Worcester: a community rises from colonial and slave legacy - Muslim Views
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Vol. 34 No. 12 JAMAD-UL-AWWAL 1442 l DECEMBER 2020
Worcester: a community rises
from colonial and slave legacy
W
ORCESTER is known to many Muslim
holidaymakers from Cape Town as the nearest
town to go to for jumuah while at Goudini Spa but
how many are aware that this town, about 110 kilometres
outside Cape Town, along the N1, has been home to Islam
for more than 200 years?
As far back as 1818, there were already Muslim slaves
living in the area but it is believed that they could have been
living there since before then. A census taken in 1841 showed
that by then, there were already 300 Muslims residing in
Worcester. As the Muslim community grew, so did the need
for a madrasah where children could receive religious
instruction. It is interesting to note that the first Muslim
school was already in operation during the 1840s, long
before the first masjid. The children were taught touheed,
fiqh, the Arabic script, to read the Quran and adherence to
the basic rituals of Islam.
Worcester Primary School was opened almost 100 years
later, in 1928. An empty house in Durban Street was
acquired and converted into a school to serve mainly Muslim
children in Worcester. The school was then called the
Moslem Mission School with 28 registered learners.
This photograph, from the archives of the Worcester
Muslim community, shows the facade of the first masjid in
the town, located in Durban Street. The masjid dates back
almost 200 years and, as the community grew, the masjid
underwent a number of renovations. The original masjid was
already in use by 1878 but was destroyed by British soldiers
during the Anglo-Boer war. Before the masjid was built, the
Muslims, under the leadership of Imam Sadan, performed
Jumuah in a room in Rainier Street. Although, the first
masjid was officially opened in 1881, oral history has it that
the masjid was already in use by 1878. Imam Sadan
Sulaiman led the congregation until 1880. Currently,
Moulana Mohammad Towpha Antar leads the jamaah, with
Moulana Muneeb Shahaboedien as his assistant. The second
masjid, the Worcester Islamic Society, was built in 2003, in
Hex Park, led by Moulana Mogamad Stephanus.
For a more detailed account of the history of the Muslims in
Worcester, please see pages 16 and 17.
If your community has compiled a history of your area,
Muslim Views would like to hear from you. For further
details, please contact the editor, Farid Sayed, at
farid@mviews.co.za
THANK YOU
iving Hope.
For G
Muslim Views . December 2020 3
Responsibility to
ourselves and
society, and always
remaining hopeful Vol. 34 No. 12 l JAMAD-UL-AWWAL 1442 l DECEMBER 2020
THE cancellation a few days ago on the basis that elite cricketers’ But for those who can practise This abuse, in a society shaped by
of the England cricket tour to lives matter more than massive social distancing, and who can ideas and practices of patriarchy, is
South Africa (those who revenue from television contracts afford to enjoy a high quality of life often overlooked.
remember the early 1970s will be and other sponsorship. even under COVID-19 restrictions, This is madness.
jolted by memories of Basil The rest of us ought to consider there is no excuse for the highly If we have knowledge of the abuse
D’Oliviera) because of players what this means for us. irresponsible behaviour we see (in of others, we ought to do
from both South Africa and One of the major lessons is that, areas in which Muslim Views is everything in our power to make it
England testing positive for the for the elite in our society, their located) in the city, and the country. stop.
COVID-19 virus is a sharp lives are considered more vital This non-responsibility is There are legal avenues in which
wake-up call. than revenue. something that we need to con- abuse can be reported.
With the money-spinning tour now This is commendable, of course. sider very seriously, especially But there is also the first layer of
ended, it is a moment that we need But it brings into the spotlight the since there are COVID-19 carriers reporting, namely our networks in
to reflect on as deaths continue to ongoing crisis that we face in who show no symptoms but the mosques, the churches and
mount in the country (and across South Africa, namely, widespread endanger every person they come synagogues, sports clubs and so
the world) and the predicted non-adherence to COVID-19 safety into contact with. many other places in which we
‘second-wave’ of infections is now protocols, against the best advice As this edition shows, when we do meet people from our immediate
a grim reality. of insightful, respected health not take responsibility as a society, neighbourhoods and beyond.
These cricket players and officials all over the world, based huge trauma is inflicted on the Those who stand up to call out
administrators were provided with on good research evidence. bodies and minds of the most abuse must be supported, and the
science-fiction like protection from As this editorial column has noted vulnerable and unprotected first line of protection must be for
the rest of the planet, in what are before, we need to realise that, for persons in our midst. those persons who suffer the
called ‘bio-bubbles’, isolated in the oppressed millions, social Abuse happens because abuse. They must be protected as
luxurious, world-class venues, distancing in the wastelands individuals place their desires a priority.
tested continuously and supported (shack-townships), where society above the rights of others. It is from these courageous people
by the best medical care anyone has abandoned our compatriots, is Abuse is also enacted on a societal that we take our example.
could desire. simply not possible. level, when groups of people, often Selfishness is not part of being a
In spite of all of these safeguards, It is a sickening carry-over from shielded by huge financial responsible person or society.
COVID-19 struck and a major apartheid that has not been resources or huge reputations in Recent events give us real hope
financial decision was taken to undone by the grand promises of society, are allowed to abuse that we can move towards
abandon the tour. the democratic ANC-led vulnerable people, often children becoming a responsible, caring
It is a responsible decision, taken government since 1994. and women (but not exclusively). society. We can be better.
Our editorial comment represents the composite viewpoint of the Editorial Team of Muslim Views, and is the institutional voice of the newspaper.
Correspondence can be sent to editor@mviews.co.za
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4 Muslim Views . December 2020
Sexually abused by a darul uloom teacher
MAHMOOD SANGLAY In the years that followed, her accountability is to his Creator, as
perception of, and her way of re- is mine.’
RADIA Razack is an sponding to men had been altered Radia had not seen or spoken
accomplished professional with a almost permanently. The spectre to him since their last encounter in
career as environmental lawyer. of the first violation of her person 2002, and had relocated and lost
But she has a story to tell, remains indelibly etched in her contact with that side of the fam-
disturbing in its detail yet consciousness. ily.
astonishingly inspiring in its However, 29 years later, in However, Muslim Views lo-
approaching finale. 2002, something wondrous oc- cated him and contacted him to
Radia’s story is one of near-clo- curred that liberated Radia from ascertain his response to the alle-
sure. It is a sustained, present con- anger and resentment towards her gation against him of sexual abuse
tinuous narrative for 47 years childhood abuser. that had occurred in 1973, and his
about child abuse, a startling first- At the time, she was in her third position today, 47 years after the
marriage drama, rape by a sports marriage and blessed with a good fact.
coach, a second marriage to an husband and two children. It was It is a matter of concern that he
Arab assassin, followed by a dra- an extraordinary turning point in is still teaching children, and that
matic escape from her second hus- her life when she met her abuser at his classes may include young
band in Kenya and back to South a funeral, years after he had lost girls. It is also important to probe
Africa. his young son in a drowning acci- him on Radia’s account of multi-
She spoke to Muslim Views dent. ple instances of sexual abuse in-
about these encounters that Radia recalled, before meeting volving other children in the
shaped the milestones of her life. him at the funeral, how she had family.
The first was the invasion, at told herself that ‘he hurt other Another compelling part of
age six, by a paedophile adult in people’s children and now God Radia’s story is what her uncle
Radia Razack, pictured in 1971, in Cape Town, at age four. At age six she was
the family. took his child away’. However, a shared with her, in later years, of
The offender is an uncle, now sexually molested by her maternal uncle. Photo SUPPLIED transformation occurred when she accounts of bestiality at the darul
in his seventies. He studied the approached him at the funeral. He uloom in India.
Quran at a renowned darul uloom the experience of rape while reject- position of sexuality on her by a shared with her news of a ‘laat On December 7, the Gauteng
in India in the early eighties and ing the label of victimhood. dominating male figure within her lammertjie’ (a child born many darul uloom teacher answered my
returned as hafidh. Her second marriage was an family. Her uncle (her mother’s years after its siblings). phone call. He confirmed his iden-
In 1985, he commenced teach- awesome adventure of an escape cousin) exposed himself to her and She recalls thinking that God tity, his tenure at the institution
ing hifdh at a leading darul uloom from almost certain death at the touched her in an overtly sexual took from him a loved one and and his blood relationship to
in Gauteng. And he is still teaching hands of a man whose true char- way. gave him another loved one. His Radia. Soon after I disclosed the
there, after 35 years. acter emerged soon after she mar- The experience bewildered the face beamed with a mild glow. She purpose of my enquiry, he ended
Radia’s first marriage ended ried him and travelled with him six-year-old and imprinted on her realised that it was time he makes the call. He did not respond to fur-
after a year-and-a-half mainly be- into north Africa. psyche a lifelong aversion for as- his own peace. It was an admon- ther calls, and he blocked my
cause it was bereft of any spiritu- He spoke of people he killed pects of intimacy that are ordinar- ishment in compassion and a way WhatsApp messages.
ality. and certainly seemed to fit the pro- ily embraced by married couples. to forgiveness. The resentment in Radia hopes to reach out to
She sought the comfort and cer- file of a terrorist, assassin or just a It was at once the corruption of her dissipated. him in forgiveness but realises that
titude of faith in her Muslim murderer. This dramatic episode her innocence and her childhood ‘I felt the flood of forgiveness he may choose not to take her call.
spouse but he offered none, hence ended the marriage of two through fear and shame, and the wash over me like a gentle water- He may never choose to join her
she ended it. months. destabilisation of her natural incli- fall. I felt an emotional release that in making her journey ahead ‘a
The rape incident brought her However, it was as a child that nation to trust adults, especially was almost physical… I no longer light and not a darkness’ in her
to confront a dilemma: asserting she experienced the premature im- men. wished to see him punished. His quest to finally reach closure.
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6 Muslim Views . December 2020
Sexual abuse of children in the Muslim community
Dr ESHAAM PALMER, in
the first of a two-part
Sexual abuse of a child or ado- could face life imprisonment in se-
series, deals with the
The cases that are reported are lescent is an exercise of power by rious cases. The percentage of con-
prevalence and
the abuser to subdue and domi- victions is low as these crimes are
seriousness of the sexual
just the tip of the iceberg as the nate the abuse survivor in order to generally not reported to the au-
abuse of children and
satisfy his or her deviant sexual thorities.
overwhelming majority of incidents
adolescents in the Muslim
desires. Abusers come from back- Further dangers that abuse sur-
community.
grounds ranging from menial vivors may suffer from the abuse
go unreported. The sexual abuse of workers to intellectuals and are is losing their virginity or becom-
mainly male but females can also ing infected with HIV/ AIDS or a
children and adolescents is one of the be abusers. sexually transmitted disease.
CHILDREN are our future and In some instances, the parents The courts are now better
thus they deserve special most underreported crimes, and while of the abuse survivor may be equipped to deal with these
protection from adults. Every aware of the abuse but do not ad- crimes, and abuse survivors are
child is someone’s child; every there are a number of reasons for this dress the matter as perhaps the not required to face their abusers
child has feelings that can be mother herself is being abused by as they can give evidence by video
hurt; every child can experience phenomenon, one of the main reasons is the abuser or is financially reliant and be assisted by a counsellor.
pain and humiliation; every child on him. Sex abusers also prey on chil-
needs to feel safe and loved. that the abuser and the abuse survivor Acts of sexual abuse can range dren or adolescents who have a
The Prophet (SAW) said that from grooming and ‘talking dirty’ disability, like having an intellec-
children were weak and vulnera- are often in a close relationship. to touching, kissing and penetra- tual disability, or having a sight or
ble and in need of greater care, tion. Sexual abuse causes both speech impediment. Such disabili-
and thus he encouraged people to physical and mental trauma, ties exacerbate the seriousness of
be exceedingly merciful and kind Human Rights. The Optimus dents go unreported. which may last for the lifetime of the crime as the abuse survivors
to them. He (SAW) loved children Study conducted by a group con- The sexual abuse of children the abuse survivor and deprive her are less able to defend themselves
and played with them, and never sisting of all the major child pro- and adolescents is one of the most or him of a normal life. or understand what is happening
in his entire life did he harm or tection organisations in South underreported crimes, and while However, one should not be- to them.
hurt a child. Africa in 2016, shows shocking there are a number of reasons for come paranoid about sexual South Africa has the unenviable
Children used to run to him statistics that sexual abuse of chil- this phenomenon, one of the main abusers as most men (and women) reputation of having the highest
and he would lift them up and flip dren and adolescents is wide- reasons is that the abuser and the do not sexually abuse children or number of child rapes in the
them over, enjoying their laughter spread: 36,8 per cent of boys and abuse survivor are often in a close adolescents. world.
and happiness. He (SAW) would 33,9 per cent of girls have re- relationship. Sexual abuse may also lead to The Tears Foundation and the
stroke their heads with his hand, ported sexual abuse. It is rare that a stranger com- violence as the family members or Medical Research Council state
which would make them feel his Overall, 35,4 per cent, one in mits this act, and it is more com- friends of the abuse survivor may that 50 per cent of South Africa’s
compassion and tenderness. every three adolescents, reported monly committed by family take reciprocal violent action children will be abused (including
Children would receive gifts having experienced some form of members, friends of the family, against the abuser. sexual abuse) before the age of 18.
from him (SAW) and he (SAW) sexual abuse at some point in their teachers, ‘clergy’ of all religions On the other hand, sexual Sexual abuse can be forced, pres-
would pass his blessed hand over lives. and other persons being in loco abuse of children and adolescents sured, coerced, unwanted, ex-
their cheeks tenderly and kiss According to the SAPS, there parentis. is often accompanied by an ele- ploitative, non-contact or on-line.
them. were 24 387 sexual offences ‘In loco parentis’ is a legal doc- ment of physical or psychological PART TWO covers the issues
It is the state’s responsibility to against children during the period trine holding that educators in violence to limit or eliminate re- from an Islamic perspective, how
ensure that the rights of children 2018/19, amounting to 67 cases a schools or nursery schools, and sistance by the abuse survivor. to avoid sexual abuse and what
and adolescents are safeguarded. day, or three cases every hour. babysitters or ‘nannies’ assume In terms of the South African to do when one is abused
These rights are to be found in the The cases that are reported are custody of children because they criminal justice system, sexual sexually.
Constitution of South Africa and just the tip of the iceberg as the are deprived of protection from abuse of children and adolescents Dr Eshaam Palmer is a
the Universal Declaration of overwhelming majority of inci- their parents or guardians. are serious crimes, and abusers constitutional law consultant.
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Muslim Views . December 2020 9
Domestic violence and femicide: the silent war in South Africa
SHAHNAAZ PARUK ing space in order for them to plan and communities at large.
It is imperative that law enforcement, the next steps of the change in The first step is to speak up/ out
SOUTH Africa is known to have their lives. about it. By doing so, there is a
one of the highest records of civil society and social welfare groups This is a crucial time for any conscious decision to break the
violence and sexual assault survivor, and in order to transform cycle of abuse and the perception
against women and children. realise that we all have a vital role to play from a victim-driven mindset to of being a victim in an ongoing
Domestic violence is very one of survival and wellness, there cycle of abuse.
prevalent in most communities, in offering a holistic intervention to has to be the promotion of un- Assistance can be sought in the
with the latest statistics revealing learning past behaviours and pat- form of counselling, places of
that an estimated one in three promote the option of ease in access to terns, and welcoming new lifestyle safety and shelter, and in inclusion
women has faced physical or sex- changes and thought patterns. of family or support structures to
ual abuse at the hands of a partner
relevant assistance, as well as ensuring As Penny Appeal South Africa, enable and foster a positive envi-
or known family member. that policy and action taken against acts we reaffirm the organisation’s ronment which will encourage vic-
With South Africa just coming commitment to the fight against tims to break the cycle.
out of a strict lockdown to combat of domestic violence are relevant and gender-based violence, and high-
light the need to include education
An area that has not been ex-
plored is the option to work with
the COVID-19 surge, the in-
stances of domestic violence, have serious consequences. and reformative work with perpe- the perpetrator of domestic vio-
specifically against women and trators of violence against women. lence, and work towards promot-
children, have drastically in- It is imperative that law en- ing a change in approach and
creased. definite correlation of an over- fatal. forcement, civil society and social mindset so that the interventions
Femicide is a growing concern stressed home environment per- Penny Appeal South Africa welfare groups realise that we all taken are not one-sided and reac-
in South Africa, with our president taining to financial strain, presently supports a women’s shel- have a vital role to play in offering tive to address the victim/ sur-
now referring to incidents of vio- relationship challenges and frus- ter in Cape Town (Ihata Shelter for a holistic intervention to promote vivor’s stance but that of the
lence against women and children trating socio-economic or psycho- Abused Women and Children) as the option of ease in access to rel- perpetrator, too.
as a ‘silent pandemic’. logical challenges faced by one or well as makes provision for the evant assistance, as well as ensur- Penny Appeal continues to ad-
Femicide has seen a profound both partners. hosting of a domestic abuse hot- ing that policy and action taken vocate for the rights, safeguarding
increase over recent years, with a The sad reality is that the soci- line. against acts of domestic violence and protection of women, children
few of the contributing causes ety we live in has allowed the pat- The hotline provides advice and are relevant and have serious con- and vulnerable children.
being summarised to reveal a lack terns of abuse we see to become basic counsel as well as referral sequences. Our efforts continue in sup-
of dire consequences and inade- engrained in the DNA of our services to individuals (male and As Muslims, we should insist porting projects which speak to
quate legal responses to instances country – largely owing to this female) who experience any form on social matters such as these be- the development and upliftment of
of domestic abuse and violence. norm not being challenged, and of domestic abuse: emotional, coming focal points in our quest to women, and advocate for a society
In addition, a clear lack of insufficient resources spent on physical or sexual. restore our family units and re-di- where values are once again re-
state-provided interventions and changing the behaviour cycle we The shelter serves as a place of rect our values compass to ensure newed as the primary source of
support in relation to these crimes have come to accept as normal. refuge and healing for those af- that we do more for our women healthy communities and families.
provide a breeding ground for the A lot more work is needed fected by domestic abuse, and and children to be safer. In addition, we work in areas of
cycle of femicide and violence around advocating for the safety works in collaboration with local This also means realising and orphans and vulnerable children,
against women and children to of women and children, and reha- authorities for placement and re- accepting that as Muslims, our water, hygiene and sanitation, and
continue. Substance abuse and al- bilitation of perpetrators who per- ferrals. communities are not exempted education initiatives.
coholism are noted to be constant petuate the cycle of abuse and Through the support of Penny from the horrors of domestic vio- To find out more about our
factors in the majority of femicide femicide. Appeal South Africa, it is possible lence and child abuse. work, and work on female em-
cases, and recent COVID lock- Statistics point to men experi- for victims of gender-based vio- A means to recognising this and powerment and gender-based vio-
down measures have exacerbated encing a much lower rate of being lence (GBV) to seek assistance and taking active steps in addressing lence throughout the year, contact
these causes. subjected to domestic abuse, with counsel, as well as complete a 90- the matter for solutions cannot be info@pennyappeal.org.za.
In cases of crimes against inti- most incidents being found to be day programme where they are done in a silo – it requires com- Shahnaaz Paruk is the CEO of
mate partners, there has a been a extremely rare and almost never counselled and provided a safe liv- mitment from our religious leaders Penny Appeal SA
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10 Muslim Views . December 2020
AG must increase focus School honours
on HR management in
teacher who led
the public sector
MAHMOOD SANGLAY Management Act. The breach must be of a
nature that could result in a material loss or
from the front
FARID SAYED
The auditor general (AG) of South Africa, the misuse or loss of a material public re-
has, since April 1, 2019, been empowered source.
with an expanded mandate to audit the Accounting officers may be held person-
public sector in terms of the ally liable for MI and be issued a certificate
Public Audit Amendment Act. of debt. ALEXANDER Sinton High School has
The death of the AG, Kimi Makwetu, on While this form of check-and-balance is honoured one of its teachers who were at
November 11, threw into relief the expo- useful and essential, there is another aspect the forefront of the student-teacher
sure by his office of poor governance and of governance that appears to be under- uprisings against apartheid in the eighties.
corruption in the public sector. The appoint- stated, namely, human resources manage- On Saturday, November 21, the school in
ment on December 1 of the first woman ment in the public sector. The AG does Athlone unveiled the Nabil Basil Swart
AG, Tsakani Maluleke, in South Africa, audit human resources management, in- Foyer, two days after he had celebrated his
consolidates hope for sustained scrutiny of cluding appointment processes and the 84th birthday.
public sector corruption. management of vacancies and performance. Swart was described in a newsletter is-
The shocking AG report 2018-19 AG re- There are two key aspects of human re- sued to commemorate the occasion as ‘the
flects irregular expenditure of R42,8bn (up sources management that may enable finan- school’s most abiding human symbol of
16,3 per cent from the previous financial cial loss in the public sector. The first is the anti-apartheid resistance during the turbu-
year) and 28 instances of Material Irregu- appointment process in which corrupt offi- lent mid- to late eighties’.
larity (MI) identified from 12 completed au- cials, or persons prone to corruption, are This was a period when the apartheid
dits. appointed to positions of power and access regime tried to introduce ‘reforms’ that
This includes a loss of R438m due to un- to the public purse. would have given token representation to
Blacks.
Khalid Desai (left), then principal of Alexander
fair or uncompetitive procurement Typically, irregular appointments are
Sinton High School, and his then deputy, Nabil
processes resulting in overpricing of goods made by means of the ruling party’s policy These policies were, in effect, a concerted
Swart, leading the parents and students in a 1985
and services procured. of cadre deployment. attempt to further divide Blacks in their
protest which saw the school, amongst others,
It also includes a R2,2bn loss due to un- Such appointments are founded on the fight against the racist regime.
Resistance to this divide-and-rule policy forcibly closed by the apartheid regime.
Photo SUPPLIED
fair procurement processes resulting in sup- incumbents’ loyalty to the party and not
pliers that did not deliver as well as R55m necessarily adherence to ethical standards was met with brutal force by the racist
lost due to payment for goods or services and relevant policies and legislation. regime.
not received. Advocate Paul Hoffman, director of Ac- One of the schools on the Cape Flats that 1985, after police had laid siege to the
The new powers of the AG has poten- countability Now, insists that cadre deploy- was in the forefront of the intense resistance school.
tially far reaching consequences, especially ment is both illegal and unconstitutional. to the regime’s crackdown was Alexander While most were released after paying
in respect of holding corrupt public sector He cogently argues that this practice is Sinton. ‘admission of guilt’ fines, Swart was de-
officials and politicians accountable. inconsistent with the constitutional require- And Swart, who led from the front, was tained by the Security Branch.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
The AG now wields a smart new concep- ment of ‘good human-resource management among the parents, students and teachers ar-
tual tool called Material Irregularity (MI). and career-development practices’. rested on the morning of September 17,
This instrument offers a fairly wide scope The second key human resources aspect
to identify and pursue instances of fraud, is performance. Lack of qualifications, skills
theft or breach of a fiduciary duty. and competencies are likely to result in poor
However, the definition of MI extends to performance. Given the rigour of the AG’s
non-compliance with, or breach of key leg- approach to MI, some critical questions
islation, namely, the Public Finance Man- arise with respect to Maluleke’s approach to
agement Act and the Municipal Finance human resources management.
Does the definition of MI include irregu-
larities in the management of human re-
sources? Agsa says MI extends to
irregularities with a financial impact, in-
cluding breaches that cause substantial
harm to a public sector institution.
Poor or unlawful use of human resources
and breaches that lead to substantial harm
of a public institution are grounds for re-
porting an MI by the AG.
If the AG finds that an employee at an
auditee has been either improperly ap-
pointed, or does not meet the qualification
criteria required for the post, or fails to per-
form optimally, could this amount to MI?
Not necessarily says the AG. There are
two conditions that must be met before it
may be deemed an MI.
First, the employee’s appointment must
be in breach of a fiduciary duty, or must
amount to fraud. Secondly, such irregular
appointment must have grave consequences
for the particular auditee before the ap-
pointment may be deemed an MI.
However, even in the event that an irreg-
ular appointment or poor performance of
employees does not amount to a material ir-
regularity, the AG may still refer the MI to
suitably mandated organs of state.
In the event of a municipality ignoring
the AG’s recommendations and remedial ac-
tion, the matter may be referred to another
authority like the Public Service Commis-
sion or Parliament. The AG may even rec-
ommend legal action.
Even though the AG’s office is currently
focused on MI that involve financial loss,
the Public Audit Act does make provision
for MI that has an impact beyond financial
loss.
More specifically, the act provides for
scrutiny of MI in respect of the management
of vacancies, appointments and perform-
ance.
One test of the efficacy of the new pow-
Tsakani Maluleke (top), the first woman AG of
ers of the AG will be its application to re-
South Africa, succeeded Kimi Makwetu (bottom),
dress irregular appointments and to remedy
who died on November 11. Photos AGSA
incompetence in the public service.12 Muslim Views . December 2020
Trust committed to benefit children’s education in Imam Haron’s name
MOGAMAD ALLIE ‘By the grace of Allah SWT, two
major donors, Sanzaf and the
THE Imam Abdullah Haron Oceana Group, have continued to
Education Trust (IAHET) turned support the IAHET in providing
15 years old in September but, early childhood education to vul-
unfortunately, due to the nerable communities.
COVID-19 pandemic, we were ‘Their unselfish commitment,
unable to commemorate the and the resilience of our ECD
milestone in the way we would partners have enabled us to con-
have wished. tinue with our scheduled pro-
The pandemic also impacted on grammes.’
our regular fundraising activities, Last year, the IAHET decided
including the annual golf day, fun to terminate its bursary pro-
walk and theatre shows, all of gramme that had allocated
which combine to provide a major R3,5million to 424 students since
source of our budget. its inception in 2006.
We were still able to commem- This was a decision that was
orate our 15th anniversary on No- not taken lightly but was strongly
vember 29, 2020, with a novel influenced by the government’s in-
fundraising event in which sup- troduction, via the National Stu-
porters of the trust were able to dent Financial Aid Scheme
participate in a fun outdoor activ- (NSFAS), of free education for ter-
Before heading off on their two-hour fundraising trip that ended at the Sea Point Pavilion, riders from the Raceinfo_Cpt
motorcycle group met up with members of the executive of the Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust on November 29.
ity of their choice while at the tiary level students coming from
Among the IAHET members present were, Junaid Daries (to the left of the banner), Ebrahim Mohamed (chairperson), Brian
same time contributing towards households with a combined in-
Isaacs, Mogamad Allie together with Professor Muhammed Haron and Mumtaz Haron. Photo THABIED MAJAL
our early childhood development come of less than R350 000 per
projects in marginalised communi- annum.
ties. ‘The board of trustees decided
At a cost of R55 per entry, par- staff members making their own period, when household funds have rallied unselfishly to the to commit all our funding exclu-
ticipants engaged in a variety of personal contribution to our would normally have dried up. cause of those in desperate need,’ sively to the important area of
activities, including swimming, COVID relief fund. These funds were in addition to said chairperson Ebrahim Mo- ECD where we have developed
walking as well as a motorcycle The funds were utilised to dis- the R120 000 raised in June, dur- hamed. important partnerships with the
ride organised by Raceinfo_Cpt. tribute food parcels before the ing the height of the COVID-19 ‘The past two years have been Centre for Early Childhood Devel-
Headed by Zahier Gallow, 30 rid- commencement of the December pandemic in South Africa. the most challenging for the trust opment (CECD), the Foundation
ers started out in Kromboom school holidays, to the following Contributions included R49 in its 15-year existence. Donor fa- for Community Work (FCW) and
Road, Crawford, and ended two areas: 100 parcels, worth R250 306 from Coronation Asset Man- tigue, the impact of the current Grassroots Educare Trust (GET),’
hours later at Sea Point Pavilion. each, to St Helena Bay, and 120 agement and the Oceana Group COVID-19 pandemic and a lack said Mohamed.
It is thanks to the continued parcels, worth R250 each, to who assisted the West Coast com- of clear regulatory guidelines con- Over the six years of operating
support from the public that we Philippi. munities in Velddrif and St Helena strain our efforts to maintain and in the field, the Imam Abdullah
have been able to continue provid- These parcels were topped up Bay with 120 food parcels worth expand our efforts,’ Mohamed Haron Education Trust has spent
ing funding where it is most with a few additional Christmas a total of R18 600. added. over R3million on providing ECD
needed, particularly amid the eco- treats funded by the IAHET. This allowed us to distribute ‘The lack of guidelines make it services to over 1 200 children,
nomic havoc wreaked by the In addition, the IAHET has also 715 food parcels in areas like impossible to access funding for while more than 600 parents were
COVID-19 pandemic. committed to matching the Langa, Belhar and Gugulethu. centres that are not registered with trained in ECD workshops that
In November, the Oceana Oceana donation of R55 000 to ‘We have been overwhelmed by Department of Social Develop- have empowered them to be of
Group made a donation of R55 ensure households are not left the goodwill and generosity of ment while the criteria for registra- greater educational benefit to their
000, which was collected from without food during this critical supporters of the IAHET who tion are onerous. young children.Muslim Views . December 2020 13
Kingsley Holgate’s expedition reaches Mzansi’s Edge
JUST over two months after End and the Sabona [standing for equally colourful owners up Sani
setting off on a mission to follow South Africa, Botswana and Pass and into the Malutis – what
the entire land border of South Namibia] beacon.’ a great adventure that was!
Africa and track the Atlantic and As the Mzansi Edge Expedition ‘The wind howls as Shova Mike
Indian Ocean coastlines along neared its destination, the team’s arrives on his bike in near-zero
with a circumnavigation of Facebook gave a graphic descrip- temperatures. We’re stamped into
landlocked Lesotho, the Kingsley tion of one of the most challenging Lesotho (they didn’t even ask for
Holgate Foundation’s Mzansi legs of the journey: our Covid papers) and soon we’re
Edge Expedition has reached the ‘And so, at the SA border post huddled around the fire at Sani
literal Edge of Mzansi. at the bottom of Sani Pass, a de- Top, 2 874 metres above sea level.
The trip was devised by global lightful Dept of Health lady offi- ‘And then the mist clears and
Land Rover ambassadors Kingsley cial gives us all the for a short time, the afternoon sun
and Ross Holgate as a continua- earbud-up-the-nose test and for shines through to reveal the upper
tion of their efforts to deliver R120 each, we’re armed with a escarpment of the Edge of Mzansi
around 450 000 meals to rural clean bill of health, Covid-negative – exactly where we ought to be.
communities bordering wildlife certificates and our passports are ‘We sleep at the backpacker’s
parks in KwaZulu-Natal, stamped. hut and next morning, the valley
Mpumalanga and Limpopo dur- ‘What a great feeling! The free- below is still shrouded in thick With the new Land Rover Defender 110 P400 leading a host of previous
generation models, the Kingsley Holgate Foundation’s Mzansi Edge Expedition
followed the entire land border of South Africa and tracked the Atlantic and Indian
ing the hard months of the pan- dom of crossing a border again mist. So we make the decision:
Ocean coastlines. The expedition was devised to deliver around 450 000 meals to
demic, when a lack of tourism had after so many months of travel with our Covid certificates still
rural communities bordering wildlife parks in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and
a devastating impact on jobs and lockdown has us grinning from valid for 48 hours, we’ll trek along
income. ear to ear as in the mist and the the Lesotho side following the Limpopo during the hard months of the pandemic when a lack of tourism had a
devastating impact on jobs and income.
Photo JAGUAR LAND ROVER SOUTH AFRICA
During the 70-day, 10 000 kilo- rain, we Defender-it up the steep, ‘outside edge’ of Mzansi on the
metre journey, Mzansi Edge as- historic pass; from the fallen rocks very top of the Berg escarpment,
sisted those in need with meals, and recent washaways, one can then get back into SA at the dition roof rack and underbody less kilometres of bone-shaking
masks, sanitising soap and digital tell that it’s also been a no-mainte- Qacha’s Nek border post. Or so protection, among others. corrugated gravel roads.
thermometers on a much broader nance ‘Covid casualty’ for we thought…’ The Defender P400 is powered ‘This journey, along with so
scale around the perimeter of the months. The final leg of the journey by a 3.0-litre straight-six mild hy- many before it, has highlighted
country. ‘Like ghosts in the mist, the takes the expedition to its starting brid (MHEV) drivetrain with once again how the teamwork and
Expedition team leader Ross four Land Rovers reach the top of point in Kosi Bay. 294kW – making it the first petrol, camaraderie among the expedition
Holgate said: ‘We crossed some the pass – in low-ratio, rock-crawl Mzansi Edge represents the first and first electrified expedition ve- crew and those we meet en route
important milestones on our first- mode, it’s a piece of cake for the long-distance test of the new Land hicle in the Holgate fleet. make us all capable of great
ever South Africa-only expedition, new Defenders. As we negotiate Rover Defender, with a Defender Kingsley Holgate said: ‘From things. With the zen of travel still
and after travelling in an anti- the hairpin bends, memories flood 110 P400 leading a host of previ- the rocky, boulder-strewn on our side, we’ll continue tracing
clockwise direction from our back to the last time we brought ous generation models along the Lubombo Mountain gullies, to the the eastern border of South Africa,
home in Zinkwazi, on the north an expedition this way. expedition route. high dunes and deep, soft sand of complete a lap of Lesotho, and fin-
coast of KwaZulu-Natal, follow- ‘That was in 2016 to celebrate The Holgate Foundation’s De- the Kalahari, the new Defender ish up back in Kosi Bay late in No-
ing the borders of Mozambique, the end of the old Defender’s pro- fender is fitted with an Explorer has conquered everything in its vember.’
Eswatini, Zimbabwe and duction and we’d travelled in a Pack featuring a raised air intake, path. We’ve crossed countless Source: MotorPress/ Jaguar Land
Botswana, we reached Union’s clutch of Series 1s with their lockable side gear carrier, an expe- rivers and covered seemingly end- Rover South Africa14 Muslim Views . December 2020
Award for 30 years of service to prisoners New project launched to help sustain Cape mosques
STAFF REPORTER serves as the second deputy chair-
person and acting secretary-gen-
THE outstanding service of the eral of the National Muslim Prison
country’s longest-serving Muslim Board of South Africa (NMPB),
chaplain to prisoners was the officially recognised NGO re-
recognised recently by the sponsible for counselling Muslim
KwaZulu-Natal Muslim Prison prisoners.
Board. The NMPB is currently led by
At a ceremony held in Durban the chairperson, Mufti Siraj Desai,
on October 31, Moulana Mo- Moulana Shabeer Asmal as PRO
hamed Azeem Khatieb was pre- and Moulana Ahmad Nomu-
sented with a certificate for 30 tamba as the first deputy chairper-
years of service, which began son.
under the guidance of an icon of Despite the lockdown,
MAHMOOD SANGLAY Pictured are Ridhaa Lewis and Maahir
prison work, the late Imam Abdu- Moulana Khatieb was invited to
Ryklief, both seven years of age, who
rahman Bassier, of Cape Town. attend an International Prison
feature in the launch video of Masjid
Love, along with leading imams and
Moulana Khatieb, fondly Chaplaincy Association (IPCA)
huffaadh in Cape Town.
known by Muslim offenders in conference in Thailand. MASJID Love is a project
Photo NEW HEIGHTS FILM
prison as ‘Imam Khatieb’, was As a member of IPCA, he has launched by some Capetonians
working as an administrator at the officially attended this conference who recognise that they have a
Islamic College of Southern Africa for the past 20 years in Canada, collective responsibility to ensure
(Icosa) when he was handpicked Sweden and in Australia. the sustainability of mosques as an extension of its Imamate
by Imam Bassier in 1990 to assist On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, key institutions in the local Ta’awun Project (ITP), launched
Moulana Mohamed Azeem Khatieb, the
him with visiting and counselling the NMPB reached a new mile- Muslim community. to support the imams in the West-
country’s first chaplain serving
Muslim prisoners. stone by signing a memorandum The project was officially ern Cape through development
Muslim prisoners, was presented with launched on September 11, in as- and empowerment programmes.
a certificate by the KwaZulu-Natal
Moulana Khatieb acknowl- of understanding (MoU) with the
Muslim Prison Board in recognition of
edges with deep appreciation the Department of Correctional Serv- sociation with the South African According to Sanzaf, Masjid
30 years of service to some of the
rich legacy that Imam Bassier had ices, ensuring that the rights of National Zakah Fund (Sanzaf). Love will provide support for op-
most vulnerable members of society.
left in the field of prisoner coun- Muslim offenders are adhered to Their aim is to establish a cen- erational costs beyond that of the
selling. Photo SUPPLIED in terms of the Constitution of the tral fund to maintain mosques in imam’s salary, such as remunera-
With service spanning over four country. Cape Town in need of support. tion for the muadhin, caretaker,
decades, the late imam visited a holding the title of Assistant Direc- This MoU has paved the way This includes the payment of the madrasah teachers as well as mu-
number of prisons, from tor, Moulana Khatieb was also ac- for the NMPB to communicate municipal bills of the mosques and nicipal accounts.
Pollsmoor to Robben Island, tively involved in developing the with Department of Correctional the remuneration of the imams. In some instances, Masjid Love
where he had won the trust and re- Spiritual Care Policy Procedures to Service at the highest level. Part of the strategy of Masjid will provide short-term support
spect of the country’s political pris- rehabilitate Muslim offenders. At another recent historic occa- Love is to appeal to ‘all full-time with imams’ salaries while the ITP
oners during the apartheid era. Moulana Khatieb’s key focus is sion, on November 12, 2020, the employed income earners for fixed focuses on a more long-term ap-
From working as an assistant to rehabilitation, education, reinte- NMPB met at the Muslim Judicial monthly contributions’ to fund the proach. The two projects are
Imam Bassier, Moulana Khatieb gration and the spiritual care of of- Council offices with the national project. aligned to ensure that there is no
was appointed as the first Muslim fenders. commissioner of the Department Sanzaf says that it is essentially duplication or conflict.
chaplain in South Africa, in 1998. He also conducts workshops of Correctional Services, Mr
For the past 30 years, he has and training programmes for cor- Arthur Fraser, and the chairperson facing Muslim offenders and strategic plan for the next decade,
served diligently in nearly every rectional services officials. of the National Council of Correc- stressed the need for the appoint- Moulana Khatieb said that every-
prison in South Africa. Moulana Khatieb retired from tional Services, Judge Seraj Desai. ment of more Muslim chaplains in one present was satisfied that
As an employee of the Depart- the Department of Correctional At this meeting, the NMPB the country. Muslim offenders can view the fu-
ment of Correctional Services, and Service in February 2015 but still pointed out the many challenges After presenting the NMPB’s ture with greater hope.Muslim Views . December 2020 15
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ŏŏŏċ16 Muslim Views . December 2020
Two hundred years of Islam in Worcester – a brief history
ANVER SEDAN Bossieveld, Kleinbosch, Slang-
hoek, Brandvallei, Vendutiekraal,
WORCESTER is known to Rooye Wal and Doornrivier. Set-
many, particularly those from tlers brought their slaves with
Cape Town, as the town just over them, some of whom would have
the mountain, famed for its been Muslim.
scorching summers and its Worcester celebrated its 200th
picturesque, snowy mountains anniversary on February 29, 2020.
during winter. The town was officially founded
Many Capetonians visit the on February 29, 1820, by Charles
town’s masjid for Jumuah while at Somerset, the British governor at
Goudini Spa but how many are the time.
aware that Islam’s official presence Somerset, who was probably
in the area dates as far back as one of the most draconian and op-
1818, two years before the town pressive colonial rulers in the his-
was established? tory of the colony, named the
It is possible that Muslims lived town after his brother, the Mar-
in the area even before 1818. quis of Worcester.
The first European presence During Somerset’s rule, the
started in 1714 with the release of colony expanded rapidly. In 1818,
Moegamat Taiyb Sadan, better known
as Pang Taip, was the grandson of the
the quint-rent or loan farms. he instructed the magistrate of
The girls of the Moslem primary school who participated in the Moulood in the
first imam, Sadan Sulaiman. He was
Those farmers did not settle per- Tulbagh, J H Fischer, to find a lo-
early fifties. On the left, at the back, is the then principal of the school, the late
also a khatib and acted as imam in the Mr Iebrahiem Moosa (in white suit) and Mr Essop Ismail, teacher, far right.
manently. They came for grazing cation for a new deputy magiste-
their cattle. absence of the official one. rial district.
Photo SUPPLIED
Those farmers would have Photo SUPPLIED Fischer and his counterpart
brought their slaves with them from Graaff-Reinet suggested that came into existence. Another Any male living in the colony
when they stayed in the area. ‘For example, Jan van Bougies, a new municipality between the Muslim slave who lived in the area qualified for the voters role if he
Slaves were imported by the Dutch the imam of Palm Tree Mosque, two towns be established. One in 1825 was Agmat Skepper. He occupied, for 12 months, property
as early as 1657. owned 16 slaves between 1816 hundred and forty-four farms had was owned by a farmer named valued at 25 pounds sterling or
Since then, the trade in humans and 1834,’ according to the Iziko been for sale at the time of the Dirk De Vos. more, if he earned an annual
– among them Muslims from the Museum in Cape Town. proclamation of the town’s estab- salary of £50, or a salary of £25,
east – continued unabated until It is common knowledge that lishment. Eight-four were sold Islam in Worcester if board and lodging were pro-
the abolition of slavery, on Decem- Imam Jan Bougies of Palm Tree shortly. Nassiera Jerram’s father was vided.
ber 1, 1834. Mosque, in Long Street, himself a Another motivation for the es- Jurie Jerram and her mother, The seven Muslim men who
The first recorded evidence of freed slave, freed all his slaves. tablishment of the town was the Ralea Jerram. Records show that were recorded as voters on the
Islam in the Worcester area came It is possible that Nassiera building of a road over the Fran- Jurie was born in 1800, in Cape municipal roll for the December 5,
through Nassiera Jerram. Jeram and her family had been schhoek Mountains, a road that Town. 1853, elections were Kammies
The death notice of Nassiera free blacks. It is also possible that would link Worcester with Stellen- It is believed that he and his Abdol, Agrodien (a tailor), Abdol
Jerram, who married Kammies they could still have been in slav- bosch. wife moved to Worcester in 1818, Bazier, Jumat Jumaldien, Abdol Le
Abdol, showed that she was born ery by the time Worcester was es- In 1822, Tulbagh suffered ex- the year that Nassiera was born. Fleur, Azaf Sampson and Abdol
in 1818, in Worcester, before the tablished. If so, Nassiera would tensive damage caused by winter Nassiera had at least one Wagie.
establishment of the town. have been born during the time of storms. Charles Trappes was in brother, Kamalodien Jerram. Ka- According to the Worcester
It is not known whether the amelioration laws. charge of the design of Worcester malodien is listed as a male child Western Cape Encyclopaedia, the
Nassiera was a ‘vrye zwarte’ (free This set of laws was passed and recommended that the magis- on the death notice of Jurie Jer- Muslim community already began
black) or if she had been born in since 1807 until the law that abol- terial seat be moved from Tulbagh ram. Jurie’s parents were Bader- operating a Muslim school in the
slavery. ished slavery. Some of the amelio- to Worcester. His recommendation dien and Magdelena. 1840s.
Many slaves bought their free- ration laws, even though slave was approved. Jurie Jarrem died on May 30, It is unlikely that the school
dom and, in return, bought other marriages were only recognised in By 1830, there were 329 farms 1877, at the age of 77. He died in was secular. Instead, the school
slaves just to free them. 1824, made it illegal to sell slaves around the town and by 1832, Worcester and at the time of his would have been a madrasah
‘Some slaves were set free or who were part of a family struc- Worcester had become a frontier death had movable and immov- where children received religious
manumitted while the practice of ture, separately. town with the Market Square (or able assets. Ralea’s date and place instruction.
slavery continued. In other words, ‘wives’ and Die Plein as it is known today) be- of death is not known. Such madrasahs were found all
‘Some slaves were set free as a ‘husbands’ could not be separated, coming a hub of trade, including Kamalodien Jerram was born over the colony where Muslims
reward for hard work. Some and their children could not be the buying and selling of slaves. in Worcester in 1839 and died on had a substantial presence, in
slaves, who were allowed to earn sold before a certain age. Whether The original slave bell is still in ex- May 5, 1914, at the age of 75. some parts almost a third of the
money, could save enough to buy slave or free black, Nassiera Jer- istence today. It is situated oppo- Islam was already widespread in population.
their own freedom. ram’s death notice shows that she site Die Plein. the colony by the time Kamalo- The students at those
‘In a few cases, a free lover of a was officially the first Muslim A Cape of Good Hope Govern- dien was born. madrasahs were taught touheed,
slave woman bought her freedom born in the surroundings of ment Gazette of 1827, July 3 to An 1841 census of the Cape fiqh, the Arabic script, to read the
in order to marry her. Worcester, before the establish- September 28, had an entry for the Muslim population in the Cape Quran and adherence to the basic
‘In other instances, the slave’s ment of the town. sequestration of the estate of Thos Colony showed that 300 Muslims rituals of Islam.
purchase price was paid by a fam- Heatlie. Heatlie’s inventory in- had resided in Worcester. The madrasah would have been
ily member who had already ob- History of the town cluded household furniture, glass Cape Town had the highest situated on the south side of Dur-
tained his or her freedom. The area that became known as and earthenware, culinary and number (6 492), the Cape District ban Street, between Rainer and
‘Some free blacks owned slaves. the Breedevallei was inhabited by agricultural implements, oxen, (400), Stellenbosch (268), George Grey Streets, where 24 plots were
In some cases, these free blacks San and Khoi livestock farmers be- horses, breeding cattle, waggons (100), Uitenhage including Port set aside in 1840 for development
and slaves lived together in the fore the arrival of settlers. The and harnesses, and a slave named Elizabeth (150), Albany (50), for freed slaves. Abdol Bazier was
same household and were part of Khoi tribes comprised Gainou, Tiema. Swellendam (20) and Beaufort the first khalifa, according to oral
the same family. In other cases, the Korannas and Afrikaners. The set- ‘Tiema’ in Muslim circles is an West (20). tradition.
free blacks were part of the tlers brought the smallpox virus abridged version of the name Fa- In 1853, with the Cape Quali-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
wealthy elite and were socially and which decimated the local people. tima. It is highly likely that Tiema fied Franchise, seven Muslim
economically removed from slav- The settlers took occupation of was one of the Muslims who lived males in Worcester were registered
ery. farms named Waay Hoek, in Worcester shortly after the town to vote in the colony’s elections.You can also read
