Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia – 2016/04/18

The South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) says the presence of Muslims in South African politics is diminishing.

SAMNET is embarking on a survey among South African Muslims to find out if Muslims in South Africa have a voice in politics.

Statistics show that Muslims constitute to just more than 1.5% of the total population in the country.

But what were the conditions that made it possible for Muslims to obtain such an influential position in post-Apartheid South Africa? And more importantly what implications if any, has this had on Muslim identities in post-Apartheid South Africa.

After more than 300 years of Muslims presence in South Africa, Muslims have established themselves as an integral part of the South African landscape.

Ahmed Kathrada and Ismail Meer played a key role in persuading late President Nelson Mandela to work in a non-racial alliance rather than within an Africanist framework. Mandela also developed a very close personal relationship with his lawyer, Abdullah Omar, who post apartheid became South Africa’s Minister of Justice.

“I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to those South African Muslims who died while in detention because of their resistance to apartheid; Babla Saloojee; Imam Haron; Ahmed Timol; and Dr Hussein Haffejee. They represent the involvement of the Muslim community in the struggle for justice and freedom, as does the presence of Muslims as Cabinet Ministers and in the highest office of our judiciary, in the new democratic political dispensation of our country.” – Nelson Mandela at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, 11 July 1997

During the 1994 election, 5 Muslims were appointed as Ministers.

During the elections in 2004, Naledi Pandor became the first Muslim woman to be appointed as Minister of Education.

The first Chief Justice of the country after 1994 was Ismail Mahomed, a prominent Muslim activist.

The former Auditor General of the country was Shaukat Fakie, and there were many Muslim MP’s at national as well as local government.

The ability for Muslims in the Southern most part of Africa to adapt to circumstances on the challenged political landscape has enabled them to emerge as one of the most vibrant minority communities in the world.

Speaking to Radio Islam, SAMNET’s Dr Faisal Suliman says since 1994, the presence of Muslims in South African politics have almost disappeared.

“We know certainly since 1994 the Muslim presence in parliament has dwindled, the Muslim participation in political parties has almost vanished, there have been the ’African Muslim Party’ which has failed, we’ve got ‘Al Jama’ah’ that certainly hasn’t had much support.”

Suliman says there are lots of discussion platforms which are taking place to give SAMNET an indication with regards to the presence of Muslims in South African politics.

“We thought that it would be good to have an indication of perhaps what Muslims think about – in terms of all things political, and if so, in what form.”

He says it’s important for people to express their political opinions as to whether or not they are in agreement with the current political sphere.

“Are people happy with the parliamentary system; what about the existence of a Muslim party; should there be a Muslim party; what are the criteria and questions like that.”

Suliman says they have sent out mails and also engaged on social media, asking people to submit their responses as well as queries related to the survey.

“Insha’Allah by the 24th of April we want to start compiling some of the ideas SAMNET has and what comes through from the public which will eventually give us a better understanding or indication of what Muslims think.”

He says that if we look at Muslim populated areas like ”Azaadville, Lenasia and Overport”, we will be able to see that there’s very little activity in the registration periods of elections and voting in the past.

Now, as South Africa surges through this massive political upheaval, President Jacob Zuma is leaving nothing to chance and the ANC have been going door-to-door to retain its control in areas such as Nelson Mandela Bay, Johannesburg and Tshwane Metropolitans in the upcoming local government elections.

Many people from all walks of life are still debating the Constitutional Court ruling which slated the president and parliament over the Nkandla saga, the Gupta family’s influence over Zuma and some of his senior ministers.

Radio Islam will endeavour to discuss the Muslim factor that played such a pivotal role in the run up to the first elections in 1994 with political parties and political analysts, hence the question is being raised, “where is the Muslim voice in the current political and municipal elections 2016?”

Twitter: @thedabhelia

(Edited by Faizel Patel)