Mayor condemns bomb threat message sent to District Six mosque

07 May 2025

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has condemned a bomb threat message sent via cellphone to Al-Azhar Mosque in District Six.

‘My office has been in contact with SAPS who confirmed they are investigating a case of intimidation related to a bomb threat message issued via cellphone to the Al-Azhar Mosque in District Six.

‘I condemn the sinister motives behind this threatening message. Cape Town is a city of peace-loving people, where differences of faith and opinion are expressed loudly and fully, but always peacefully. Our city has a long and proud history of being a safe city for people of all religions to live and express their faith and traditions. For generations Capetonians of every faith and creed have lived side by side; and always show kindness, unity and generosity towards one another. Let us all commit ourselves to protecting and defending the best of that history.

‘We should all work to reject extremism and zealotry of any sort. We call on all faith communities to stand united in condemning such acts and to use their platforms to preach tolerance in a plural society.
 
‘This is a second unacceptable incident after an explosive device was thrown over the front wall of the Jewish Community Centre in Hatfield Street in December 2024. We call on SAPS to prioritise these investigations to ensure those responsible are brought to justice,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis

‘The City is actively supporting the investigation at the request of SAPS, including through our Safety & Security Investigative Unit (SSIU) and K9 unit. I have further referred this incident to Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and the SSIU in terms of our joint Safer Places of Worship project,' said Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office