SAMNET

Category: Letters and Statements

  • COMPLAINT – THE WITNESS NEWS

    04 August 2020

    ATT : THE PRESS COUNCIL OMBUDSMAN

    RE: LETTER OF COMPLAINT AGAINST MISLEADING ARTICLE IN THE WITNESS

    The South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) identified a rather misleading photograph featured in an article on the front page of The Witness Newspaper online on the 4th August 2020.

    HEADLINE: ‘Alarm Raised At ‘Disproportionate’ Covid Deaths Among Sa Muslims.’

    We would like to point out the following:
    1. The picture featured is not from South Africa, as we do not have crowds like the one displayed in this photograph.
    2. This is a pre-corona picture that shows people in mass without PPE and standing shoulder-to-shoulder.

    The picture is completely misleading and gives the impression that this is what the Muslim community is doing in violation of the laws and social distancing. It gives the impression that the Muslim Community could be a source of a Covid 19 epidemic, literally. In an atmosphere of ISLAMOPHOBIA and viral transmission of photographs and fake news, this maligning picture can lead to increasing Islamophobia. We think that this is disingenuous and that is grossly misrepresenting the community and the circumstances of something as sacred as the Eid Prayer. It would have been very easy for the newspaper and the author to contact Muslim Organizations for comment on and to get an appropriate picture. There are numerous organizations, even in Pietermaritzburg, that could have been asked for an appropriate picture that is current in Covid conditions.

    We believe that The Witness should have a full front-page apology as this is such a gross violation by the author (Niyanta Singh) and they deserve to be fined and sanctioned so a clear example is made for them not to have a picture that is so damning. Furthermore, the article gives the impression that this view is widely held by the community, when in fact, it was a view expressed in a closed Zoom meeting within a small circle of participants and that in itself is misleading in the article.

    Kind Regards
    Dr F.Suliman
    SAMNET

     

  • CALL TO ACTION

    CALL TO ACTION

    The latest morally reprehensible Covid 19 PPE scandal comes as no surprise. This is what we have come to expect from a political leadership focused on looting the public purse. Unashamed nepotism, graft and corruption is part of a moral decay that has pervaded state organs, the parastatals and the leadership in various municipalities, provinces and national government. The public is tired of speeches and ‘integrity commissions’ resulting in no confidence building outcomes.

    Concrete outcomes like the prosecution and imprisonment of the perpetrators of corruption will go a long way in rebuilding our fragmented society. Government has no option but to immediately increase the resources available to the various arms of the criminal justice system that deal specifically with corruption (government corruption in particular) and to ensure that these institutions are totally independent of political interference. In addition, and bearing in mind the capacity deficits in the state, it is critically important to build strategic partnerships with the private sector build the necessary capacity. The appointment and promotion of corruption accused Zandile Gumede to the KZN legislature defies logic and makes a mockery of the promises made by the ANC to deal decisively with corruption and nepotism. It is now quite evident that the ANC is unable to correct itself on its own and with this appointment showing the public, its voters and donors the proverbial middle finger. It is, regrettably, clear that the ANC is unwilling and/or incapable of self-correcting and taking the necessary action needed to halt its moral decay and stop itself from spiraling into an abyss of corruption and maleficence.

    South Africans have had enough!

    We are staring down the barrel of a popular revolution if the rampant theft is not halted immediately. We call on Government, and the ruling parties in the provinces, to spare no effort in doing whatever is needed to stem the looting immediately. There are internal and particularly external forces that would like to see our beautiful country made ungovernable and will exploit the general disenchantment, financial woes and dissatisfaction of the public to push for a “revolution” which will only make things worse. The longer we allow the present rot to ferment, the higher the chances and the opportunities for nefarious agendas.

    It must be made clear to all political parties, tenderpreneurs of all political persuasions and the corrupt private businesses and institutions who facilitate this corruption that none will be spared and the long arm of the law will take its course decisively. The role of well-meaning NGO’s inadvertently contributing to theft of the public purse must be critically evaluated and leveraged differently. It is common knowledge that much of the money that is allocated to or budgeted for service delivery, poverty relief, feeding schemes and most recently PPE, is being stolen by tenderpreneurs working with comrades in municipal, provincial and national government.

    Well-meaning NGO’s, religious bodies, civic and cultural organisation etc. step in to fill the vacuum left by Government’s ineptitude and corruption, to provide some relief for the public. The very same public is often told by councilors and political parties that the relief brought by NGO’s/church bodies etc. has been organized by them. It is by the “grace” of these comrades, councilors and political party members that the relief was brought to these areas. Often those very same people continue to support and vote for those particular political parties, whether in national or municipal elections and the corruption cycle perpetuates itself. Clearly, we all have a moral duty to support and help our fellow beings. However it is time well meaning NGO’s and humanitarians think differently to leverage all of the work they are doing to ensure the cycle of corruption and rampant theft of the public purse is brought to a halt and accountability restored.

    There are too many skeletons within the ANC’s cupboards for it to be able to take the decisive action necessary. The constant recycling of corruption linked and inept comrades is proof of this. Therefore, it now lies with civil society to once again mobilize in the same way we did against apartheid to preserve the future of our country and our children. We must help the ANC to save itself, even it if means forcing it into action by mass action. In addition, the same must apply to other political parties who also have their fair share of looters and incompetent deployees.

    “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be
    against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of
    both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or
    refuse [to give it], verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do”
    [Chapter An’isa – 4: verse135]

    For Muslims Almighty God’s literal words in his final testament, the Holy Quran, are unequivocal for those who believe – to firstly practice justice, honesty and integrity; and secondly to stand up, literally and figuratively, for social justice. The corruption scourge is a greater danger to this country than the coronavirus and once again, it is now time for civil society to rise up collectively, free of party politics, to save our country. It is now upon civil society to save our own country from internal and external looters and from those who want to exploit the present circumstances. It is time to mobilize together and send a clear message to the Government, all political parties and to the looters, irrespective of which political party they are aligned to, that we demand integrity and competence.

    We support the call to action for a UDF styled mass movement to eradicate the scourge of corruption. South Africans on stood up and made huge sacrifices to defeat apartheid and it is now necessary for us once again stand up and be counted to preserve the future of our country and our children. We need to emphasize that it is not only the ANC that is plagued with shameless looters and our collective front must be a warning to the other political parties who are infected too.

    Intra-party and inter party conflicts and killings are linked to the politics of patronage and the looting of the public purse. We believe that all political parties should sign a pledge of honesty where politicians commit themselves to clean governance and agree to swift punishment. It is presently too easy for them to skirt around the rules of their respective parties and escape accountability and punishment .We should withhold support and donations to political parties until they made this pledge and commitment.

    Enough is enough!

    South Africans demand clear and decisive action immediately, not promises of action.

    Dr F. Suliman
    Chairperson

  • Letter – Presidency – Covid 19 Support

    07 May 2020

    ATT : PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
              MR. CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

    CC :  MINISTER OF TOURISM,
             MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
             MINISTER OF FINANCE
             SECRETARY GENERAL OF ANC

    Dear Honourable President Ramaphosa

    RE: COVID-19 BUSINESS SUPPORT

    SAMNET supports all the principles of Affirmative Action, Equity and Transformation, but agree that the withholding of any support, social, medical, economic or otherwise, in response to a national crisis, on the basis of any criteria Race, Religion, Ethnicity, Gender, or other differences is counter to building a non-racial and non discriminatory society and a South Africa for all its citizens.

    Business is interconnected with the economic activity and provisions of every employee, their family, dependents and community. The policy of the Department of Tourism to base support based on race will impact on all types of South Africans especially the struggling low income and middle income earners of all races employed by any business. We call on the President as our leader and a key drafter of our constitution, on government and the NCC addressing this crisis and the ANC as the governing party based in its roots as a non-racial, inclusive organization to recognize the damaging impact this will have and to reverse this decision immediately.

    This will set an untenable precedent for future decisions, which could determine social or medical benefits being withheld, based on race or other discriminatory factors. At a time when we need to support every entrepreneur and Small Business owner who can save and create employment, we must not unintentionally create poverty and hardship by terminating, discouraging or deterring business.

    Kind Regards
    Dr Faisal Suliman
    Chairman of SAMNET