Development of Our New Institute
Project Overview
The new institute will consist of an 8000 m² two-storey School Building (which includes a masjid, library, ablution facilities, 40 bedrooms, 20 classrooms, and admin offices) and a 2100 m² two-storey Dining Building (which includes a dining area, large kitchen, cold room store, and recreation area). The project is estimated to cost approximately R152M in total – inclusive of Provisional Sums, Preliminaries, Building Contingencies, Contract Escalations, Professional Fees Allowance, and VAT. Construction of the School and Dining Buildings will cost approximately R112M, of which the Masjid constitutes around R17M.
Our Current Institute
Our New Institute
Phase 2 – Stage 1: Substructure & Ground Floor
Phase 2: School Building East Wing
Total Funds Invested in Project
* As at 1 April 2025
Work Completed
AlḥamduliLlāh, our building plan has been approved by council, which concluded Phase 1 (the pre-construction phase) of the project. As part of Phase 1, the land was acquired, rezoned, and the development contribution and scrutiny fees paid. Majority of the initial and underground civil work was also completed, which included site preparation, bulk earthworks, and the installation of water, stormwater, sewerage, and cabling networks. Majority of the front boundary wall has also been built and the rear fencing erected. We have recently also developed the electrical plans.
Work In Progress
We have now progressed to Phase 2, which comprises the construction of the East Wing of the School Building and will be able to accommodate our current student body. This will allow us to move to our new premises the soonest. However, our approved building plan is only valid for 12 months; thus, we have until latest April 2025 to raise the funds to commence construction. We have cleared the site and excavated the foundation trenches. Pouring of the foundation to commence once sufficient funds has been raised.
This is an ideal opportunity to establish a Ṣadaqah Jāriyah (continuous charity) on behalf of yourself or your loved ones (both alive and deceased). May Allah SWT accept all our efforts, Āmīn.
Donations
Project Phases
PHASE 1
R11.6M ($644K)
Land Acquisition, Design, Engineering, Civils, Plan Approval
PHASE 2
R27.2M ($1.51M)
School Building East Wing
PHASE 3
R16.9M ($939K)
Masjid
PHASE 4
R9.84M ($547K)
Library, Offices, Staff Room, Entrance
PHASE 5
R27.2M ($1.51M)
School Building West Wing
PHASE 6
R15.7M ($873K)
Kitchen, Cold-Room Store, Recreation Area
PHASE 7
R14.9M ($827K)
Mass Dining Hall, Additional Boarding
PHASE 8
R14.4M ($800K)
Remainder of Civil and Roadworks, Paving
PHASE 9
R14.1M ($783K)
Optional Extras
Phase 2 Construction
STAGE 1
R3.39M ($188K)
Substructure and Ground Floor Construction
STAGE 2
R5.28M ($293K)
Structural Frame
STAGE 3
R7.99M ($444K)
Roof and External Envelope
STAGE 4
R7.25M ($403K)
Internal Divisions, Plumbing, Electrical, Fire Services, Ventilation, Ceilings, etc.
STAGE 5
R3.31M ($184K)
Internal Wall and Floor Finishes
Background
Dār al-ʿUlūm al-ʿArabiyyah al-Islāmiyyah was founded in 1996. During the first five years of its existence, it operated from rented residential premises in Croydon, Faure. Growth in numbers created the need for alternative premises, and in 2000 a 4.5-hectare piece of land was found in Firlands, Helderberg. A 1000 m² temporary structure was erected on this land and subdivided into classrooms, an office, library, muṣallā-cum-dining area, ablution block, dormitory, and kitchen.
During the 23 years that the institute has been at this premises it has never owned the land. In addition, all attempts at having the land rezoned for development of permanent structures were met with failure, mainly on account of the lack of municipal services (water and sewage systems) in the area.
To this date, the institute still does not have access to clean running water and water for drinking and cooking purposes must be trucked in regularly. Similarly, sewage has to be trucked from the premises. Borehole water – which is unfit for human consumption – has been used for ablution and sanitation purposes for the past 23 years.
Many funds had to be depleted towards environmental impact assessments and rezoning applications before it became unambiguously clear that rezoning the land remains unfeasible until large-scale development comes to the area – which isn’t expected to happen anytime soon.
Our New Premises
When it eventually became apparent that the rezoning of the land which the institute has occupied for 23 years [and continues to occupy today] would not be feasible due to municipal obstacles, a search for new premises in the Helderberg basin was undertaken. We lost the opportunity to acquire two pieces of land situated on Gustrouw Road near Gordon’s Bay, and of similar size to the land we presently occupy, when the funds for the acquisition could not be raised in time.
Recently, additional pieces of land became available in the vicinity of the current premises – these were some of the last pieces of land still available in the area. We entered negotiations for land portions 5297, 5298 and 5299 as illustrated below, and successfully acquired portion 5297 for R4,250,000.
Portion 5297 is just under 4.3 hectares large and is located adjacent to Greenbay Eco-Estate – a new, modern residential apartment complex developed by Balwin Properties. It is located 1.3 km from Gordon’s Bay Mall, 2.5 km from the N2 highway, and 2.7 km from Gordon’s Bay Beach.
Donate to the Development of Our New Institute
The development of our new institute is a massive undertaking, both in scale and cost. Therefore, this project requires a collective effort and collaboration with all who are able to assist Inshā’Allāh. Please feel free to download and share our Fundraising Brochure with family, friends, and colleagues to assist us in this undertaking and share in the reward Inshā’Allāh.