Moulana killed, another injured in Cape Town mosque shooting

A moulana who was fatally shot after finishing his Ramadan prayers at a mosque in Cape Town last night has been described as an ‘inspiration’. Moulana Mustaqeem Wanza (33) belonged to the Salaamudien Masjid in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain. The incident occurred shortly after the completion of tarawih salaah, a special voluntary night prayer that is performed by Muslims during the month of Ramadan.

A member of the mosque, who declined to be named, says when the prayers were over, Wanza and a few others stayed behind to discuss preparations for the prayer today. “When the meeting had finished, we all left the mosque. I remember driving past Moulana Wanza while he was walking on the road with three other members of the mosque.

Moments later, I received a call informing me of the shooting,” says the man. He adds that Wanza died at the scene, while another man survived the shooting with gunshot wounds to his hand and the side of his body. “We are hoping the police investigation will give us some answers.

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We are currently observing Ramadan, and Moulana Wanza was a key member at the mosque, as he was a Qari [someone who recites the Quran],” he adds. He described Wanza as a well-known person in the community. “He was friendly and was seen as an inspiration to the youth,” he says.

The Muslim Judicial Council of South Africa passed their condolences to Wanza’s family and condemned the shooting. “We are shocked and grieved. There has been no respect shown to the sacredness of Ramadan, nor to those emerging from a sacred space. We condemn this act of violence in the strongest way,” says the organisation’s president, Sheikh Riad Fataar.

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