Hawzah News Agency - (Joburg - South Africa) - Kicks flew and car tyres were slashed as Muslims came under attack from other residents at a Midrand estate in Joburg over a sheep and bull being prepared for slaughter to celebrate a religious ceremony.
Ayman Fareed, a resident of Saddlebrook Estate in Midrand, described the “violent” attempt to block the slaughter of 6 sheep and a bull as “racist and anti-Islam”.
Two Muslim families live at the upmarket estate in Kyalami, and Fareed said one of the families was prevented from celebrating the religious holiday on Monday.
Eid is a holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide as it marks Eid-ul-Adha, the Muslim celebration at the conclusion of the Hajj (pilgrimage). “This was our first year living at the estate; the other family didn’t do it (celebrate the holiday) because they were afraid to be the odd ones out,” said Fareed.
Fareed said the trouble started at around 6.20am when the vehicles transporting the animals for the feast reached the estate. Minutes later, he said, 10 to 15 cars blockaded the entrance.
He said estate management then suggested they use another entrance.
“My wife was driving in when a white Hilux bakkie intentionally blocked her off. We were literally shut off from our home at both gates,” he said.
She resorted to going home through the boom gate of the complex. As she entered a car rammed into her. She stopped to inspect the damage and the bakkie driver came out wielding an army knife and slashed the tyres of the trailer transporting the animals.
Fareed said he and the bakkie driver almost exchanged blows, but fortunately police arrived and intervened.
The slaughtering eventually took place under police guard. The estate’s board of directors confirmed that Fareed was granted permission to conduct the religious slaughter of animals on his premises. The board condemned the actions of the residents who tried to prevent the Muslim family from practising their religion.
“Representatives of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) visited the resident’s premises and advised that they were suitable for the ceremony,” the board told The Star yesterday. “It came to the attention of the board, ahead of the event, that a minority of residents objected to the SPCA permission being granted.”
The board revealed that those who had complained threatened to obtain an interdict preventing the ceremony from proceeding.
“The interdict was not sought. Early on Monday morning, some residents used their vehicles to block entrances to the estate in an attempt to prevent access for the car bringing the animals for the ceremony,” it said. “A series of altercations, some resulting in injury and damage to property, took place.