Cape Town marked a historic moment on Wednesday with the foundation-laying of the city’s first Muslim mortuary at Mowbray Cemetery. The facility, dedicated to the storage and preparation of bodies according to Islamic burial rites, will serve purely as a storage space and will not conduct autopsies.
Faizal Sayed, Chairman of the Muslim Cemetery Board and Secretary of the Burial Administration of the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), said the mortuary will initially offer eight storage spaces, with plans to expand as the community’s needs grow.
“The mortuary is for the Muslim community, and it doesn’t matter if you’re going to be buried in Mowbray or elsewhere. This facility is required in Cape Town and will serve the whole Muslim community,” Sayed explained.
He added that construction and technical installations, including refrigeration systems, are expected to be completed by April next year.
“We hope there are no hiccups, but we’re on track,” he said.
Addressing attendees, MJC President Sheikh Riad Fataar described the project as a milestone for the city’s Muslim community.
“For years, we’ve faced the challenge of having a dignified space for those who have passed. This facility will ensure proper care in line with our faith,” he said.
Sheikh Fataar emphasized the practical benefits of the new mortuary:
“Bodies that previously had to be kept for long periods in other mortuaries can now be properly cared for here. This collaboration between the MJC and Mowbray Cemetery will benefit our community for many years to come.”
The mortuary represents a significant step in addressing the specific needs of Cape Town’s Muslim community and ensuring that religious burial practices can be observed with dignity and respect.
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