COUNCIllOr Thapelo Amad

Thapelo Amad - Johannesburg

email : [email protected]; [email protected]

Thapelo Amad serves in a position within Al jama-ah as a political party employee and he is currently a councillor. He is a chairperson of a section 79 oversight portfolio committee on governance.He have served on various legislative duties in the municipality of Johannesburg. He was the face of the executive mayor of the city of Johannesburg in 2019.He succeeded in tabling the first Pro Palestine motion in South Africa in all the spheres of South African government. The Motion is to name Sandton drive after our heroin Laila Khaled, a Palestinian female activist on the basis of frustrating the USA consulate that resides in NO1 Sandton Drive.

He is the Johannesburg regional political party leader and the chief whip of the organization in the metro.
He has served in various portfolio committees within the municipality. For example, EISD (Environment, infrastructure, services Department) mainly focusing on service deliveries. Further, He also serves in the GCSS (Group corporate and shared services) focusing on the issues of human resources in the municipality, and he has an intense knowledge in the following: organizing and mobilizing. Moreover, he excels in self governance and ethics,self representation of a designated groups,knowledge in domestic public policy making,knowledge on the legislation and national skills development strategy, and their implications for political performances.

He holds a B.A. in Islamic sciences and a NQFLevel 4 in entrepreneurship as well as a NQFLevel 5 in gender Mainsteaming in the public service at the National school of government. He holds a ASRI future leaders’ fellowship.He is a former (NBBC) National Black Business Caucus, chief operating officer. He is currently doing the certificate of competence with SALGA (South African Local Government Association) as a Media liaising officer.

BRIDGING DIVIDES & FOSTERING UNITY

Unity and collaboration are essential for progress, and Thapelo Amad has emerged as a beacon of hope within the Al Jama-ah party. His dedication to fostering understanding, breaking down barriers, and empowering communities has solidified his role as a trailblazer of change. In this blog post, we delve into Thapelo Amad’s journey within Al Jama-ah, exploring his contributions to building a more inclusive and united society in the Western Cape.

Advocacy for Unity and Inclusivity

Thapelo Amad’s journey within Al Jama-ah is marked by his relentless pursuit of unity and inclusivity. His dedication to breaking down barriers between communities reflects the party’s commitment to fostering understanding among diverse groups. Thapelo’s work serves as a powerful reminder that embracing differences and building bridges can lead to a more cohesive and harmonious society.

HIGHLIGHTS

SALGA induction for nominated representatives to NCOP and Provinicial Legislation

Mar 18, 2023

We the people. Actions speaks louder than words.

The Inauguration of our Councillors

Mar 19, 2021

Meet our newly-elected City councillors:

Councillor Thapelo Amad and his team busy with clean-up team in Olievenhoutbosch in the city of Tshwane

ARCHIVES

2022

Assist within the community with regards to service delivery:

Served in EISD (Environment infrastructure and services department) section 79 oversight committee as a permanent member.
The committee is doing oversight on the following entities: Pick it up (waist management entity) Johannesburg water (JWJ, City power (electricity and energy, Environmental protection and air emissions (by-laws)
To Date, as we speak. Amad as a councillor is able to escalate challenges from residents across the city, log calls and get services delivered within a short period of time.
Served in oversight committee on Group corporate and shared services (GCSS) oversight on HR matters and of fleet management and dispatch.
Councillor Amad served as a chairperson of the oversight committee on governance (OCG). Did oversight on the office of the Executive Mayor, delegated authority to the member of the mayoral committee (MMC) responsible for finance and the office of the city manager including the departments under the office of the city manager.
Councillor Amad has managed to pull through two successful motions with one sit, as a single councillor:
The only successful motion in all three spheres of government in the history of the South African legislation that is pro-Palestine, to Rename Sandton drive Laila Khaled drive.
The second successful motion was to remove the speaker of council in 2019, the speaker was charged with lack of oversight and failure to hold council chambers with the decorum. The council could not function well and it resulted in a negative impact on service delivery.

Councillor Amad was then the MMC responsible for Development planning and did oversight on the municipal entity called Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), as a member of the mayoral committee. The entity was an implementing agency on behalf of the city’s few entities such as

JOHANNESBURG ROAD AGENCY :

Taxi ranks
Bus stations
Construction of bridges

HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:

Building of clinics

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:

Swimming pools
Building libraries
Sports and recreation centers
Community halls

In the department of development planning Councillor Amad was responsible for:

Town Planning and chaired the tribunal (Legal administration).
Construction permits
Building plans approvals
Conducted inspections
Single law enforcement unit
City Bylaws
Land use management
Corporate geo-informatics.

In the current term councillor Amad is serving on two portfolio committees:

Ethics committee oversight on disciplinary actions on councillors, permanent member.
Section 79 Oversight committee on Petitions. Currently assisting the community of Eldorado park and the surrounding areas with access to the committee. The alleged community has 17 500 signatures out of 25 000 signed on line. NB: the petition is still active on line complaining about the landfill.
Councillor Thapelo Amad is able to teamwork, as Al Jama-ah in the city of Johannesburg the team managed to embark on various political campaigns to exert pressure on the DA-led government. One of the major achievements is to erect the statue of the Former president of Palestine HE. Yassir Arafat the issues surrounding the statue are ongoing.
Al Jama-ah is amongst the Parties that are Advocating against the purging of employees in the city of Johannesburg _Status on going.
Al Jama-ah probed the investigation against allegations of irregular and unlawful conversion of the appointment and conditions of services of the Senior Administrator _ status successful, the official is on suspension.

2021

Councilor Amad was invited to address an SMME graduation ceremony in Jabavu Soweto. The graduation was a collaboration between Rutisa Training Recruitment as well as Soweto and surrounding areas industry Chamber Council and Forum (SSICCF).
Councillor Thapelo Amad was doing oversight on the commodities affected by flooding in Soweto. He invited the MMC for environment and infrastructure, and the MMC of Johannesburg roads agency to look into stormwater drainage.
He donated 50 pairs of school shoes at AB Xuma Primary School as part of giving back to the community “giving is not just about making a donation it’s about making a difference”
He did an Oversight on a dilapidated taxi rank. On routes to and from Eldorado Park, Freedom Park, Ormnende, Ridgeway, and Kliptown. Cllr Amad was able to bring about change. The pipe that has been damaged for 3 years is been attended to by Aljama-ah.
He did an oversight in the state of readiness at schools with the chairperson of committees in the Gauteng legislature, Sizokele Nkosi-Malobane (MPL) in Diepkloof, Soweto. Amad also donated dignitary packs to students.
He did an oversight visit at Protea Glen Ext 4 park Development, with Cllr Mokoena and MMC Margaret Arnolds
The community in ward ten in Protea South had sewerage problems for the past 3 years, Al Jama-ah responded to the community needs in one week thanks to Thapelo Amad and his team
School readiness programme: JS Mpanza Primary School, & Dumezweni Primary School
Region E Meeting with MPL Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane & Cllr. Thapelo
Stakeholder Meeting
Pretoria leadership
Supporting the SMME Graduation in Soweto as part of accelerating youth and community empowerment
School shoe donation: Freedom Park Primary School
Meeting with Freedom Park Constituencies, “abahlale base Freedom Park”
Discussions about the contestations for Ward 18 and 29, spoke about issues of the ‘rapid release program’ and the ‘southern farms’. Their issues are mainly to do with housing.
Oversight: Northway, Kelvin
Visited the home of the school child that collapsed and passed away whilst in school, Protea GlenPolitical Meeting:
Discussions of how to move Al Jama-ah forward as well as bringing stakeholders and sponsors on board
Food Parcels distribution: Dlamini Mosque
Political Meeting: Follow up on the previous meeting that took place on February 26^th
State of Readiness for LGE with minority parties, Virtual
Attended Al Jama-ah Conference
School shoe donation: McBain Charles Primary School, Eldorado Park
Palestine Day program at Lenasia Muslim School and the Palestinian embassy
Political Meeting: Strategic Session for the by-elections and LGE with members as well as councillor candidates
Political Meeting: A group of representatives from Laudium requested a meeting with the Al Jama-ah leadership in order to deliberate on forming formidable relations moving forward
Interview: Frequency Exchange, Mzansi Urban Radio
Food parcel distribution for ex-Pikitup coordinators, Lenasia
Human Right’s Day Programme with the Black consciousness movement-united (BCUM)
Political Meeting with critical stakeholders and drafting a forward for the upcoming by-elections and LGE
Site Visit to the Bree Primary School: Concerns over Illegal connections and overflowing sewerage. School also requests mobile toilets (this to be expedited by SalaaMedia
Interview: Galaxy TV
Interview: Alex FM
Site Visit: Klipspruit with Cllr. Moabi – Flooding
Site Visit to Westdene with Cllr. Sherman – Dilapidated buildings and illegal connections with congested occupants in buildings
Political Meeting, Eldos Sub-station, Eldorado Park
Voter Registration, Kliptown Highschool
Salaamedia ‘girl child’ empowerment program, Pimville
Prospective Councillor-candidate visit, Eldorado park, Ward 18
Attended Drug Rehab roadshow, Eldorado Park
Ward 7 councillor-candidate meeting and door-to-door
Meeting with the Eldorado Park Taxi Association
Meeting with stakeholders: ILAWU
Meeting with the Gauteng Housing Crisis Committee (GHCC): Their concerns mainly around the Southern Farms and how they can support Al Jama-ah from that angle
Political Meeting: Stakeholder by-elections collaborative meeting
Meeting with Musjid in Riverlea Ext. 2: Their meter was removed and had since been without electricity
Ward 7 door-to-doo
Slovo Shooting
A fatal shooting happened in Slovo where a number of people were killed. The community requests political intervention for their safety as they live each day in fear

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTS

FEBRUARY:
MULUMA: Partnering with the MMC’s office to rollout the CSI and legacy Programmes of the MMC and introduction to key stakeholders that can assist
MULUMA: The introduction of the MMC and the support staff to Advance Cash & Carry
MULUMA: Establish political alliannces with Advance Cash & Carry and sponsorship for CSI Projects
JCCI: To discuss possible collaboration between JCCI and the Department and introduction to the Church of Scientology. Partner in development programmes between the JCCI and the Church of Scientology
SCIFF: Create new partnership with the office of the MMC Development Planning and introduction to Economic Development
SCIFF: The MMC to give a keynote address at the Graduating SMME Graduation and introduction of the MMC to key partners for political reasons (introducing Al Jama-ah to partners) and strengthening relationship
SCIFF: Participation of Development Planning at the upcoming Soweto Construction and Infrastructure Indaba

MARCH:
SCIFF: To participate in the representing the department at the Construction and Infrastructure Indaba. Create awareness of both JDA and DP by taking Development Planning to the People. Introduced Al-Jama-ah to SCIFF Exco
MULUMA: Introduction of the MMC and Al-Jama-ah to the Eldorado Taxi Association. The Support for the Candidate Councilor for the up-coming by Bi-Election in Eldorado Park. To Foster Relationships with the Eldorado Park Taxi Association

APRIL:
JCCI – PROPERTY CLUSTER: Introducing the MMC to the property cluster CEO’s both for departmental and Political Reasons. Establish political alliances with the property cluster by taking Development Planning to the People

2020

When councillor Thapelo Amad is not attending council meetings, he visits various communities and distributes food and clothing to the needy and also recruits several new members to AL JAMA-AH.
Cllr Amad is known to be very vocal in the council meetings as the best interest of the community is top on his list. His active participation in meetings led to the successful renaming of Sandton Drive in Johannesburg to Leila Khalid Drive.
He was also involved in plans to erect a statue of the late Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) leader, Yasser Arafat, in Soweto. This is one of the agreements made during discussions on bilateral relations between the City of Johannesburg and the City of Ramallah in Palestine.
He was also part of the meetings between the executive mayor, Cllr Geoff Makhubu and Her Excellency Ambassador Hanan Jararr earlier this month. The mayor also supports plans to establish a museum in Ramallah on the South African struggle against apartheid.
In addition, Councillor Amad also held discussions with ambassador Jarrar on possible cultural exchanges between South Africa and Palestine.
Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Development Planning, Cllr Thapelo Amad, recently conducted an oversight visit of the Metro Link building, following its temporary closure in November 2020, as recommended by the Department of Employment and Labour. A service level agreement between Development Planning and the Johannesburg Property Company has since been finalised and signed, and priority has been sought for maintenance work to commence as soon as possible
Al-Jamah by-elections campaign in Ward 9 + Ward 17 strategy.
Al-Jamah membership drive in Ward 9 + Ward 17, Ward 7.
Al-Jamah constitution explained and presented to Ward 9 + Ward 17 communities, business stakeholders, volunteers engaged.
The party is bigger than any individual, processes need to be transparent. Consultations needs to take place, communication is key!’
Gauteng to work on the ground to establish Al-Jamah branches.
Gauteng target is to field 75 candidates in 150 Wards.
Attended P S Mlekgotla in North West and engage PSM as a collective.
A collective programme of action was discussed and adopted.
The principles of Al-Jamah needs to be upheld at all times.
Gauteng and Tshwane to support structures need to be revised and strengthened, need to build the Gauteng region.
A conducive platform for future discussions was discussed.
Dialogue engagements active in Ward 9 + Ward 17.
Media engagements active in Ward 9 and Ward 17.
Provincial leadership taking on transformation.
Civic education implemented on the values of Al-Jamah in communities.
Priority is given to service delivery/lack of service delivery.
Community outreach programs activated on Lenasia, Protea North, Newclare, Eldorado Park.
Assist in disaster management crisis by providing food aid and clothing donations.
Public participation took place in Ward 7, Ward 9, Ward 17 and Ward 120.
Feeding schemes established in Ward 17, Ward18 and Ward 58.
Mobilised business communities and introduced Al-Jamah to them.
Create awareness IRO campaigning/actual impact on the ground.
Strategy on impacting.
Support ex-Pikitup workers, IRO absorption, IRO CCMA a Ward issued in 2011 – Al-Jamah rallying behind workers.
Memorandum of demand handed over to executive mayor for implementation.

Summary of Hon.Thapelo Amad interview on Eldo FM:

Presenter: How does Al Jama-ah combat corruption? Councillor Thapelo Amad had the following to say:

“When we go into the community we look into the representation. And, we identify the individual who understands the context of the community, and that is how we build up branches.
“Corruption, how do we combat corruption? Your votes determine your future. Any other party doesn’t represent corruption. But when we go out and vote for those leaders, we as voters, we need to thoroughly scrutinise who the leaders are so we can question their integrity.
“Al Jama-ah stands for justice, fairness, equity. If people go out there and vote for people who are criminals, obviously you can’t combat corruption in this way.
“It is our responsibility to vote for those of good moral, of a high moral value. Our ethos is derived from religious principles. We represent all communities, and the people who represent us are people of good moral, good principles.”

EVENTS

THABO MBEKI FOUNDATION

The mayor paid a visit to Thabo Mbeki foundation, to seek guidance and advice on matters of governance.

JOINT OPERATION WITH SAPS

Mayor Thapelo Amad conducting a joint operations of a road block; with SAPS, home affairs immigration officers, Gauteng traffic police and JMPD

THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S GOLF OPEN

THAPELO AMAD ATTENDED THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S GOLF OPEN HOSTED BY THE CITY OF JOHANNESBURG CALLED JOBURG LADIES OPEN

MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Executive Mayor Thapelo Amad resigns

AL JAMA-AH says it sees no way for the former DA mayor of the City of Johannesburg to return as mayor

The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg Abubakr Thapelo Amad has resigned from the mayoral position yesterday evening. His resignation follows two motions of no confidence brought by the ActionSA with the support of the PA against him and the Democratic Party also deliberately pushed for a motion against the Speaker.

Yesterday, Al Jama-ah despatched a top delegation to the Johannesburg Metro Council; it was led by its national spokesperson Adv Shameemah Salie who engaged with the party’s coalition partners on whether to ‘collapse’ the municipality to pave a way to elect a new mayor or whether to just pull out of the coalition considering the fact that ActionSA along with the PA and DA that have the numbers.