About Us
Why Al Jama-ah was established
The Al Jama-ah Political Party was established in 2007 by its Party Leader, Ganief Hendricks , that instead of finger pointing, Muslims could play a sincere and positive role, contributing to the transformation of post Apartheid South Africa, for the benefit of all South Africans.
The Constitution of South Africa supports the system of a multi party democracy, as opposed to a single party state. According to The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), domination of one political party in South Africa will be detrimental to freedom in South Africa. What is best for South Africa is a diversity of political parties with competing policies.
THE AL JAMA-AH INITIATIVE
Al Jama-Ah wants to promote a better understanding of our community’s culture and practices in a multicultural and pluralistic society, by not sacrificing our own value system, maintaining our identity, sharing not only our faith, but by how much and what else we have to offer in transforming and restoring balance.
Al Jama-Ah has great potential to tackle the many social challenges facing the country. South Africa is a nation in the making, and its people have come to accept that we are a multicultural and diverse society.
As Muslims, the attitude we take in our role as citizens of this country, will determine our impact and participation in the future. South African Muslims can and must play a vital role by participating in the political arena, shaping the landscape of our country instead of just being mere figures in the landscape.
Al Jama-Ah firmly believes, that with the absence of a true Muslim voice in Parliament, there will always be a gap in any effort the lawmakers make, to nurture the spirit of national unity and nation building, unless (with other faith based groups), Islamic morals and values are shared with them
On 15 June 2013, Al Jama-Ah hosted a policy conference, identifying how Islamic policies and guidelines can assist government on the second phase of its transition. In this regard, Al Jama-Ah has made a CALL FOR ABSTRACTS. One of the first outcomes will be an interest free State Bank for South Africa.
The initiative to muster and consult the best minds in our communities is part of Al Jama-Ah’s broader plan towards 2021.
It is only by drawing on the best available expertise that we can identify and confront challenges head-on. This does not mean that Al Jama-Ah wants to make South Africa an Islamic State, but it is time that we share Shari’ah values for the coming years.
The combination of Islamic tenets can strengthen the Ubuntu culture in our respective communities. Al Jama-Ah is in fact one of the founding signatories to the annual Ubuntu awards. The very foundation of Al Jama-Ah is a legacy of struggle, peace, justice, morality, equality and freedom. Al Jama-Ah does not have a discriminatory profiling based on colour, creed, culture, ethnicity, gender, race, tribe etc.
AL JAMA-AH CONSTITUTION
AL JAMA-AH MANIFESTO
AL JAMA-AH OBJECTIVES:
- To assist NGO AND NPO’S access funds from the national development agency (NDA) for poverty alleviation and victim support in respect of gender based violence
- Prepare a project plan for a private member’s bill to get legal consequences for a nikah certificate.
- Appointment of a Parliamentary constituency officer to take parliament to the Ulema and take their issues to Parliament.
- Establish a national statuary body to represent Muslims (LIASON OFFICE)
- To support the parliamentary gender mechanism by establishing an armed response unit in the Surrey Estate national parliamentary constituency office to assist physically abused women in marriages and school girls with supporting legal, social work and small business development departments.
- To set up a business incubator to put 100 women, youth and people with disabilities in business and support them to get blended finance with a free grant up to R2,5 million
- Assist all entrepreneurs,males and females, young and old
- To get parliament to double resources for safety of citizens at their homes, in the streets at schools and at recreational facilities and engage with national intelligence to update their priorities
- In municipalities, fight for each ward to get a budget in the new district development model of SONA
- Establish ten offices to log complaints to ensure better service delivery outcomes all over the country
- To review curriculum and teaching materials for moral sexuality education for primary school children to ensure they not issued with soft porn material in violation of the sexual offences act
- To combat sewarage, pollution of waterways(BEACHES AND RIVERS,STREAMS AND CANALS) by ensuring the Director of Environmental Enforcement carries out his mandate.
- Assist Muslim and religious private schools in poor areas to get textbooks and more support
A few highlights since establishment
Since the launch of Al Jama-ah in a Cape Town masjid in 2007 the leadership resolved to sincerely serve all communities, hence the slogan: “A Platform for All Communities”. While it gives special attention to the concerns of the Muslim community that helped to bring it into existence as a competitive party in a democratic landscape, its mission is — and it continues to be — to extend a helping hand to not only those that form part of its set constituencies but to those far beyond these.
Al Jama-ahs Social Development Activities in Cape Town: Sadagat al Jariyah is another way
- Started a project for Lansdowne, Athlone, Belgravia handing out free sim cards and data every month for registered members
- Opened up a new office at 164 Oystercatcher Road, Pelican Park offering the services of certification of documents, assisting with placement of schools, providing legal queries surrounding maintenance and divorces and estates
- Opening up a new office at Shop 1A at 566 Landsdowne Raod, Landsdowne whereby residents can be assisted with service delivery queries
- Have feeding schemes across different communities in Cape Town
AL JAMA-AH is actively working hard to bring constructive change in parliament so that future generations can benefit. The party has submitted three Private Members Bills namely:
- The Recognition of Muslim Marriages
- Amendments to the Maintenance Act
- Amendments to the Divorce Act
Aljama-ah’s amendment on the divorce act has been approved by parliament. Breakthrough legislation is that a shariah marriage will be recognized and the consequences will be in terms of the shariah. Consequences like Divorce, Inheritance and custody of children.
Parliament has agreed with the following definitions which the Ulema is satisfied with:
- Shariah
- Muslim Marriage
- Muslim
The Government will use these definitions in their new Marriage Act.
Past Achievements & Milestones
- The Party demanded that the City of Johannesburg withdraws an interdict banning the athaan to be broadcast at the Riverlea Mosque.
- June 2012, Cllr. Ganief Hendricks proposed to the ‘Rights Commission’ that the two Eids be recognised, in accordance with legislation of the Public Holidays Act (Section 2.2), as paid public holidays. Many employers fail to implement Chapter 3 (Section 15.2B) of the Employment Equity Act (Act 55 of 1998), depriving employees of their basic labour rights, not granting them equal dignity in celebrating their respective religious and cultural holidays.
- April 2012, Cllr. Abdul Razak Noorbhai addressed Council on Islamic Finance, showcasing the resilience of Islamic Finance, by not being riba based, can help alleviate many of the City’s financial constraints. A consultative process with relevant stakeholders is being formulated, in a soon to be arranged workshop with the City.
- March 2012, Al Jama-ah initiated the ‘Bosmont 50th Anniversary’ steering committee, in conjunction with residents of this township, as well as various other stakeholders. Cllr.Abdul Razak Noorbhai addressed Council, stipulating that Bosmont is a ‘township’ due to forced removals by the Apartheid regime
- February 2012, Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia De Lille was questioned by Party Leader and Chief Whip Cllr. Ganief Hendricks on the re-labelling saga by Orion Meat Co. Al Jama-ah’s position is that Halaal vendors are not the statutory authorities to deal with contraventions and transgressions of the ‘Foodstuff Act of 1972’. This is the responsibility of Municipalities and their respective Department of Health delegated by the Department of Agriculture.
- December 2011, Al Jama-ah’s Gauteng Chairman and Chief Whip, Cllr.Abdul Razak Noorbhai, represented the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan at the International COP 17 function held in Durban. He exchanged views from and within an Islamic perspective, interacting on environmental and climate change issues with the Mayor of Delhi; Prof.Rajni Abbi, Dr. Tawfeek Fulami; senior advisor to Lagos State, Nigeria; and Mr. Saber Chowdury of the Global Inter-Parliamentary Union amongst the many delegates.
- November 2011, Al Jama-ah celebrated Johannesburg’s 125th anniversary at a garden luncheon. Lenasia Muslim Brigade was appointed guard of honour for dignitaries gracing the event from various Embassies with the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Cllr. Mpho (Parks) Tau as the special guest of honour.
- September 2011, Al Jama-ah laid a complain on Human Rights Day, with the Human Rights Commission of South Africa, against the Minister of Home Affairs for harming the dignity of Muslims married in accordance with Islamic rites, classifying Muslim women as ‘never married’ written on their death certificate.
- July 2011, Al Jama-ah made verbal and written submissions to Parliament, curbing the Constitutional Court from having jurisdiction to be the Apex Court to hear appeals on Shari’ah and other religious rites of minority groups. Once more, for the ‘first time in the history of the new South Africa’, that a Portfolio Committee of Parliament had been so directly confronted.
- March 2011, Al Jama-ah was ordered by the South Gauteng High Court, as the appropriate authority to convey views of its constituency on the Muslim Marriages Bill to the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development. This was for the very ‘first time in the history of the High Court’, that ‘a Political Party’ had been so ordered.
- In April 2009, Al Jama-ah participated in the National Elections in all nine provinces, narrowly missing a Parliamentary seat. When 87% of the vote was counted the Party was allocated a seat but was later narrowly beaten by another Party.
- November 2008, after a six year battle in an agreement brokered at the CCMA, Ganief Hendricks secured a provident fund, for the physically and mentally disabled, as General Secretary of their respective trade union, W.A.R. (Workers Against Regression).
- October 2008, Al Jama-ah was ‘the only’ political party that submitted an oral complaint to ICASA, on the Draft Regulations on Party Election Broadcasts, Political Advertising and Equitable Treatment of political parties. The party asked for equal air time on State media.