Why vote Al Jama-ah, is it the trusted party?
Following the recent development in the city of Johannesburg mid 2019, when the government of local unity (GLU) removed the Democratic Alliance (DA) from government in the City of Johannesburg. Al Jama-ah occupied a position of section 79 oversight committee on governance. The committee does oversight on the office of the executive mayor and that of the city manager. This position was occupied by its sole councilor at the time, his name is Thapelo Amad.
Towards the end of the year, in 2019, during the fall out of the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and the African National Congress (ANC), the GLU was threatened by collapse. At the time, Al Jama-ah had just won Lenasia ward 9 from the DA. And Councilor Thapelo Amad was appointed onto the mayoral committee by the then executive mayor cllr. Geoff Makhubo – to oversee the Department of development & planning, and the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA).
Al Jama- ah has successfully made its mark in government. We’ve ascended into the livers of government, and entered the Land question debate. We have demonstrated our ability to govern and transform the lives of the historically marginalized. We have successfully tabled reports and pushed forward two Mega Land projects: the Southern Farm and the Lanseria Mega project, that seeks to open the corridors of economy, and address the historical injustices of the spatial planning in the city of Johannesburg. The previously marginalized communities are placed in the peripheries in the North and South of Johannesburg.
The development will cater to a mixed use of the infrastructure and will resuscitate the broken economy. It will also create the agility to integrate the society, turn the city into a construction site and bring industries closer to people, with that we advocate for the principle of Batho Pele, which means People first.
During the period of the covid 19 pandemic, Al Jama-ah embraced the notion of the “New Normal” and launched the online system called Construction Permit Management System (CPMS) within the department of development planning. The aim was to make the business of doing business easier, enabling the online application of building plans, approvals, illuminating queues and alleged corruption of city officials. We’ve opened the department to communities, through partnerships and stakeholder engagement, and as a result many lives were transformed, SMME’s were empowered and given the all persons equal opportunity to build. Aspirant high school children were empowered through the I AM THE FUTURE initiative that was championed by cllr Amad.
The above is the clear demonstration of Al Jama-ah as a trusted political party in South Africa, trusted by other political parties and the society at large. The DA did not have full confidence in its own partners, but had full confidence in Al Jama-ah, so to the ANC and many more political parties. We’re growing as a political party that represents all communities. With unwavering support from both our Muslim community and people out of Islamic faith.
The block enjoyed the sideline support of the EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) and the ANC. Together we overthrew the MPG. Al Jama-ah made history in the city of Johannesburg, one of the first minority parties in the country, the to hold a position of government, in the mayoral chain.
Al Jama-ah has three councilors in the city, Kabelo Gwamanda, the current executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Thapelo Amad, the former executive mayor of Johannesburg and current chairperson of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) Gauteng, and lastly the beloved ward councilor of ward 9 Johannesburg. Cllr Imran Moosa, who is a chairperson of the Section 79 oversight committee on Environment Infrastructure and Services Department (EISD).
The succession plan of the GLU from councilor Thapelo Amad to councilor Kabelo Gwamanda ensured a smooth transition of government and continuity of services, it is also shows that Al Jama-ah is capable of leading the biggest city in Africa, with the net worth of R83 billion and 6 million residents entrusted to Al Jama-ah.
This is the beginning of the Al Jama-ah story. Our story in the city of Johannesburg. The second Al Jama-ah administration is now underway, under the stewardship of Executive Mayor Cllr Kabelo Gwamada.