“One of the things that some communities have not realised is that demographics have changed in a lot of suburbs,” Ramokgopa said on Friday following his State of the City address.

“For example, Akasia used to be a predominantly Afrikaans community, with schools catering for that. I think now the population will be 70% black, so there is a need to accommodate other languages, but not by removing Afrikaans.”

Ramokgopa was referring to protests by some Valhalla residents after land was set aside to build a mosque. The area has been mainly Afrikaans, but now more than 200 Muslim families have moved in.

He said those opposing the move were just doing so out of prejudice.

“I’m convinced that it’s a small element that doesn’t want the Muslim community there. It borders on religious prejudice.”

Everyone had to be accommodated, he said. There were no problems when a mosque was built in Atteridgeville about 11 years ago. If there were enough Zion Christian Church members in the upmarket Waterkloof area, and there was a piece of open land, they would be allowed to worship on it, he said.

“The South Africa we want to build must be one of peaceful co-existence, but if they are too stubborn to understand that, then I guess this is not the place for them,” said Ramokgopa.