Over 5,000 people supported the Touwsriver Islamic Society (TIS) on Saturday at Ratanga Junction theme park in an effort to help raise funds to build a much needed mosque in the area. Whiile the day started out cloudy and chilly, it was sun and clear skies by after midday, as thousands rushed hrough the festival gates. VOC, Beital Ansar and Sherhood Park Special Care for children were some of the organizations present at the event.

According to TIS secretary and events coordinator Zubeida Abrahams, the event was a great success because of the community’s support. After struggling to get ticket sales going since November last year, organisers were excited to see the large amount of people that entered the park. As per usual, queues at Ratangs are usually long and tiresome, but they received no complaints from riders.

“Riders had to stand in the queue for about 30 minutes but it went very quick. People were also very grateful… when they saw us with the TIS bags they would stop us to thank us as it was some their first time at the theme park,” she said. Abrahams said they are considering making this an annual event due to public demand. She said everyone agreed TIS had set a bar for other organizations because Ratanga Junction has not been used as a venue for a Muslim organisation before.

“The cherry on top of the cake was when a couple approached the chairman because they wanted to embrace Islam at Ratanga Junction and we had to grab someone from the crowd to assist us with that. Another couple also got married after Asr,” Abrahams exclaimed.

TIS requested that all food stalls be halal with their certification and although there were people from various backgrounds, only one food stall catered unhalal meals, she added. She said Ratanga Junction provided the people with entertainment such as snake shows which is a daily routine for the theme park.

She said the event was a triumph judging by the amount of people that attended. However, this event alone would not make up the R280,000 needed to purchase the property to build the mosque and they will be planning more events in the future. Abrahams expressed much appreciation to VOC as she believes they could not have done the event without the stations help.

“As late as last week we were panicking as ticket sales were low and we didn’t see the break even point. The accomplishment of the event is because of the assistance of VOC and Cape Town Muslim Events,” she said. The correct figures will be available on Monday as Abrahams will be contacting Computicket and the theme park to determine the numbers and profits of the event. VOC (Tashneem Abrahams)