Community mourns the tragic death of priest Moulana Mustaqeem Wantza

The death of priest Moulana Mustaqeem Wantza has sent shockwaves through the Muslim community and beyond after he was shot and killed shortly after leading the first Taraweeh prayer on the opening night of Ramadan.

Lentegeur Police spokesperson Constable Navon Van Houten said officers responded to a shooting in Candy Tuff Street, Lentegeur, at 10.55pm on Wednesday, February 18 ("Shooting incident claims the life of priest in Lentegeur" Plainsman February 19).

He said they found the 33-year-old lying in the street with a blanket covering his body. He had reportedly just left Salaamudien Masjid when the incident occurred.

Provincial police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala confirmed that no arrests have been made and that the investigation is ongoing. The motive remains under investigation.

Hundreds gathered in Portland on Friday, February 20, for his janazah, where family, friends, and community members paid their final respects.

His widow, Fatima Essa Wantza, 29, dressed in black, struggled to speak through her tears.

“Mustaqeem was a brilliant husband and father to my children. I cannot speak bad about him. He lived for the word of the Qur’an and for Allah. He dedicated his life to reciting and teaching it,” she said.

“Nothing can replace the pain my children and I feel. I am not getting my husband back. My children are not getting their father back,” she said.

The couple’s children, two boys aged 11 and 8, and a girl, 3, are processing the loss in different ways.

“The eldest understands what is going on. The middle one has not fully grasped it yet. The youngest keeps asking where he is. They were used to him always being there,” she said.

This year would have marked the couple’s 11th wedding anniversary and Mr Wantza’s birthday on July 2.

She asked the community to keep her family in their prayers as they face life without him.

“May Allah grant him Jannatul Firdous. May Allah make it easy on him,” she said.

Community activist Amelia 'Tara' September said she attended the janazah because Mr Wantza represented faith, unity, and service to the community.

“This responsibility of building and guiding a community should not rest on one person alone. We all have a role to play,” she said.

Michael Jacobs, chairperson of the Lentegeur Community Police Forum, condemned the killing of Moulana Mustaqeem Wantza.

"This is totally unacceptable,” he said.

He urged residents to assist police with information that could help identify those responsible.

“Moulana Wantza was a leader in our community and a role model in the faith. The perpetrators must be brought to book, and justice must be served,” he said.

Acting imam for Ramadan, Ustadh Muhsin Ahmad Sulaiman, said Salaamudien Masjid was in shock following the news of the killing. The mosque extended condolences to the family and urged residents not to spread unverified information while authorities conduct a full investigation.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the investigating officer on 072 862 0185.

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