Al-Waagah Islamic Institute for the Deaf is currently seeking a new premises after the institute was given notice by the landlord of the property that they are currently occupying. The institute has been located on the premise for nearly ten years.

Public relations officer and fundraiser for Al- Waagah Institute, Sherina Lagardien says that the lease is about to expired and none of the two parties involved knew that there was an expiry date on the lease, given that the institution initially dealt with the now deceased father of the family who owns the property.

The institution and owners of the property came to know of the expiry date after the institution requested funding from government.

The lease agreement was a requirement for the funding application and it was then that the institution noticed that the agreement will expire at the end of November this year.

“It is of vital importance for us, because our deaf need a place to come to. We do such great services at that office.  They come there, because they need to interact with other deaf people. Our long-term plan initially always was that we needed to get a premise of our own,” Largardien stated.

She argues that it is ‘sad’ that after 300 years of the existence of Islam in South Africa no institutions for the deaf and disabled have been established within the Muslim community, barring Al-Waagah.

“Our children are at deaf schools with a catholic ethos. Our children receive secular education… [and] our children only know the bible, because it’s a catholic school,” Largardien added.

She also assures the public that there is no animosity between the institution and the property owners.

“I want to make it very clear to the public that there was no [animosity], between Al-Waagah and the family,” Lagardien affirmed.

If you know of a property that would be ideal for the Al-Waagah institute, you may contact their office on 021 6383368 or email info.alwaagah@gmail.com.

VOC (Ra-ees Moerat)