Nelson Mandela International Day holds a special place in our hearts as we honour the incredible legacy of Madiba and the values he championed. This day promotes the importance of service to mankind, providing a platform to amplify voices and actions
In 2023, Al Jama-ah has chosen the theme “Climate, Food & Solidarity” to address crucial issues that impact our society. In this blog, we delve into Al Jama-ah’s commemoration of this significant day, shedding light on their efforts to promote sustainable practices and cultivate a sense of unity and solidarity among communities.
As we remember Nelson Mandela, we are reminded of his remarkable life and achievements. He dedicated his life to fighting for social justice and equality, leaving an indelible mark on the world. Mandela’s unwavering commitment to peace, forgiveness, and inclusivity continues to inspire and guide us today.
In our current times, addressing climate change has become more urgent than ever before. Al Jama-ah recognizes the importance of promoting sustainable practices to protect our environment for the well-being of future generations. By adopting eco-friendly initiatives and advocating for renewable energy sources, we can mitigate the effects of climate change and safeguard our planet. These actions not only align with Mandela’s vision but will serve as a catalyst for sustainable practices.
Access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food is a fundamental human right. Al Jama-ah acknowledges the pressing need to ensure food security for all South Africans, especially the most vulnerable members of society. By raising awareness about food scarcity, supporting local farmers, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices, we can work towards a future where no one goes hungry.
In a diverse society like ours, fostering solidarity and unity among different communities is vital. Al Jama-ah understands the power of collaboration and mutual support in creating a harmonious society. By organizing community events, cultural exchanges, and dialogues, we can break down barriers, build bridges, and celebrate our shared humanity.
Commemorating Nelson Mandela International Day goes beyond mere reflection; it calls for action. Al Jama-ah encourages individuals and communities to take practical steps towards positive change. Planting trees, reducing waste, supporting local businesses, volunteering, and engaging in peaceful activism are just a few ways we can contribute to climate action, food security, and solidarity.
In conclusion, through their commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day, Al Jama-ah exemplifies their unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable practices, addressing food security, and promoting solidarity in South Africa. By aligning themselves with the principles and values espoused by Nelson Mandela himself, Al Jama-ah serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring individuals and communities to come together, protect our planet, and build a brighter future for all.
Al Jama-ah has been working hard in selected cities and several villages around the country; the purpose is to not just extend its footprints but to assist nearby and far-flung communities that wallow in poverty and that encounter joblessness. The party’s leader, Hon M. G. E Hendricks demonstrated his passion in wanting to not only change lives but also transform environments.
He and his party members have assisted KZN’s Groutville community setting up a small peanut butter industry; Eastern Cape’s Mpame village securing a fishing vessel to help the community establishing a fishing hamlet; Western Cape’s District Six claimants getting their keys; and together they went to KZN’s Claridge’s to monitor an already productive farm that intends to be part of a series of such locations that would supply communities with vegetables and other items.
But whilst the party busies itself with these village communities, it identified more than 60 villages that it plans to transform with the communities’ input and government aid. Many have organized youth activities such as football and netball to entertain them on 16 June but, at the same time, develop networks that would be the party’s potential support structures.
Amidst these developments, it has been in touch with religious fraternities too with the idea of gaining support from non-traditional associations. Generally, many theological bodies such as KZN’s Jami’at ul Ulama and the Cape-based Muslim Judicial Council have not been willing to publicly endorse Al Jama-ah as a viable political platform; their members were, ironically, more than prepared to join the Zionist-aided DA. Though Al Jama-ah demonstrated its ability to lead and legislate on the Muslim Marriage Bill and related Acts, these theological bodies showed their readiness to accept destructive whispering (fitna) from disgruntled individuals instead of giving it a hearing!
Anyhow, Al Jama-ah met with KZN’s African Sunni Ulema (ASU) that have since thrown their weight behind it because of what they witnessed over the past months. They observed that it managed to appoint one of its councillors as the City of Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor; as soon as the larger parties (such as ActionSA, DA, and PA) – along with untrustworthy media institutions – undermined him, it selected another candidate. As a result, Al Jama-ah made further headlines illustrating its mettle. These developments spurred ASU to adopt Al Jama-ah as its home and it thus wishes to announce that the nation should watch the space for more socio-political developments.
While these have taken place, it chose to contest the Johannesburg by-elections in Ward 7 that consists of Ennerdale and Finetown respectively. Though the campaign started off well, it seems that the ‘bigger’ political players disrespect the IEC regulations. As a result, Al Jama-ah’s candidate, Mr. Mxolisi Vuma’s life was threatened whilst campaigning; and, on top of that, party posters were defaced and its campaign team was attacked!
Al Jama-ah’s candidate has been an active community worker who demonstrated commitment in wanting to return the communities’ dignity; it seems that the other parties are concerned that he will pip their candidates at the polls on 28 June 2023. Well, Al Jama-ah feels confident that he might do that; and if he does, it wants to underline that it is ‘a trusted party’ that will serve and deliver!
After 30 years of Islam in South Africa, the Al Jama-ah Political Party garnered enough votes from the Muslim community (and others). This thriving and growing party has a Member of Parliament, a Member in the Western Cape Legislature, an Executive Mayor in the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), and councillors in six provinces in South Africa.
The party has made history when it was invited to lead political parties that formed the majority, to lead them in the CoJ. This Metro is not only the largest financial hub in South Africa, but in the whole of Africa and is the most important city on this continent.
This task to lead the CoJ is indeed a great honour for Muslims in South Africa. South African Muslims are known for its generosity, charitable nature, and for leading in serving good causes throughout the country and internationally.
Alhamdulilah (all praises to the Almighty) that the Al Jama-ah councillor in CoJ, Imam Thapelo Abubakr Amad has been elected as the Executive Mayor of the CoJ. As Mayor, Imam Amad has the enormous task and responsibility to run a City which was left in debt (in the millions) by several former Mayors.
He now needs his party, Al Jama-ah to throw its full weight behind his office by providing the expertise of the best minds and thought leaders in the Muslim community. The support Al Jama-ah pledges to his office, includes resources to alleviate poverty by creating jobs.
To assist the party with this venture, it needs R5 million which will further enable the party to assist in the future governing of other Metros and municipalities. The party calls on every Muslim in South Africa to help raise the R5 million.
To take the lead in raising the funds, Al Jama-ah has appointed the well-known Riaz Randeree to set the ball rolling in raising R5 million, Insha -Allah. Al Jama-ah has also appointed the son of martyr Imam Abdullah Haron, Professor Muhammed Haron as its CEO.
Hon Ganief Hendricks, the party’s leader and Member of Parliament has moved the party’s National Constituency Office to Gandhi Square in Johannesburg to provide Imam Amad with maximum support.
Address: Suit 103,first floor,Old High Court North,Ghandi Square.
EVERY R100 IS WELCOME! EVERY MILLION RAND AS A DONATION IS WELCOME!
Support AL JAMA-AH’s fundraising efforts.
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Branch code: 198765
Al Jama-ah’s Imam Alderman Abu Bakr Thapelo Amad’s Appointment as City of Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor
Did any of our political pundits ever imagine that Al Jama-ah – a little-known party – would have one of its leading Gauteng members awarded the covetous mayoral seat of one of Africa’s largest City? Nay, this was never given any serious thought and nor did anyone predict publicly that this would happen.
Despite it being a small South African political party, Al JAMA-AH strategically positioned itself playing a crucial role in the political landscape; it has been doing that in two of its main provinces (namely, Gauteng and Western Cape) or in numerous outlying villages (in KZN and the Eastern Cape) where it is making a meaningful difference to those communities. Having made soft political strides over the past few years (circa 2019-2022), AL JAMA-AH impressed many with its activities and co-opted as a proactive partner to bring positive change.
Considering these developments and fast-tracking to the beginning of 2023, AL JAMA-AH had already geared itself to co-govern the City of Johannesburg. So, when discussions were underway during the first round among the minority bloc that consisted of a dozen parties in that city, the Party nominated Imam Alderman Abu Bakr Thapelo Amad as the Executive Mayor. Other nominations included the Speaker as well as a sole member of another party; the latter was hell bent on getting the post.
Imam Amad, however, stood down followed by the Cope Speaker to keep the bloc intact. A surprise further nomination was AL JAMA-AH’s Ward Cllr from Lenasia. In the second round, the Parties (with the numbers) wanted Imam Amad. And President Gayton McKenzie of Patriotic Front interestingly told “ma se kind to step down”. With Imam Amad’s selection and eventual appointment, it may be argued that he basically ousted Dr. Phalatse who was Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor that governed by thoughtlessly supporting the Zionist state of apartheid Israel.’
It was, moreover, not easy to get the ANC on board during that period; one faction in the ANC’s NEC wanted to know who AL JAMA-AH was. In response, the ANC’s Provincial secretary rebuked them saying, “If you don’t know the Muslim party you do not know the ANC and the stalwarts of the liberation movement. Attention focused to AL JAMA-AH’s leader and dissidents were told.” He added that that leader is ‘Mr Silver bullet’! He should, furthermore, have elaborated that Hon. Hendricks introduced the revolutionary model of co-governance into coalition politics.
Nonetheless, the City of Johannesburg is the start of the ANC sharing power and this timeous as the country is inching its way towards the National and Provincial 2024 elections. According to Hon. Hendricks, more than half-dozen parties asked AL JAMA-AH to provide leadership; this amanat (trust), which was accepted by him, was for the Johannesburg’s ummah (community) to decide and approve; they should readily take over this power position helping Johannesburg to develop into a digitalized, smart city.
AL JAMA-AH’s constant shura (consultation) will play a central role among the parties when the Executive Mayor (and his team) works towards completing tasks within the first 100 days; so, the parties’ election promises, which requested the Executive Mayor to lead, should be actualized. For the record, at the parliamentary memorial service of Dr Frene Ginwala AL JAMA-AH’s MP made a bond statement: “AL JAMA-AH is no one’s pawn, as we lead in Johannesburg.’
It was indeed a historical day when Imam Amad was inaugurated as the City of Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor; and it was a memorable day for many of us (in and outside the party). It implied that the party triumphed and has etched its name in the country’s political history. Imam Amad’s nomination, however, was also considered a victory for all minority parties within the South African political landscape where they have the potential to change the scenario from going into coalition to even co-governing.
Now that Al JAMA-AH has taken this political step in agreeing to join the twin processes of coalition and co-governance, new socio-political developments are on-going and that these political arrangements will ensure that consultation among all continues and that all parties make certain that service delivery gets underway; their collective efforts should be for the Common Good of all.
By Al JAMA-AH Management
Having put together a solid set of results, Gayton McKenzie’s Patriotic Alliance now controls the narrative of being the most credible alternative to the DA in the Western Cape in 2024.
The Patriotic Alliance (PA) took advantage of a bad administrative error by the DA to win a traditional ward off the latter in Cape Town by beating the more established parties. The DA was forced to watch from the sidelines since it did not appear on the ballot, as the PA broke the DA and ANC’s 15-year duopoly of ward-seat control in Cape Town.
Ward 56 (Kensington Maitland) in Cape Town:
PA 41% (1% PR) GOOD+Inglis 24% (25%) ACDP 13% (2%) ARA 11% (1%) Al Jama-ah 5%(7%) EFF 5% (1%) PAC 1% (<1%).
The setting: Ward 56 is east of the city centre. It is sandwiched between the N1 Highway, Voortrekker Road and Jakes Gerwel Drive. Most voters are in Kensington and Windermere. The ward also contains Maitland and Factreton. Its well-known landmarks are the Acacia Park parliamentary village and the SAS Wingfield naval base.
The 2021 local government election: The DA lost a lot of ground here in 2021 as its ward percentage went from 83% to 49% while an independent candidate, community activist and baseball administrator Kevin Inglis, won 17% of the vote. The DA also lost votes to GOOD which won 8% of the vote to finish third on the ballot. Al Jama-ah more than doubled its support in Ward 56 to also lure away some DA voters to get 7% support. The Cape Coloured Congress (CCC) also hurt the DA with its 6% total. The DA only won more than 50% of the vote in two of the eight voting districts in the ward. These were both in the Windermere part of Kensington. Inglis won 25% of the ward vote at Kensington High School. Al Jama-ah enjoyed its best support in Maitland, winning 10% or more in two of the voting districts there.
The by-election: The resignation of the ward councillor triggered the by-election. Big drama followed as the DA failed to submit a candidate in a ward where it would have gone into as the favourite. The second-largest party in the city, the ANC, also failed to register a candidate for the by-election. The CCC too decided to sit out the by-election. This meant that three parties, which accounted for just 60% of the ward vote total in 2021, would not be choices for voters this time round.
This is an extract of an article published by the Daily Maverick. Read the full article here: Patriotic Alliance’s stunning victory breaks ANC and DA’s 15-year ward-seat dominance in Cape Town
The Al Jama-Ah political party is introducing two private members’ bills to parliament seeking to change divorce and marriage registration laws in the country.
The party’s leader, Mogamad Ganief Hendricks, has gazetted notice to introduce the Divorce Amendment Bill seeking to adjust regulations governing the dissolution of a Muslim marriage.
Meanwhile, the Registration of Muslim Marriages Bill has been introduced to parliament, seeking recognition of Muslim marriages in law.
The notice for Divorce Amendment Bill is currently open for public comment until 17 December, while the Registration of Muslim Marriages Bill was introduced last week (24 November) and needs to make its way to the portfolio committee before heading to National Assembly.
Hendricks told Parliament that parties in Muslim marriages and homes have suffered and been left broken because they are cut off from remedies available in the Divorce Act upon dissolution of their marriage.
A recent Constitutional Court case of Women’s Legal Centre Trust v President of the Republic of South Africa and Others found that the Marriage Act alongside the Divorce Act were inconsistent with sections 9, 10, 28 and 34 of the constitution in that they failed to recognise marriages solemnised in accordance with Sharia law (Muslim marriages).
Marriages solemnised under Sharia law are not registered as valid civil marriages in South Africa.
While the Constitutional Court has given parliament until November 2024 to correct the country’s laws – and new laws are currently being drafted to make these corrections – this leaves Muslims without immediate relief.
Hendricks said important remedies contained in the current Divorce Act ensure the protection of the interests of parties dissolving their marriage and the welfare of dependant children through access to maintenance during and after divorce.
Despite such provisions being present in the current divorce laws, Muslim marriages are excluded, creating vulnerabilities for parties in a Muslim marriage and their children, including risks of violence, economic exploitation and more, said Hendricks.
The new private member’s bill seeks to address the following constitutional discrepancies:
- Section 6 of the Divorce Act – The court ruled that section 6 was declared unconstitutional in that it failed to provide for safeguard and welfare mechanisms for dependant children born of Muslim marriages at the time of dissolution.
- Section 7(3) of the Divorce Act – The section fails to provide for the redistribution of assets on the dissolution of a Muslim marriage when such a redistribution would be just.
- Section 9(1) of the Divorce Act – This provision was declared unconstitutional in that it fails to provide for the forfeiture of patrimonial benefits stemming from a Muslim marriage at the time of its dissolution.
According to Hendricks, the newly proposed draft bill provides an “effective, expedient and timely remedy to amend the Divorce Act and to bring it in line with [the] Consitution.”
It also forms part of the movement to give Muslim marriages the legal recognition they deserve.
Marriage changes
Al Jama-Ah is also applying the same immediate-relief policy to various laws around marriage.
The Registration of Muslim Marriages Bill is another private members bill that aims to recognise a Muslim marriage as valid and bindig in in the eyes of the law – among other things.
Notably, the bill notes that it has a limited duration and makes provision for the laws to be repealed upon the commencement of an Act of Parliament regulating the registration, recognition, solemnisation, proprietary consequences and dissolution, and consequences of the dissolution of Muslim marriages.
Broadly, the bill aims to provide for the following:
- The requirements of a valid Muslim marriage, including solemnisation thereof;
- The recognition of a Muslim marriage as a valid and binding contract of marriage;
- The registration of Muslim marriages as valid marriages for all purposes in the Republic of South Africa;
- The proprietary consequences of a Muslim marriage;
- Equal status and legal capacity of spouses in a Muslim marriage;
- Acknowledging the application of other existing domestic legislation to Muslim marriages in specified circumstances.
The original Muslim Marriages Bill was introduced in 2010 to address inequalities; however, the government has not yet passed the bill. The Department of Home Affairs has made it clear that it intends to update and draft new marriage laws for approval in 2023.
Under current legislation, there is no overarching policy rooted in constitutional values – the government now wants to have one single bill that governs all types of marriages.
Currently, marriages in South Africa are regulated by three separate pieces of legislation:
- The Marriage Act – for monogamous marriages for opposite-sex couples
- The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act (RCMA) – provides for polygamous marriages of opposite-sex couples
- The Civil Union Act – provides for monogamous partnerships for both same and opposite-sex couples.
Notice of Divorce Act amendments | Download PDF here
Muslim Marriages Bill | Download PDF here
Read full article published in Business Tech | 28 November 2022 here
