Ganief Hendricks | Leader of Al Jama-ah

The trustees of a mosque in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where explosive devices were discovered on Monday have labelled the incident an “attempted act of terrorism”.

They suspect the act is related to opposition to the establishment of a religious place of worship in the area.

This comes after two homemade explosive devices were found at Masjidur Rahman, Durban North.

KZN police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said the suspects threw the devices onto the premises and fled the scene after they were interrupted by a security vehicle patrolling the area.

“He immediately suspected that it was explosive devices and contacted the necessary authorities who in turn contacted police.

‘Act of terrorism’

Masjidur Rahman’s trustees said the mosque plays an important role in the community.

“Despite initial opposition to the mosque’s establishment, it has since become a symbol of community support, providing various services such as open day programs, social cohesion initiatives, and humanitarian aid during crises like the 2021 looting and water shortages.

“The Muslim community’s contributions to Durban North’s economy and social fabric have significantly mitigated earlier misunderstandings and stereotypes. This attempted act of terrorism therefore underscores a grave concern for the Durban North community,” the trustees said.