Evolving Socio-Spatial Presence of Islam in Johannesburg

Abstract

Muslims constitute less than 3% of the population of Johannesburg but have a prominent socio-spatial presence in Johannesburg today. The earliest Muslims in the city were "Cape Muslims/Malays" and "Indian Muslims" who settled in Malay Location and Coolie Location respectively. Prayer facilities were established in Ferreirastown, Kerk Street and Newtown, marking their public presence of Islam in downtown Johannesburg. During the colonial/apartheid era, Muslims were forcibly settled in racially-defined ghettoes on the periphery of the core city. The changes worught by the advent of democracy in South Africa in 1994, witnessed an increasingly hetergeneous Muslim community in terms of race, nationality and class coupled with a significant dispersal of Muslims across the city. The presentation encompasses research being undertaken on the evolution of the Muslim presence in Johannesburg; an analysis of the contemporary socio-spatial presence of Muslims; the demography and geography of Muslims in the city; and s case studies on specific localities where the socio-spatial presence is being played out currently.