SAMNET

Category: Public Relations

  • FORMATION OF AN ASSOCIATION

    SAMNET PROPOSAL 2021

    SAMNET WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THE FORMATION OF AN ASSOCIATION FOR MUSLIM BROADCASTERS, JOURNALISTS, MEDIA, MARKETING, ADVOCACY AND PR PROFESSIONALS

    WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS INCORPORATE MEMBERS FROM SOUTHERN AFRICA

    The Proposal

    The South African Muslim network would like to propose an Association of Muslims in Southern Africa involved in Media, Broadcasting, Journalism, Marketing and related fields. Our research shows that no such association exists at present and we believe this is necessary to form. Purpose outlined below.

    The Benefits

    Why Form an Association?  

    • Networking and making connections benefit one and all in the media, journalism and related fields
    • Connecting with Journalists in other areas across Southern Africa
    • Content development, producing and not just reporting/consuming news
    • Promotion of the industry and promoting interest in the industry
    • Produce Accurate, True, Reliable, Credible and unbiased content to represent the current affairs in the Muslim world to dispel misconceptions and correct Misinformation spread by other media sources.
    • Students can seek mentorship from Media experts, Marketing Professionals, Journalists and Political experts from this association
    • Skills development
    • Sharing ideas, discuss visions, career guidance, collaborations with experts in the same fields etc.
    • Staying informed and updated on changes and issues in a variety of communities. Staying current on trends in the industry.
    • Retired Journalists, media experts can share experiences, stories, provide guidance to upcoming journalists, impart wisdom and advice to attain success.
    • Assessment of the image and representation of Muslims
    • Exchange and sharing of resources and assistance

    (To be discussed further)

    Members

    Who should join?

    Individuals involved in the following fields:

    • Media and marketing
    • People involved in Public Relations and/or Advertising
    • Print media
    • Radio broadcasting
    • Television broadcasting/production
    • Journalists
    • People Involved in Media Advocacy

    …. and Related fields

    How will it function?

    This will be a Voluntary association and membership, funding, and administrative functions to be decided once a working team is established

    Guidelines to consider when creating an Association

    • The Association needs to have a Vision and Mission that is mutually shared by members
    • In the beginning stages, the Association may need to offer incentives or opportunities to attract professionals and experts to join until growth is successful
    • A Board of Members who are successful in their fields to lead the joining members.
    • A diverse culture needs to be established to accommodate a diversity of people involved in the association, making all feel welcome and comfortable.
    • Membership and financial running costs? Would there be a member ship fees? Funding.

    Name (Suggestions)

    1. Southern African Association of ….
    2. SA Muslim Media, Marketing and Journalism Association
    3. Association of Muslim Media, Marketing and Journalism in Southern Africa

     (Open to more Suggestions/ideas)

    About us summary (Example)

    This Association is a professional network for journalists, media professionals, PR professionals, media advocates, political professionals and members involved in related fields in South Africa.

    The Association provides a forum for members to network, stay up-to-date with latest issues in the Muslim Community, be involved in effective Media Advocacy and social media activism as well as inspire future generations to become selflessly involved in the community.

    Aims, Objectives and Campaigns suggestions

    • Creating a forum that facilitates contact between professionals and non-professionals sharing similar interests in the world of Media, Activism, Politics and other journalism related fields.
    • Allowing members to network with each other and discuss and/or address issues locally and internationally.
    • Provide truthful, accurate, reliable and unbiased coverage on news and current affairs
    • Educating students, at high school and tertiary level, about Islamophobia, Injustice, Hate Crimes, Religious intolerance, inequality, inhumanity, immorality and unlawful practices.
    • Strengthen the various affiliated professions
    • Improve the accuracy, honesty, integrity, humanity, transparency and fairness in all forms of publications and posts shared with the public.
    • Inspire, encourage and assist the youth to get involved in the Journalism, media advocacy, humanities, activism and/or political fields.
    • Addressing glass ceiling/discrimination issues affecting members
    • Aces funding for bursaries, research, post graduate studies
    • Networking with international bodies

    Governance and Administration

    • Membership
    • Articles of association
    • Code of conduct
    • Board/management team

    To be discussed further…

    Examples of other Associations

    Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) – India

    This Association provides a platform for all Muslim professionals to share their skills, resources and knowledge to develop the community and empower the Muslims in India educationally, socially, politically and economically. They also empower the youth and assist those that are gifted but ignored or not given the opportunity to succeed.

    What do they do?

    They offer scholarships, training programmes, career counselling, skills developments programmes, relief and welfare activities and more.

    Each member pays a membership fee and this money is used to fund the projects and to keep the Association running.

    Association of European Journalists

    This is an independent non-profit international association that has no ties with any political parties or unions. They function democratically with a General Assembly and Board.

    The Association consists of Journalists all over Europe to create and promote European Harmony and defend Freedom of information and freedom of the press in Europe.

    International Federation of Journalists

    They promote and defend professional and ethical journalism in its role as a cornerstone of democracy and freedom, and be in the vanguard of creating a media culture that is ethically based, driven by the public interest and fit for the digital age.

    They have created various campaigns and have a media center in which they produce newsletters, blogs and news covering international news and the work they do.

    The IFJ policy is decided democratically at a Congress which meets every three years and work is carried out by the Secretariat under the direction of an elected Executive Committee.

    Resources

    • Social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram)
    • Official Website
    • National, local and community print media and radio broadcasting
    • Running a monthly or weekly newsletter
    • Internet access for Webinars/online meetings

    (To be discussed further)

     

     

     

  • Heritage Sites Nominations

    DEADLINE – 15 DECEMBER 2020

    SERIAL NOMINATION OF THE KRAMATS TOWARDS DECLARATION OF THE ‘CIRCLE OF TOMBS’ AS NATIONAL HERITAGE SITES

    The Cape Mazaar Society (CMS) and Vidamemoria have initiated a serial nomination of the Kramats/Mazaars towards the declaration of the ‘Circle of Tombs’ as National Heritage Sites. Nominations were discussed at the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) Grading Committee held 15 September 2020. Before declaration can be considered, a commenting process as prescribed in terms of Section 27 of the National Heritage Resources Act is to be undertaken. SAHRA will oversee formal notification to owners and conservation bodies. CMS are inviting interested and affected parties to make submissions regarding proposed declaration, where such process is running concurrently with the formal commenting process. 

    The following Kramats have been identified within the first phase of the serial nomination:

    Sheikh Yusuf Kramat, Faure Sheikh M Hassen Ghaibie Shah, Signal Hill
    Sayed Mahmud, Summit Road Constantia Tuan Kaape-ti-low, Signal Hill
    Sheikh Abdul Mutalib, Constantia Forest Sayed Moegsien bin Alawie, Mowbray
    Sheikh Abdurahman Matebe Shah, Constantia Sheikh A ibn Muhammad AlIraqi, Mowbray
    Tuan Dea Koasa, Simonstown Sheikh Noorul Mubeen, Oudekraal
    Tuan Ismail Dea Malela, Simonstown Note the remainder of Kramats/Mazaars will be nominated in the next phase of the serial nominations.

    As the South African Muslim Network, we support the serial nomination of the sites, as it is part of the Multi-cultural and multi-religious diversity of our rainbow nation. It is important in terms of history as well as for the preservation of culture and religion. These sites are very important for religious tourism; people from all over the world come to visit these significant religious and historical sites, and therefore, a source of revenue for the towns/cities in the areas that these are located.

    Learn more

     

  • AARTO AMENDMENT ACT

    THE AARTO AMENDMENT ACT OBJECTION

    SAMNET URGES ALL TO COMMENT BEFORE DECEMBER 1ST 2020

    Whether you are a Law-abiding citizen or not, this amendment has negative implications for one and all. The Department of Transport has created a platform for South Africans to express their approval or objections to the regulations to the AARTO Amendment Act and we urge each and every person to comment as soon as possible. Do not undermine the power that your objection could have. The deadline to comment is DECEMBER 1st 2020.

    Send through your comments to AARTO here
     
    View OUTA’s (Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse) Objections
     
     
    How does it work?  Learn more

    To simplify this seemingly complicated scheme, this is what the AARTO Amendment Act means:

    • When a traffic law is violated, a person, operator or company pays the penalty and incurs points. This is an automated system that works on demerit points. The demerit points are allocated to the operators and owners of motor vehicles. If a vehicle is suspended it may not be sold or used on a public road.
    • The driver is responsible, not the vehicle and will be punished by the system. Thus, if one sells/scraps the vehicle, the demerit points will be allocated to the next vehicle registered by the same person.

    THE POINTS WILL WORK AS FOLLOWS:

    • The offender/infringer receives a penalty, and in addition to the penalty, they also receive the demerit points allocated to the specific offense
    • If the demerit points exceed the maximum points (15 points), a person will be disqualified from driving or using the vehicle for a period of time (three months for every point exceeding 15 points)
    • The points for the offenses and infringements range between six and one;
    • The maximum for a person or operator card or a license disc for a juristic person who is not an operator is 15 points;
    • The maximum for a learner driver is six points;
    • The time value of each point is three months for disqualification or reduction purposes;
    • If demerit points are allocated to a person or vehicle record and no further demerit points are accrued in three months after receiving the previous demerit point, a reduction of one point on the total number of demerit points will be recorded on the system.
    • A person’s driving license card and the operator card of a motor vehicle must be handed in for the disqualification period;
    • Upon a third disqualification, the licenses will be cancelled. A person must apply for a new learner’s license and driving license once the disqualification period is over.

    THE AARTO REGULATIONS HAVE RAISED CONCERN ABOUT SOME ISSUES:

    • Currently, an alleged infringer has the right to elect to be tried in court. AARTO replaces this right with written representations, a Tribunal and ultimately an appeal or review application to the Magistrates Court.
    • Doubling the penalties (fines) which are currently payable – an additional burden on motorists in these economically unstable times.
    • Although failing to pay e-toll and regular road tolls will no longer attract demerit points, the fines for these infringements will be doubled.
    • The Regulations will make it a criminal offense to drive if a driver does not possess a driving license.

    THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE ACT

    There is no escaping, avoiding or delaying paying traffic fines with the AARTO act in place as it is an automated system that puts one in the position of having to prove their innocence and if they fail to do so, demerit points will be applied against their driving license/operator card or vehicle license disk.

    False number plates are on the rise – the AARTO act will increase the problem of False Number plates and you could be fined for laws you are not breaking if someone is using your number plate. How would you prove your innocence and how much will it cost to appeal this case? This will still hurt your pockets whether you are innocent or not.

    If your relative, friend or colleague uses your vehicle and happens to exceed the speeding limit, you will be affected not the person driving, as the vehicle is linked to your license. Similarly, companies that provide vehicles to employees will be affected greatly. The Person with whom the vehicle is registered could have their license disks/operating cards cancelled and could face more severe consequences for failure to nominate the driver when the company covers the cost of fines.

    50% of the penalty amount, regardless of when the payment is made, goes to the authority figure that issued the fine. The Road Traffic Infringement Authority (RTIA) will get involved and add on heavier levies to the original amount if the amount is not paid for whatever reason. RTIA is the acting arbiter in collecting the debts for the Government and funded by traffic fines. All parties involved gain to benefit financially and will ensure you pay whether you were at fault or not.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES

    1. OUTA – Opposing the AARTO Regulations
    2. COSATU
    3. Cape Talk – Why the City of Cape Town is against the implementation of AARTO

    SAMNET strongly urges you to object to this, as anything implemented in Gauteng
    will soon be rolled out to the whole country.

    This Act is scheduled to be implemented NATIONALLY in JULY 2021. Comment on the draft regulations to the AARTO Amendment Act BEFORE 1 DECEMBER 2020.  You may do so by visiting: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/aartoregs/

    CONTACT INFO

    1. ADV QACHA MOLETSANE
        ROAD TRAFFIC INFRINGEMENT AGENCY
        TEL: 087 287 7978
        EMAIL: AARTO.Comments@rtia.co.za

    2. ADV. NGWAKO THOKA
        DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT
        TEL : 012 309 3764
        EMAIL: AARTO.Comments@dot.gov.za