South Africa: ANC condemns desecration of Muslim graves

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Wednesday strongly condemned the desecration of a Muslim cemetery in Mowbray, a suburb of Cape Town.

The act was not only barbaric but also a provocation against the Muslim community, the party said in a statement.

At least 80 Muslim gravestones were desecrated late Tuesday night and placed in a cross formation.

"We share the deep pain felt by families whose departed loved ones have been violated in such a raw and heartless manner," the ANC said.

The party also commended the affected families and Muslim community for exercising restraint in the face of the provocation.

Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela -- a grandson of the late South African President Nelson Mandela, member of Parliament and traditional leader -- also condemned the incident.

"We condemn in the strongest terms the desecration of the Mowbray Muslim cemetery. The violation of this sacred space is an evil act and an offence of not only religious sensibility but violations of the values of peace, respect and dignity accorded to all citizens by our constitution," he said in a statement released Wednesday by the Royal House of the Mandelas.

Mandla, who embraced Islam in 2016, said South Africans can never allow agent provocateurs to spread hatred, incite reciprocal violence and disturb the positive interfaith relations that prevail in South Africa's nascent democracy.

He appealed to the authorities to leave no stone unturned in dealing with this matter.