As-Salaam alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh, Peace and Blessings of Almighty Allah (God) be upon you, your family and friends.

My name is Moegamad Amien Jardien and for the last 20 years I have served as an Imam of a small Muslim community situated along Jakes Gerwel Drive, Rocklands, Mitchells Plain. This community forms part of the larger Muslim community in Mitchells Plain which has the largest concentration of Muslims in South Africa in a residential township.

Muslims in Mitchells Plain have always enjoyed good relations with neighbours, family and friends of other religious denominations and faiths. Hence, even the toils and struggles of the past were shared and the subsequent contributions by Muslims to uplift and benefit the broader community has not gone unnoticed. In an area called The Westridge, all the streets are named after Imams and community workers that historically, made a difference in the lives of the communities they served.

Imams are exceptional servants of the people and the experience of living in their respective communities still need to be told. I do however would like to express their opinions and experiences as well as that of community members, family and friends, not forgetting to add my two pennies. Whilst I have been part of this fraternity and brotherhood, it does not mean that my service or efforts in the community are praiseworthy because it could also have had no value to the people I served and therefore I ask that Almighty Allah forgive my shortcomings and defects. I also ask you the reader do not be to harsh of my weaknesses and I wish to remind you that we all are human beings.