History

The mosque, which is the oldest in Port Elizabeth, was built to accommodate the city's expanding Muslim population because they previously had to travel to Uitenhage for Friday prayers. According to reports, the project ran out of money approximately halfway through construction and could only be finished thanks to the Sultan of Turkey's donation.

Urban and Architectural

the building has a single symmetrical main elevation, rectangular plan shaped with a central minaret. 

Description

The grandson of Sultan Nabier, Imam Jabaarudien, also referred to as Abdul Maalick or Jan Bardien, arrived in Uitenhage around 1815. In the 1840s, he constructed Masjid-Al-Qudama, the first mosque. The Grace Street Mosque was constructed in Port Elizabeth in 1855 because the Muslims who had immigrated there had to travel by oxwagon on a Thursday night to attend Friday prayers at the mosque.

References

https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/calls-for-eastern-capes-masjid-ul-akbar-mosque-to-be-declared-heritage-site/

http://www.artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/bldgframes.php?bldgid=13711

https://earth.google.com/web/search/Masjid+ul-Akbar,+Grace+Street,+Port+Elizabeth+Central,+Gqeberha,+South+Africa/@-33.96061352,25.62294557,18.10361584a,48.78663899d,35y,319.69135462h,0t,0r/data=CigiJgokCTrdbeg3jTzAEceW3nWXxkHAGc7VUA3Msj1AIXq97TbjzyJA

https://portelizabethdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-oldest-mosque-in-port-elizabeth.html