Faizel Patel – 02/06/2020
Photo: Supplied
The United Ulama Council of South Africa (UCCSA) has urged Muslim communities to submit recommendations pertaining to the regulations of the opening of Masaajid.
President Cyril Ramaphosa during an address to the nation last week announced that places of worship may be reopened on 1 June under strict regulations.
While religious gatherings have been allowed, health, hygiene and social distancing protocols must be in place including limiting congregational worship to 50 people with worshippers maintaining a 1.5 meters distance between each other.
UUCSA says the regulated opening of masaajid poses several challenges for the Muslim community.
The organization says a meeting with various stakeholders hosted by the Public Private Growth Initiative (PPGI), which is assisting the government in drafting regulations.
Representatives from Genesis, which is one of the largest consulting firm in Africa, the Islamic Medical Association of South Africa and members of UUCSA also participated in the meeting.
UUCSA says the meeting was convened to gain better insight into the regulations, to look at various preventative/pre- emptive measures and at best practices from a select number of Muslim majority countries.
“We need to ensure conformance to regulations which are often times not tailored to meet the specific needs of the various faith based communities.
UUCSA says in order to ensure a more inclusive approach when drafting regulations and in order to assist the Muslim community with issues of compliance, specific recommendations pertaining to regulations for masaajid COVID-19 can be submitted to the organization
Is it against the law to attend the massajid if u are oider tha n 60.or is it jusy a recommendation. We r only 6or 5 people during the week. But thr had barred over 60s to attend. Jazakallah