seemed to deter criminals

The damages to the Kramat include the damage and removal of burglar bars, removal of ceiling cornices, light fittings, wiring, and all electrical fittings, removal of the grave covering, and leaving the area in disarray.

The Moslem Cemetery Board said it immediately engaged the police, the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), and the Cape Mazaar Society (CMS) to ensure that the incident is investigated and prosecuted.

It said such conduct constitutes a violation of basic property and criminal statutes and is prosecutable under the National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999, given the status of the site as a protected national heritage landmark.

Chairman of the Moslem Cemetery Board and Secretary of the Burial Administration of the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), Faizal Sayed, said the desecration represents a breach of physical security and a violation of the moral and cultural compact that underpins a civilised society. 

“The calculated intrusion upon such a sanctified space signals a deeper societal malaise, an alarming erosion of reverence for sanctity, cultural heritage, and the inviolability of death. The theft of the katal, followed by this incident, depicts a pattern of conduct that warrants rigorous criminal investigation and compels urgent civic reflection on how we, as a society, uphold the dignity of the deceased and preserve the sacred architecture of collective memory,” Sayed said. 

Advocate Yusuf Khan Dalwai of the Cape Mazaar society said that they are saddened and shocked at the incident.

“This is not only vandalism of a sacred site but an attack on our community. We call on the authorities to do a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said. 

The MJC said it viewed this act as a violation of sacred space and as a flagrant affront to religious and cultural sensibilities, an attack on the moral sanctity of the dead, and a disruption of public peace in direct contravention of South African laws protecting religious sites and heritage institutions.

President of the MJC, Sheikh Riad Fataar, said the incident is extremely troubling. 

“The Kramat of Sayed Moegsin Bin Alawi is not only a site of Islamic significance, but a repository of the collective memory of the Muslim community of South Africa. We urge the authorities to investigate this matter with the seriousness it demands, and we call upon all communities to treat our burial sites and sacred spaces with the reverence they deserve,” Fataar said. 

The Moslem Cemetery Board has called on the public, faith-based organisations, civil society bodies, and local residents to remain vigilant and consider the preservation of sacred burial spaces. 

“While infrastructure and enforcement mechanisms are essential, the enduring protection of such sites depends equally on communal consciousness, moral restraint, and active public cooperation.

“We urge any member of the public with knowledge of or information relating to the recent incident to contact the relevant authorities immediately. The dignity of the deceased, the preservation of sanctity, and the continuity of our historical memory demand nothing less,” the board added. 

Anyone with information on the incident can anonymously contact Crime Stop on 0860010111, or use the MySaps app.

Cape Times