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NPO. No: 043-346 |
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The Cape Mazaar Society was formed in January 1982 initially for the upgrade and maintenance of the Shrine of Sheikh Abdurahman Matura (R.A.) on Robben Island. However the name chosen “The Robben Island Mazaar (Kramat) Society” was rejected by the old Prison Authorities. Changing the name to “The Cape Mazaar Society” meant that we now had to look at all the Kramats in the Western Cape as custodians. Weekly visits to Robben Island, started in 1976 by one of the founder members Hajji Abdul Ratief Rawoot, continued. These visits were restricted to 10 people per Sunday and application had to be made ±6 weeks in advance. Our movements on the Island were restricted to the Kramat only and all baggage was thoroughly scanned. The Kramat on the Island was in a state of disrepair and through patient perseverance we managed to renovate the Shrine in 1983. Since then we undertook and completed 2 major and costly demolition and rebuilding projects and numerous minor refurbishment. Our booklet “Guide to Kramats of the Western Cape”, has been well received by both local and international visitors as well as residents of the Western Cape and is selling well into its 2nd and revised edition This booklet is a high quality publication with colour prints and brief historical sketches of the most popular Kramats of the Western Cape. Directional and location maps makes it easy for visitors to find the Shrines noting that most of the Kramats are located in natural sites or low population density area, we are committed to protect the ecology of the “Fairest Cape on Earth”. In 1996, we spearheaded the mass movement to halt the infamous development of Portion 7, below the Twelve Apostles on the Atlantic Sea board, overlooking Bakoven and Ouderkraal. This struggle will be continuing into the future and we may yet be called upon once again to mobilise our fellow residents to demonstrate our opposition to the discretion of many scores of graves located in these slopes. The Annual Death Anniversary celebrations of the Saint of Robben Island has grown from humble beginnings to gigantic proportions to date. At the first celebration only 20 participants were allowed on the Island. In September 2004, ± 600 visitors from all provinces of South Africa and a few from foreign lands participated. We are now in the process of compiling a comprehensive historical record of the Kramats of the Western Cape on Dvd and video cassettes. This will be made available to the public in the near future. |
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Web site designed and maintained by © AshiharaOnline November 2004 |
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Historic Video Production |
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Guidebook to the Kramats of the Western Cape |