The City of Cape Town supports and welcomes the South African Heritage Resources Agency’s intention to declare the first ten Kramats – tombs referred to as the Circle of Islam – as a National Heritage Site.
The Kramats are located in Macassar, Simon’s Town, Mowbray, Oudekraal, Signal Hill, and Constantia.
‘We welcome this imminent declaration. The recognition of the cultural significance of the Circle of Tombs is long overdue. By declaring the Circle of Tombs a National Heritage Site, we acknowledge the unique legacy associated with the history of Islam in South Africa, and the struggle for religious tolerance. Cape Town is home to a diverse, unique and rich culture and every community contributes and adds to this richness. Our diversity should be celebrated and honoured. I’m looking forward to the SAHRA’s declaration,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.
The ten sites that are under consideration for this declaration are as follows:
- Sheikh Yusuf, Macassar
- Tuan Dea Koasa and Tuan Ismail Dea Malela, Simon’s Town
- Sheikh A ibn Muhammad Allraqi, Mowbray
- Sayed Moegsien bin Alawieal Aidarus, Mowbray
- Sheikh Noorul Mubeen, Oudekraal
- Sheikh Mohamed Hassen GhailbieShah, Signal Hill
- Tuan Kaape-ti-low, Signal Hill
- Abdurahman Matebe Shah, Constantia
- Sayed Mahmud, Constantia
- Sheikh Abdul Mutalib, Constantia Forest
Once declared a National Heritage Site, the Circle of Tombs will be protected in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act. In terms of the NHRA no person may destroy, damage, deface, excavate, alter, remove from its original position, subdivide or change the planning status of any heritage site without a permit from the SAHRA.
The ‘Circle of Islam’ or ‘Circle of Tombs’ is formed by the shrines of Islamic Saints, the tombs of the Auliyah (Friends of Allah) and some of South Africa’s most influential spiritual leaders.
The Kramats are also referred to as Mazaars, and are sacred places that represent the advent of Islam to Southern Africa, and are symbolic of the resistance against religious, social and political oppression and intolerance.