…herewith some of the comments from the Laudium Sun Facebook page

With the recent adjusted level 4 lockdown  being imposed due to the rapid spread of Covid-19 and the new Delta variant, schools, public libraries, gyms and restaurants, religious places, etc, remain closed during this period. The closing of mosques has once more caused a controversy locally with those supporting the keeping of mosques open despite the high number of Covid-19 cases being reported daily whilst others believe that the lockdown should be respected in every way, including keeping mosques and other religious places closed. This was evident when the Laudium Sun posted a video, sent by a reader, on our Facebook page, of a mosque being open on Main Road in Erasmia last week, where a number of cars are seen, parked outside the mosque during prayer time. There have also been numerous other reports of cars seen at the mosque on other subsequent occasions, during prayer time.

The Laudium Sun also stated on the same Facebook page, the following..

The Laudium Sun appeals to residents to adhere to health protocols, if not for yourself, at least do it for the elderly & those with comorbidities.

*39 Muslims passed on in just one day, Friday, 2 July, due to Covid-19, with 22 deaths from Gauteng alone. The total deaths in the whole country was 303 for Friday. Muslims make up about 2% of the population, but the death rate of Muslims for the day was about 13%. Do we talk about it, or should we bury the facts ?

Khadija Essa: “The person who took this video should drive around the streets of Erasmia and Laudium and take a video of how the kids are playing in groups in the street with no masks, how friends are hanging out at shops smoking vape, how the ques are at shops with no social distancing, how White Blocks has gatherings the  whole day with people wearing no masks…. Then worry about a place of worship, where our only hope is left… Of which protocols are adhered to and short period of time is spent… Double standards I tell you and this was not a social gathering or party it was a moment of prayer…”

Saadiya Ahmed: “Doctors and nurses are pleading with people to stay at home but you want to further burden them when you can pray at home. Tie your camel, it’s a pandemic. Why take precautions in the first place if all you go by is faith? Allah (SWT) has given us the power to think what is right and what is wrong, it has nothing to do with yaqeen but with common sense. Even Mecca and Madina closed for a period of time. Are you aware of how this virus is spread? If you want to surrender yourself to the virus, then that’s on you, but did you think about all those who didn’t ask for it but could be infected if they come into contact with a person who contracted the virus at the Musjid? Isn’t that being selfish, knowing full well you can read from home? Already the Muslim community is being looked down upon in SA by people who are saying we want special treatment and we think we are above everyone else because we don’t want to follow the rules. Don’t give the rest of SA a reason for them to fault us on.”

Shazia Goolam: “Which spiteful person took this video? Please pass by [at the local supermarkets] as well as other shopping centers where there are above 50 people in one spot. What’s the difference??”

Prithi Prav Shah: “This is unacceptable.”

Farhana Skattie: “Please take note that while we shop [at the local supermarket], we wear masks and sanitize and social distance. If you go there to the madressah, you will find not a single person wearing a mask. No sanitization is put in place. The children physically interact with each other, with no care for their health or those around them. I have been there and was the only one with a mask and my own sanitiser. Shifa comes from Allah, but Allah helps those who help themselves and no one said don’t pray, but when you can’t adhere to protocols as Moulana loves to use that word to con others such as my kids, then he too must face the law. If we are seen without a mask, we will get a criminal record, isn’t it?  It is a crime to put kid’s lives at risk. If you believe that it’s OK to have a madressah full of kids and no health protection, then enroll your kid there.”

Shaheen Mahomed: “This is such selfish behaviour!!!”

Ayesha Essack: “Some fellow Muslims have handled this pandemic in a disgusting manner. That is wrong. The above video is proof of arrogant and selfish behavior.”

Sivy Naidoo: “Irresponsible behaviour. Maybe they don’t understand English; please you are putting the community at risk!”

Zaheer Ahmad Zaheer: “Wake up before it’s too late!”

Fatima Hafeez: “It is management’s responsibility to close down mosques. People are just stupid.”

Aliya Cassim: “This is the reason why we as a community are burying so many people. Selfish, ridiculous behavior that is simply un-Islamic. No religion tolerates putting people’s lives at risk and gambling with human life. These types of actions need to be condemned, in the strongest possible terms by our leaders. Those who are knowingly and willingly prepared to make other people sick, Covid or no Covid, should be locked up and face prosecution. This is wrong.”

Sharon Naidoo: “So irresponsible. Super spreaders!!!”

Nausheen Mahomed: “Can the person that sent this video please be so kind as to send us videos of [supermarkets] and all shopping stores when they are extremely busy. Seems as though the virus knows where the shops are and stays away. And only appears at the places of worship.”