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Sheikh Yusuf was exiled from his homeland and arrived at the Cape on 2 April 1694. He was housed along with his followers on the farm Zandvliet, at the mouth of the Eerste River. His settlement soon became a sanctuary for slaves. (1/6)
It was here that the first cohesive Islamic community in South Africa was established. From here the message of Islam was disseminated to the slave community of Cape Town. (2/6)
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Sheikh Yusuf (aka Abadin Tadia Tjoessoep) was born in 1626 in what is today Makassar, Indonesia. The Dutch and British East India Companies were fighting for control of the region due to its lucrative trade in spices and gold. (3/6)
He fought against the Dutch East India Company in the struggle to gain a trade monopoly. In 1684, Yusuf was persuaded to surrender on the promise of a pardon. The Dutch reneged on their promise and imprisoned him at the castle of Batavia. (4/6)
Suspecting that he would attempt escape, the Dutch transferred him to Ceylon in September that year. Later, he was banished to the Cape. Sheikh Yusuf passed away on 23 May 1699 at the age of 73. (5/6)
The area surrounding Zandvliet was renamed Macassar after his place of birth. He was buried on the hills of Faure, overlooking Macassar. A Kramat was constructed over his grave and receives many pilgrims. (6/6)
