The Deputy Minister of Social Development and President of AL JAMA-AH, Hon M Ganief Hendricks, has announced that Professor Muhammed Haron has been appointed as his Head of Office.
With his appointment, he – along with the staff in that ministry – would be taking on one of the greatest challenges that South Africa is presently facing and that objective is to not reduce but eradicate poverty.
This is one of the goals of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030; it is also one of the three priorities that were announced at the recent opening of Parliament. “That was also the goal of his father, Imam Abdullah Haron, who was tortured to death during September 1969 for his serving resistance fighters families in their time of need.“ Hon DM Ganief Hendricks said.
Prof Haron, who specialized in both Religious Studies and International Relations, taught at the University of Botswana for two decades. There he was obliquely tied to Social Development related course, namely ‘Religion and Development.’ The course essentially covered the role of religious NGOs in the social development sector and as a result he wrote a few essays that cover Faith Based Organizations that have been active in poverty eradication across the continent. In addition, he also offered a course on ‘Sociology of Religion’ that also dealt with African societies and development.
Here is a selection of writings that related directly to Social Development: ‘South African Muslim Philanthropists and Humanitarian Organizations: Religious Activism, Changing Environments’ (2022); ‘Africa’s Muslim NGOs: Competitive Charities, Altruistic Allies’ (2020); ‘Migration and Religion in a Neoliberal Age: African Muslim Migrants’ Challenges and Dilemmas’ (2020); and ‘Religious NGOs and their Jihad against HIV/Aids: The Muslim Factor in (and beyond) Southern Africa’ (2011). These essays reflect on the role of FBOs/NGOs in social development and transformation.
Prof Haron has hit the road running attending a two-day workshop; this is soon after his appointment with the Ministerial team and portfolio committee of Social Development. So, on Prof. Haron’s ‘social development’ radar is the ‘eradication of poverty;’ a project that will require the wide-range support and cooperation of Endowments, Trusts, Foundations, Corporations, and a network of community organisations.
Since his appointment, Prof. Haron engaged with staff who are associated with DSD’s units such as SASSA. And alongside the DM, he came into contact with the private sector representatives to pursue social development projects.