Keeping you in contact with your community
16TH EDITION
issue One child disappears every six hours
Inside this
STAFF REPORTER
Shocking figures released by
the SAPS' Missing Persons
Bureau revealed that one child
disappears every six hours in
South Africa. Each year more
than 1 500 children disappear
in South Africa without a
After St Petersburg, trace. More than 200 of these
children come from Pretoria.
what's next? Even though, a large number
of them will be found, there
are more than 900 who
PAGE 4 remains listed as missing on
the SAPS' Missing Persons
Bureau database. Most of
those who vanish come from
Pretoria and Johannesburg
with Gauteng having the dubi-
ous honour of the highest rate
of child disappearances in the
country. Missing Persons
Bureau commander
Superintendent Fanie van
Deventer said he was extreme-
ly concerned by the number of
children who remained miss-
The Darul- licious boys ing. According to Van
and girls is Number one Deventer, who also heads the
South African Centre for
Missing and Exploited
PAGE 5 Children (Sacmec), said that
the international statistics
show that the golden period
for finding a child alive is 72
hours.
While the SAPS has a more
than 80 percent success rate
when it comes to finding chil-
dren, for seven-year-old
Sheldean Human, abducted
from her home last month and
found murdered in a storm
water drain outlet last week, it
was too late. The ordeal of
You can guarantee your Sheldean's family has high-
lighted the plight facing South
right to a dignified life Africa's children.
Commissioner Arno Lamoer
said at a recent media informa-
PAGE 7 tion session that Sheldean's
situation was disproportionate
compared to similar cases.
"There are incidents every day
in which children disappear
and then we don't pay as much
Insight into the lives of
the Chechen Jihadists
PAGE 10
ISLAMIC MEDIA AGENCY CC
ck 2002/001313/23
Editor: Sanaa Petersen
Designer: Nazleah Hartley ‘Abusing a Muslim is
Religious Contributors: Moulana Shuaib Appelby
Printers: Independent Newspapers
Fusuq (an evil doing)
466 Lansdowne Road,
and killing him is Kufr
Lansdowne, 7780 (disbelief)’
Tel: 021 697 2294
Fax: 021 697 2304 Sahih Al Bukhari
Email:info@islamicmedia.co.za
Website: www.islamicmedia.co.za
MARCH 2007
INNOCENCE: The beauty and innocence of children, their free spirit
attention."
The (media) shock over the
death of the 11-year-old Cape
Flats girl, Annestacia Wiese,
who was found in the ceiling
of her home, died when her
body was discovered.
Incidentally, she was wearing
a pink shirt and denim jeans
just like the murdered
Sheldean Human, when she
disappeared. Her death has
been regarded as yet another
indication of the failing child
protection services in South
Africa. Superintendent Billy
Jones said that more state-
ments will be taken from fam-
ily members and friends of the
Wieses. In the meantime
Richard Engelbrecht, the man
accused of killing 11-year-old
Annestacia Wiese made a brief
court appearance in Mitchells
SOPA TRADING (PTY) LTD.
trading as
Tel: 021 372 1106/07/08
021 374 1114/ 371 7411
Fax:
021 372 1110
Email:
Sadick@mweb.co.za
Narrated by Abu Huraira(RA)-
The Prophet(SAW) said, “Faith is
to believe in Allah, His angels,
(the) meeting with HIm, His
Messengers, and to believe in
Resurrection
SAFAR 1428
PICTURES: Sanaa Petersen charge him on 21
counts of among
others rape, kidnap-
ping, hijacking, bur-
glary and escape. It
is not known where
and when he would
appear in court.
Police are not
responsible
everything Lamoer
for
said that the open
society in which
South Africans
lived, offered many
opportunities but
also dangers. He
said Sheldean was
not taken by
strangers, but by
someone whom she
knew and trusted.
This showed, he
said that people who
looked only at the
State for their safe-
ty, should start
looking at them-
selves. "Society has
changed and more
parents are not at
home, with family
values being less
strong than in the
Plain on Tuesday, the case past. People don't realise that
was postponed, pending fur- it is their own responsibility to
ther investigation. secure themselves. They
Earlier this month police res- would rather point a finger at
cued two girls from a large police if something happens to
underground burrow in the them".
Hemel and Aarde Valley near He said it was the police's
Hermanus. The 15-year-old greatest challenge to fight the
girl, who is believed to have crime that took place between
been kidnapped 18 months people who knew each other.
prior was found along with a "How do we intrude on a fam-
4-year-old girl, apparently the ily unit? What do you say
suspect's own child. The sus-
pect, 31-year-old Johannes
when a man tells you he has
the right to give his child a
Mower, was arrested after hiding?"
police received a tip-off, by a
special task team consisting of We would like to hear from you
the police crime intelligence - "Is the government to be
unit investigation officers and blamed for the crimes commit-
trackers. Mower is believed to ted against children."
have been responsible for ter- Please email us on info@islam-
rorizing the region between icmedia.co.za, fax 021 697
Caledon and Hermanus for 2304, sms 074 2274345 T3
about 3 years. Police want to
Narrated by Abu Huraira (RA) - The
Prophet (SAW) said, “Islam is to worship
Allah alone and none else, perform
Salaah, pay Zakaah, fast during the month
of Ramadhan, perform Hajj”
 2 March 2007 - Safar 1428
CRIME IN BRIEF
Five-year-old shot in gang
cross fire
Manenberg - A five-year-old
boy, Cameron Adonis, was
wounded by a stray bullet in an
alleged gang-related shooting
in Manenberg yesterday. He
was playing on his bed when
he was hit in the head by a bul-
let that passed through his bed-
room window. Police
spokesperson Superintendent
Billy Jones said the boy was
taken to hospital, where he was
said to be in a critical condi-
tion. Police were investigating
a case of attempted murder.
2000 criminals escaped
police custody
South Africa - Safety and
Security Minister Charles
Nqakula has confirmed that
close to 2 000 people escaped
from police custody in the past
12 months. Nqakula was
responding in the national
assembly to a question by
African Christian Democratic
Party leader Kenneth Meshoe.
He admitted that 1 980 crimi-
nals escaped during that period
and 38 members of the South
African police force were pros-
ecuted for aiding the escapees.
The Safety and Security
Minister then tried to down
play the information by adding
that police will next week
unveil a technological centre
that will assist police in track-
ing people and vehicles.
Eleven year old Annestacia
Wiese Body found in ceil-
ing of home
Mitchells Plain - Police have
questioned relatives and a fam-
ily friend of a murdered girl,
Annestacia Wiese, after her
body was found in the ceiling
of her mother's home in
Woodridge Mitchells Plain.
The male suspect is believed to
be the mother's boyfriend. The
gruesome find came after resi-
dents, responding to a request
from police for the assistance
of the public, carried out an
extensive two-day search for
the 11-year-old. According to
information received by the
police, she was seen with an
adult male who took her by the
hand and walked in the direc-
tion of Woodlands High
School, near her house.
Hundreds of residents, most of
whom had assisted in the
search, gathered around the
home yesterday while police
officers worked on the scene.
But while the search was under
way, her lifeless body had been
hidden in the ceiling of her
own home. Annestacia Wiese
was found dead on Sunday
morning in the ceiling of her
Woodridge home by her bio-
logical father, who lives else-
where. Annestacia was last
seen by her mother when she
went to a shop in Mitchell
Avenue, situated a block away
from her house. She apparently
never arrived at the shop.
W omen raped in Blue
Route Mall's toilet
Mitchells Plain - Managers of
the Blue Route Mall in Tokai
in Cape Town have confirmed
a woman was raped in one of
the centre's toilets this week.
Blue Route Mall manager
Mervyn Caplin says they know
very little about the incident at
this stage and that he believes
it was an isolated incident. The
woman was attacked in one of
the mall's toilets close to the
food court. Police are investi-
gating the incident, but have
not yet arrested anyone.
Search for abducted 3
month baby continues
Western Cape - Police are
searching for a three-month-old
baby who went missing on
Friday after a woman believed
to be a social worker took the
baby from her mother and
never returned. Constable
Siphokazi Mawisa says the
baby, and her 25-year-old
mother was alone at their house
in Makhaza Township in Cape
Town when a woman visited
them. The woman took the
baby to a nearby shop to buy a
cool drink, but she never
returned. Anyone with informa-
tion could contact the Family
Violence, Child Protection and
Sexual Offences unit on 021-
918-3162. Love sees no colour
Girls tore off victim’s STAFF REPORTER
closed, held her down,
while 4 teenage boys Millionaire businessman, Fred Nassiri,
raped her sacrifices his millions to spread the
Oudtshoorn - Six teenagers message of love and peace across the
suspected of robbing and rap- globe. He arrived in Cape Town in
ing a young woman in February to record his signature song,
Oudtshoorn appeared in court 'Love sees no colour' in Xhosa as part of
yesterday. Two 18-year-old his music video. He is recording the
girls pinned down the 19-year- biggest music video and first started
recording his signature song in Eygpt
old woman, tore off her clothes
and she then was raped in turn then he traveled to Israel, Palestine,
Berlin, Paris, Russia and India. Nassiri
by four youths - and also said that crime stems from a lack of love
robbed. The attack took place and poverty. "Take 10% of the military
near her home in Bridgton, budget of a trillion dollars, you will
Oudtshoorn, after she had visit- have one billion dollars to use to eradi-
ed her sister in Smartie Town. cate poverty". "We spend so much
The four boys, aged 13, 14, 15 money on the destruction of our
and 18, apparently took turns species".
in raping her. Police are con- PICTURES: Sanaa Petersen
cerned about the increasing rate
of violent crimes committed by
adolescents. A nearby resident
who heard the woman's cries
for help, confronted the
teenagers and chased them off.
The resident was able to
describe and identify two of the
suspects later and they were
quickly traced and arrested.
The court released the minor
boys into the custody of their
parents. The two 18-year-old
girls remain in custody. The
case has been postponed until
March 12. Five rapes have
LOVE: Philanthropist Fred Nassiri discussing
been reported on the South his music video of “Love sees no colour” with
Coast over the past four days. the Cape Film Commissioner, Lauren Mitchell.
 March 2007 - Safar 1428
Highlights from the Budget 2007 speech
YASMINA FRANKE
"Human life has equal worth" ,
"A human being is a human
being; there is no lesser human
being",- hardly the words one
expects to hear from a man
tasked with the financial mat-
ters of a nation. Finance
Minister Trevor Manuel deliv-
ered his 2007 Budget Speech in
Parliament on 21 February
2007 and dished up a surprise
or two.
It is not often that a financial
minister announces a budget
surplus, but Minister Manuel
took great pleasure in doing so.
He went further to announce
better tax cuts than was expect-
ed and even surprised a few
with his much improved Xhosa.
Speculations were that the min-
ister would deliver a fairly con-
servative budget, but as it
turned out it was more gener-
ous than expected. Yet, the
Minister exercised reasonable
constraints and resisted the
temptation to spend but opted
to save - changing the govern-
ment's fiscal approach from
that of a spender to a saver.
What better way to set the
example to a nation whose sav-
ings level is critically low.
He said: "In a country like ours
with a low level of savings, the
planned fiscal surplus is gov-
ernment's contribution to the
national savings effort and we
would like our citizens to fol-
low this example".
Much of the tax relief for indi-
viduals is meant to promote
household savings and the min-
ister went to great lengths to
find that balance between relief
and fuelling consumer spend-
ing.
Income Tax for Individuals
Personal Income tax cuts is
realized through the new tax
threshold of R43 000 for indi-
viduals under the age of 65 and
R69 000 for individuals over
the age of 65. The primary and
secondary rebates have also
increased to R 7 740 and R4
680 respectively.
Particularly welcoming was the
abolishing of retirement fund
tax. Then interest and rental
income of retirement funds will
no longer be subject to tax.
The reduction in the withhold-
ing tax on lump-sum pension
and provident fund payment for
persons earning below R43 000
and the increase in interest and
dividend income tax-free
threshold should go a long way
to encouraging personal saving.
Tax on Medical Contributions
The tax-free medical contribu-
tions have been increased to
R530 and to R320 for each
additional beneficiary in a fur-
ther attempt to get South
Africans to start saving more.
Capital Gains Tax
The annual exclusion threshold
for capital gains will be
increased from R12 500 to R15
000. In addition the threshold
below which no capital gains
tax is imposed at death
increased from R60 000 to
R100 000.
Furthermore shares held for 3
years or longer and then dis-
posed of will be subject to cap-
ital gains.
Fuel Levy
From 4 April 2007 the fuel levy
will be increased to 10c a litre.
Sin Tax
The cost of cigarettes is
increase by 10.7% which means
a pack of 20's will cost 20c
more. A 340ml bottle of beer
will cost 5c more and spirits
will increase by R1,88 per
750mm.
At a macro level, the govern-
ment will be focusing its
spending over the next few
years on education, upgrading
infrastructure and fighting
crime.
Education received a boost of
R6 billion with an additional
R2.2 billion allocated to subsi-
dies for higher education.
R45 billion is earmarked for
the upgrading of infrastructure
and R2,4 billion is being added
for the fight against crime.
All in all, the minister deliv-
3
ered a very balanced budget.
The essence of this year's budg-
et confirms the very strong fis-
cal strength of our economy
compared to other emerging
markets. Yet, much is up to the
individual. So, lets get being
the minister and put those tax
savings to good use.
Highlights from Budget 2007
- Personal tax
* Personal income tax relief
amounting to R8.4 bn.
* Level below which no income
tax is levied for people under
65 is raised to R43 000.
* Retirement fund tax abol-
ished from March 1 2007.
* Iinterest income exemption is
raised from R16 500 to R18
000 for those under 65 and
from R24 500 to R26 000 for
those 65 and over.
* Monthly monetary caps for
tax-free medical aid contribu-
tions are increased from R500
to R530 for each of the first
two members. The cap increas-
es from R300 to R320 for each
additional beneficiary.

South Africa – Russia relations strengthened The seal of Prophethood to humanity

RABI` UL AWWAL PRO- Centre then proceed to Tokai
South African Deputy President Phumzile The bulk of SA exports are made up of vehicle GRAMME 1428 Forest.
Mlambo-Ngcuka hosted Russian counterpart engines (18.8% of exports); machines & 21 MARCH 2007 -17 APRIL 1 April: Inter Youth Dialogue
Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov on an official mechanical appliances (14%); Fresh grapes 2007 Forum 2pm @ The Islamic
visit to South Africa on Saturday - Monday, 17- (13.8%); flat-rolled products or iron (10%); Centre, 60 Albert road,
19 March 2007 to expand South Africa's strate- pears (6.8%) peaches (3.4%) - amounting to Empowerment Programme for Lansdowne
gic partnership with the Russian Federation as a almost 70% of SA exports to Russia. The major the Spiritual Youth 8 April: Kirstenbosch Walk:
member of the Group of 8 (G-8) and United import from Russia, accounting for over 65% of Monday Evenings: 2pm @ The Islamic Centre, 60
Nations Security Council. South Africa - Russia SA imports is made up of the nickel group of Iftar programs Albert road, Lansdowne
relations were significantly consolidated by the minerals. And an interactive discussion on 14 April: Distribute pamphlets
State visit in to South Africa by President Putin the Prophet (PBUH) as a Youth on the life of the Messenger of
in September 2006 during which the two presi- South African Investments in Russia in Makka Allah (PBUH) amongst the
dents Thabo Mbeki and Putin signed the Treaty The SA multinationals Anglo American, Time: 7pm South Africans on Sea Point
of Friendship and Partnership between the Standard Bank, De Beers, JCI, Barlowworld, Venue: The Islamic Centre, 60 Promenade
Republic of South Africa and the Russian Capespan and Bateman have substantial interests Albert Road Lansdowne Time: 2pm meet @ Islamic
Federation. in Russia. In addition, SAB/Miller has estab- Wednesday Evenings: lecture Centre
lished a brewery in the Kaluga Region, which series PICTURES: M Yusuf Karriem
Economic Bilateral Relations represented a US$100 million investment, and 21 March: Prescribed
The establishment of the Joint South Africa/ their product, Golden Barrel Beer, is highly suc- Deeds to be admitted into
Russia Business Council is now the means to cessful in the local market. Standard Bank also Paradise,
achieve greater trade and economic co-operation has a growing presence in Russia as well as 28 March: Absolution of
between the business sectors of both countries. SAPPI, Protea Hotels and Sun International. Sins
Recently also the MIHGroup which includes 4 April: Protection from
DSTV, and M-Net also has investments in the Hell
Russian Federation. 11 April: Pledge of
Allegiance to the Prophet
(PBUH)
– STAFF REPORTER Time: 7pm
Venue: The Islamic Centre,
60 Albert Road Lansdowne ENLIGHTMENT: The Muslim Judicial

South Africa – Saudi Arabia agree on avoidance of double taxes

South African President Thabo
Mbeki concluded his two-day
working visit to Riyadh, the
capital of the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia on 14 March 2007
President Mbeki, accompanied
by Mrs. Zanele Mbeki, led a
South African delegation
Ministers Dr. Nkosazana
Dlamini Zuma, Mosiuoa
Lekota, Mandisi Mpahlwa and
Buyelwa Sonjica, senior gov-
ernment officials and a busi-
ness delegation.
The visit took place in the con-
text of South Africa's commit-
ment to strengthening and con-
solidating relations with the
countries of the Gulf with a
view to increasing the flow of
investment and economic inter-
action to ensure a faster and
shared economic growth in
South Africa.
An agreement on the Avoidance
of Double Taxation and the pre-
vention of tax evasion agree-
ment was signed between
STRATEGIST: The president of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki, met with the
heads of mission of over thirty countries at the Lord Charles Hotel at the
opening of Parliament
South African and the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia Represented by
the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
PICTURES: Sanaa Petersen
Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
and His Excellency. Mr
Ibrahim Walaz.
Thursday Evenings: Council-Youth Desk engaged youth on
Workshop Empowerment the Hijirah- the Prophet (SAW) left
Sessions Makka and arrived in Madina on the
22 March: Salawaat, 12 Rabi Al Awwal
29 March: Adhkaar of the 22 April: Horse riding @
Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Schaapkraal Farm R25
upon Him) Time: 2pm meet @ Islamic
5 April: Tilawat of Surah Centre then proceed to Farm
Dukhan plus Virtues and Individual Activities
Themes of the Sura Each Night
12 April: Tilawat of Sura al Sura Tabarak (Protection from
Kahf plus Virtues and Themes the Punishment of the Grave)
of the Sura Sura Waqia` (Security and
Time: 7pm Poverty Alleviation)
Venue: The Islamic Centre, 60 Group Activities during the
Albert Road Lansdowne Month
Every Friday After `Asr Projects for Madressas, Muslim
before Magrib: youth groups, Muslim Schools
Visit the graves of relatives, and MSA`s :
parents etc. Forgotten devotional prayers
Saturday Night: and actions of the Messenger Of
Seminar Allah (PBUH)
14 April: The Legacy of the Compiling and Memorising 40
Prophet simple Hadith on living Islam in
Time: 6:30pm @ Masjid Al 21th Century
Quds Auditorium Autumn Youth Camp
Sunday Afternoon: Friday 6 April- Sunday 8 April
25 March: Bring `n Braai @ Please Contact Moulana Shuaib
Tokai Forest Appleby on 082 6919181to book
Time: 12:30pm meet @ Islamic your place for the events
4 March 2007 - Safar 1428
Africa and the G8 – After St Petersburg, what’s next?
In the present disturbing inter-
national configuration, domi-
nated in July and August by
weeks of bitter conflict in the
Middle East, other subjects,
however important, somehow
seemed out of focus, even mar-
ginalised. Nothing illustrated
this more effectively than the
coincidence of the G8 Summit
in St Petersburg on July 15-16,
with the outbreak of hostilities
between Israel and Hizbollah
on the Lebanese battlefield.
Although there is now a fragile
cease-fire in the Middle East, it
is almost as if St Petersburg
had never been.
The African theme (and its
attendant agenda of 'making
poverty history') which had
seemed so all-preoccupying at
Gleneagles in 2005, was never
going to make much headway
with the Russian hosts. But
even issues slated for promi-
nence by them, such as energy
security and climate change,
not to mention the hope of oth-
ers that summit should also
examine the issue of democracy
in Russia, received neither the
time nor the publicity. This was
because of the attempts to
cover the deep divisions among
the leaders over the Middle
East, and produce some sort of
declaration, which in the end
distinguished itself by its lame-
ness. Papers submitted to the
summit were reportedly passed
speedily, often with scant dis-
cussion.
We are told that, evenso, the
'outreach group' (including
Brazil and India) met with the
leaders, and the Chinese had a
separate session to discuss
North Korea, while Africa, rep-
resented by the AU
Commission President, Alpha
Oumar Konaré and the AU
chairman Denis Sassou
Nguesso, heard a Gleneagles
update prepared by the British
and the Russians, which The
Guardian said "judged itself
generously".
The serried ranks of NGOs and
charities took a poor view of
the results, in spite of unsur-
prising new commitments on
communicable diseases, espe-
cially malaria and HIV/AIDS,
probably the easiest subject on
which to achieve consensus. It
was pertinent, not to say brutal,
as far as Africa was con- PICTURE: Sanaa Petersen embark on such a far-reach- Oil aside, the causes of this
cerned, than the fact that ing move, preferring to stay improvement are complex, and
the South African with the present system of some have attributed it to the
President, Thabo Mbeki 'guests', but as with reform effect of sustained economic
was apparently invited of the UN Security Council reforms or "post-conflict sta-
there as a member of the or the Bretton Woods insti- bility" (as in Mozambique,
'outreach group', and that tutions, such a recognition Uganda and Rwanda). What is
Nigeria, in spite of its of the changing balance of more certain is that it is not
weight and influence in economic power in the because of the G8's sweeping
Africa, was not even world cannot be long but somewhat ambivalent pro-
invited. This was made delayed. posals for increased aid by
more piquant by the fact Ironically, it may be the 2010 were already taking
that Nigeria's former departure of Kofi Annan as effect. The most powerful fac-
Finance Minister Ngozi UN Secretary-General at tor, indeed has to be the
Okonjo Iweala was the end of the year (possi- increased world demand for
among those invited by bly with an Asian succes- raw materials (it has been
Moscow to a preliminary sor) that will aid such a described as "the world's great-
meeting of ministers of power shift, which even a est resource boom in decades")
the subject of debt couple of years ago was not - not just oil and gas, but gold,
(reportedly one of the fully visible. It is not only copper, iron ore and a range of
main reasons for the min- the emergence of China other minerals. Some 40 per-
ister's subsequent that is presenting a real cent of the world's known min-
removal). challenge to the unipolar eral reserves are said to be in
As a kind of compensa- world (if one discounts the Africa.
tion for the apparent 'dispersed' pole of Europe), The demand has come especial-
indifference shown in St but the continued rise of ly from China but also other
Petersburg, we are told PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN: Theresa Asian economies - not just Asian economies. The US,
that the Germans intend Jackson,10, lives with her grandparents in India but South Korea, however, has also stepped up
to attach due importance Kalksteenfontein, spent the day with her home- Malaysia and others, join- its interest in obtaining access
to an African position on less mother, she sits on their belongings ing Japan as worthy of a to African oil, which is tied in
the agenda, even if world seat at the top table, with their energy security wor-
events, especially in the One is also bound to note that According to the magazine ries related to the Middle East,
Middle East (if this year is any- there will be some substantial Newsweek in its recent cover which has further ratcheted up
thing to go by), may yet come changes in the dramatis person- story 'Can America Compete' it the quest for supplies. Critics
to predominate again. The ae of next year's summit. is the very success of the free may worry that this is returning
Germans have said, for exam- Although prognostications are market model as adopted by Africa to its traditional neo-
ple, that Africa itself will at always dangerous, Jacques others that is having the effect colonial role as a supplier of
least be allowed to prepare the Chirac should be out of power of circumscribing the US' eco- raw materials, but if it is well
position paper, and that due by June-July 2007, and Tony nomic power. managed with clearer vision of
consultation will take place as Blair may well be, even if he Current statistics coming out of economic priorities than in the
before and during Gleneagles. might hanker to see his African Africa, as well as some of the past, it need not be. Oil wealth
The Germans are also likely to agenda further mature at the forecasts for the next few in particular has fuelled corrupt
put substantial emphasis on the German G8 before going. In years, give some cause for leaders and wasted Africa's
often under-rated European Africa, Obasanjo is due to go at encouragement, even if the assets, but the present opportu-
Union role in African develop- the end of May, and Abdoulaye challenges of drought, disease nity to take advantage of the
ment. Wade, President of Senegal, and conflict remain, and there world's changing political con-
There seems little chance that already officially 80 but intent is still doubt that most coun- figuration, and reduce tradi-
the Doha Round of trade talks on standing again, has to face tries will meet the Millennium tional dependences, is heaven
under the aegis of the World an extremely difficult election Development Goals (MDGs) sent. It would be tragically
Trade Organisation (WTO) will next year to achieve that ambi- set for 2015. Although growth criminal to waste it.
have had new life breathed into tion. in itself is not necessarily the
the talks. They were suspended But will there be changes in the path to human development, Kaye Whiteman is the Director Of
indefinitely a few days after the G8 itself, already somewhat the OECD, in its report Information and Public Affairs
summit, which meant that the fluid in its nature? Is the G8 "Economic Perspectives 2005- Division, Commonwealth
leaders' call for new life to be ready to reform itself further by 6" puts continental growth as Secretariat. Prior to this he was
brought to them looked not absorbing new full members? A running at over five percent for General Manager, 'West Africa
only platitudinous but down- report in The Guardian in the past five years and the fig- Magazine'. Between 1973 - 82, he
right cynical. Current thinking, London of July 13, on the eve ures for 2006 are expected to was a senior official in the
which could always be subject of St Petersburg said that Tony be better. The figures for indi- Information Directorate of the
to new unforeseen factors, Blair would call at the summit vidual countries are inevitably Commission of the European
seems to concentrate merely on for "five leading fast develop- contrasting and uneven, with Communities in Brussels, special-
developing regional trade ing countries to be allowed to some new oil producers such as ising in Europe's relations with
pacts, which look suspiciously join the G8 group in order to Chad and Mauritania, or developing countries. In 1994 he
like a cop-out, although there secure multilateral deals on cli- recently expanding ones such took two months leave of absence
are plenty who will argue that mate change, trade and Iran." as Equatorial Guinea, achiev- to act as an observer and media
the suspension will; have There was little sign that his ing particularly remarkable adviser for the EU election unit in
unforeseen benefits. colleagues were willing to growth rates. the South African elections.
Shaikhs Exotics delightful
Cranberry juice
Cranberry delight
Ingredients Method
Crushed ice Half fill a tall glass with crushed ice.
125ml Cranberry juice Pour over the cranberry juice, soda water,
30ml Soda water lime cordial and grape juice.
Squeeze a little lemon into juice mix.
30ml Lime cordial
Stir and garnish with a mint leaf
125ml Hanepoot grape juice *Omit Soda Water for a non-fizzy drink.
Squeeze of lemon juice Cranberry delight is excellent served after a
Mint leaf meal or as a refresher during the day.
 March 2007 - Safar 1428
The Darul - licious
boys and girls are
Number one
STAFF REPORTER
Darul Islam Islamic High
School in Athlone won first
place in the Association of
Islamic Schools (AMS) inter-
high school athletics, which
were held on the 8 March. The
girls athletics were held at
Vygieskraal stadium and boys at
the Velodrome in Bellville. The
highlight of the girls athletics
was the march pass, the talented
girls strutted their stuff, with
choreographed dance routines,
almost like a scene out of the
High School Musical Disney
movie. On a lighter side and
with all due respect to the ath-
letes, I have never experienced a
race, where an athlete sprints in
the 200m race, wearing a peak
cap, which falls off, she runs
back to retrieve it and finishes
in fourth position!
Final Results - Girls
Darul Islam - 377.5
Darul Arqam - 242.0
Islamia College - 200.0
Al-Azhar High - 158.0
Iqra Academy - 130.0
Madrassatul Rajaa - 43.0
Final Results - Boys
Darul Islam - 290.0
Darul Arqam - 277.5
Islamia College - 178.0
Al-Azhar High - 169.0
Iqra Academy - 150.0
Madrassatul Rajaa - 82.5
HOLIDAY PROGRAMME
Looking for exciting stuff to do during
the Easter break? Look no further as
the Community News and The Islamic
Centre will host a plethora of fun-filled
activities to make your holiday memo-
rable.
When: Mondays to Thursdays, starting
2 April - 12 April 2007
Times: 10 -12pm - mornings, 2 - 4pm
afternoons
Venue: The Islamic Centre 60 Albert
Road, Lansdowne.
Ages: 4yrs - 16yrs and young at heart
(parents, grandparents)
RSVP: Shabier Jacobs of the Community
News on 072 9619843 or 021 6972294.
Regrettably only fifteen (15) participants
are allowed for each activity, please book
your space and activity.
Youth on The MOVE
MARCH PASS: Darul Arqam Islamic High School proudly displays their
school’s banner
Youth workshop on bias reporting in the media
MARIAM SALIE
The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) -
Media Desk held a Media Awareness
conference for youth in February to dis-
pel myths and misunderstandings about
Islam, as well as counter biased reports
and propaganda. The Media awareness
conference highlighted important global
issues affecting Muslims and created an
understanding of the media's role.
Participants included learners between
grades 10 and 12, from six Islamic High
Schools namely, Islamia College, Darul
Arqam High, Darul Islam High, Iqraa
Academy, Al- Azhar and Madrassatur
Rajaa from Strand.
In his welcome address, Moulana Ihsaan
Hendricks, president of the MJC, spoke
about the rise of Islamophobic material
that has started to surface and how
important it is to identify, and critically
analyse these trends. The first facilita-
tor Awatief Daniels has a degree in jour-
nalism and is currently completing her
Masters illustrated the functions of
media and the influence it has on socie-
ty. She highlighted the fact that media
can be good and bad. "It can be used for
good purposes, like dissemination of
news, or beneficial information, but it
can also be used to slyly drive people's
thinking into a certain direction," said
Daniels.
The second facilitator was Farid Sayed,
editor of Muslim Views, whose topic
was 'Truth and Sensationalism'. Sayed
explored the different levels of truth in
the media, how it can be manipulated,
how it can be abused, and how careful
we should be when reading an article or
watching a news report. "We have to
5
PICTURES: Sanaa Petersen
SPEED:
Two Darul
Islam Islamic
High School
athletes
taking top
positions in
the 200m
sprint
ATTITUDE:
Darul Islam
Islamic High
school
teamwork
was Darul-
licious
GETTING DOWN: Madrassatul Rajaah girls showing the
audience how to get with the beat
CHOREOGRAPHED
TO PERFECTION:
Islamia High school’s
choregraphed
moves wowed the
audience
POWERPUFF GIRLS: Iqra Academy girls shows off their
snazzy and mean moves
PICTURE: Sanaa Petersen
CRITICAL THINKERS: Learners of six Islamic high schools were introduced to the negative
impacts of the commercial media
read between the lines at all times," said they focused on ways to effectively
Sayed. He then went into the intricacies counter bias reporting, identifying nega-
of sensationalism. He explained that tive terminology and introduced the reg-
journalists generally write in a way to ulatory bodies. The session concluded
invoke emotions in the reader. with a letter writing exercise where
The afternoon session was a practical learners were ask to respond to a bias
one, conducted by Mariam Salie and letter sourced from The Cape Times.
Nabeweya Malick, who runs the Media This conference is the first of a series of
Desk, it focused on identifying the neg- conferences that will be aimed at creat-
ativities found in the media with regards ing awareness in the community as
to Muslims and Islam. They explained well as to facilitate training and skills
the negative concepts such as bias, development for those interested in the
propaganda, distortion etc. and its effect field.
on our daily lives. More importantly
6 Youth on The MOVE
Interesti
ng facts
What are sea shells?
Did you know that the shells you see
washed up along the beach actually
used to be a part of a live animal?
Shells come from a very large group of
organisms called the Molluscs.
Molluscs are a group of soft-bodied
organisms that either have a shell on
the outside (snails, whelks, limpets,
oysters, mussels etc) or a shell on the
inside (such as squid, cuttlefish and
octopus). Most molluscs live in the
sea, but there also some that live on
land or in fresh water. The shell is
actually made by the animal and as
the animal grows, so does the shell.
The shell is a great form of protection
for the animal and if threatened, the
animal can retreat into its shell. But
what about the molluscs that don't
have shells, such as sea slugs?
Instead of a shell to protect them, they
may be very brightly coloured to warn
predators that they are poisonous and
shouldn't be eaten. Other molluscs
without shells - such as the squid and
octopus, are a lot bigger and have
other defence mechanisms as well as
the ability to move very quickly.
Some of the shells that you may come
across on the beach include: mussel
shells, limpet shells, snail shells,
abalone shells and cuttle bones.
The mussel is an animal that that lives
within two shell halves and attaches
itself to the rock with threads produced
from within its shell. These animals
are usually found in large numbers cov-
ering rocks at the waters edge as well
as rocks under water. They are eaten
by different animals including rock lob-
sters (crayfish), birds, fish and also
people. In order for people to collect
live mussels, they have to obtain a per-
mit which allows them to legally collect
a certain number of mussels per day.
Another shell you might be familiar
with is a large oval shell with a row of
holes running down the one side.
People often pick them up off the
beach and use them for ashtrays. They
also get used in decoration and to
make necklaces. These shells actually
belong to a large snail called the
abalone or perlemoen. Their shells
were once very common along the
beach and rock pools but today, they
are very hard to find. The flesh of the
abalone is what has the greatest value,
but their shells are also collected.
These animals take 8-10 years before
they are able to reproduce and for a
snail that is a very long time! This is
one of the reasons as to why these ani-
mals are endangered. Along our coast-
line, these animals are in great danger
of becoming extinct due to all the
poaching that has taken place. People
are removing and killing abalone that
are under sized and they therefore
never have a turn to breed and produce
more abalone. If this continues, it will
soon be too late to save our abalone.
SAWID to host Tunisian Women
STAFF REPORTER
The South African Women in
Dialogue (SAWID) an independ-
ent South African Women’s
Platform committed to improving
the status of women was born out
of a successful Peace Dialogue
between South African women and
the women of the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC),hosted
by Mrs Mbeki’s office.
In August the women of South
Africa and Tunisia, under the aus-
pices of SAWID and UNFT cele-
You might have come across a cuttle
bone before that has washed up on the
beach? This cuttle shell/bone looks
like a broad white surfboard with a
small spine. Some people collect
them and give them to their pet birds
to sharpen their beaks on. It is in fact
the internal shell of another mollusc
called the cuttlefish. The cuttlebone is
very buoyant and it helps the cuttlefish
to float.
There are other animals that have
shells but aren't actually molluscs. For
example, you might have noticed cer-
tain crabs living in snail shells. These
are hermit crabs. They have a very soft
body and therefore need a shell to
house and protect them. The shell
wasn't actually made by them; instead
hermit crabs find empty shells from
snails that have died. The hermit crab
them moves into the empty shell. As
the hermit crab grows and the shell
gets too small, it has to move out and
find a bigger shell.
Another type of 'shell' that you may
come across on the beach or in rock
pools is a round green one that looks a
bit like a pumpkin. It is in fact the
'skeleton' of a sea urchin (a close rela-
tive of the starfish). When the sea
urchin dies, this is all that remains.
When alive, this 'shell' is usually cov-
ered by hundreds of spines and tube
feet and is almost unrecognisable.
For years people have been collecting
shells for their beauty and value. Often
the animal is actually killed not only for
its meat but just for its shell. It is up to
us to protect our oceans and make
sure that we leave behind something
for future generations to enjoy. The
rate at which people are harvesting the
ocean is frightening and if we don't
slow down, soon there won't be much
left. Don't collect live shells unless you
have a permit to do so and report peo-
ple that are collecting animals without
a permit. Remember, the only shells
you should be taking from the beach
are the empty ones that have washed
up. And the only thing you should be
leaving behind is your footprint.
- Laura Blamey, UCT, Department of
Zoology
brated the 50 years of the Tunisian
Personal Status Code, and the
Anti-Pass March in Pretoria.
Mindful of the global and local
challenges the dialogue highlight-
ed the key areas affecting women -
1. Legislation, Institutional
Mechanisms and legal framework.
2. Advancing gender equality and
addressing poverty through the
use of Information and
Communication Technology(ICT)
3. Promoting gender equality and
women’s advancement in public
life and business community.
March 2007 - Safar 1428
UCT Science Day in Athlone
STAFF REPORTER PICTURES: Sanaa Petersen
The University of Cape Town,
Faculty of Science, hosted a
Science day at the Darul
Islam Islamic High School in
March for high school learn-
ers in the Athlone and sur-
rounding area. The learners
were introduced to the
dynamics of science and tech-
nology used in their daily
lives, symmetry in nature,
geographical information sys-
tems, cloning and genetically
modified foods, acids and EXPERIMENTING: Learners were exposed to the world of
bases. Acids and bases.
The learners were also
exposed to a host of theme
related exhibitors, namely
IThemba Labs, Iziko Museum
of CapeTown, Kirstenbosch
Botanical Gardens, MTN
Sciencentre, SA Weather
Bureau, Western Cape Blood
Tranfusion, 'Adopt a River',
SA Women in Science &
Engineering, Department of
Environmental Affairs and
Developmental Planning and
StoneDragon Educational. SCIENCE IN MOTION: Kemiso Lecheko, Tumo Makwa and
Molefe Sechaba of Fezeka High learning more about the
dynamics of mechanical engineering
Al-Azhar High adopts a healthy lifestyle
STAFF REPORTER PICTURES: Sanaa Petersen
The Al-Azhar high school in
Athlone has introduced nutri-
tious snacks like fruit salad, top-
pings served on nutty wheat rolls
and vegetarian burgers into the
Tuck-shop.
Initially, the learners were hesi-
tant in trying the new menu but
were impressed by the business
economics teacher, Nadeema
Behardien Salie's creativity.
"The food is not boring, each day
there is a different foodstuff on
the menu, like on Mondays, we
can buy chicken and mayo nutty
wheat rolls and Tuesdays - burg- HEALTHY BREAKFAST: Kauthar Tape and learners of the
ers and salad and my favourite is Al-Alzhar high queueing to purchase the nutritious snacks
on sale at the school’s tuck-shop
pasta which is sold on
Thursdays, said grade 10 learner,
Abdurosheed Emandien. The
principal Mr Suroor Christians is
equally delighted with the
healthy menu as the learners are
less fidgety in class. He said,
"with this new menu, you can see
a positive change in the learners
behaviour." In addition to the
healthy and nutritious menu, Ms
Salie, introduced afternoon yoga
classes for female learners to
enforce the theme, "A healthy
body for a healthy mind." The
yoga classes are held on
Wednesday and Thursday from
3:15 to 4:30pm at Al-Azhar High
School in Athlone, the cost is
NUTRITIOUS: The principal Mr Suroor Christians sets an
R100 for two months. For more excellent example for his learners to follow, by enjoying a
information please call Nadeema sumptuous and nutritious fruit salad
on 021 6965475
SAWID invited the women of
Tunisia to explore the theme
Women, Peace and Prosperity. The
emphasis of the South African leg
is prosperity.
SAWID-Western Cape welcomes
the Tunisian women in April and
tabled the contentious debate -
Culture, Religion and Gender:
Weaving Convergence. And, as
SAWID - PROVINCIAL: The newely elected executive committee
part of the conference the of SAWID in the Western Cape, l-rAnna Berkowitz(Union of
Tunisian women will visit a shel- Jewish Women,Rashida Shabodien(patron of SAWID), Paulina
ter for women, explore telemedi- Mali(CDW-WCost),Caroline Davids(WCNVAW),Me Mildred
cine and the rich culture of Cape Ramakaba-Lesiea(ANCWL), Rashida Abdullah(ANCWL),Sanaa
Town. Petersen (IMA), sittingfront-Elizabeth Petersen(St Annes Homes)
 March 2007 - Safar 1428
You can guarantee your right for a dignified life
SANAA PETERSEN
The Muslim Youth Movement
and Positive Muslims hosted a
gender workshop in February
at the Saartjie Baartman
Centre in Athlone to address
sensitive gender issues that
are prevalent in the family and
community structures. The
workshop provided an insight
into the difference between
the Shari'a and the South
African Law and equipped the
participants with critical and
practical recommendations.
The expert panel of facilita-
tors was Advocate Nurjahan
Khan, Waheeda Amien of the
UCT Law Faculty and Ashraf
Mohamed of the Human
Rights Commission.
Nurjahan Khan's presentation
unpacked the daily realities
that women face when access-
ing support and counsel from
the understaffed, poorly edu-
cated and predominately male
dominated legal and social
structures within our society.
Yet, she cautions that many of
these frustrations are perpetu-
ated because women are not
aware of their rights and lack
the basic knowledge to effec-
tively and successfully access
the resources available. "Most
abuse happens in the home. As
women we need to learn not to
WOMEN
PICTURES: Sanaa Petersen
thoughts to use to your
advantage, if not, then look
at what is the custom or
acceptable practice,"
responded Amien.
Another contentious issue
was the human rights discus-
sion, facilitated by Ashraf
Mohamed, he illustrated the
distinction between an
absolute right and a right
that is not absolute. Many
participants felt that the
basic needs for a dignified
life was absolute, but grap-
pled with Mohamed's input
that "You have a right to
expression, to claim your
right but that does not guar-
antee you will get it".
All the facilitators are
experts in their field, but I
am of the opinion that each
topic should be discussed
EMPOWERING: Ashraf Mohamed, Human Rights Commissioner, illustrates separately as it challenges
the difference between absolute and non-absolute human rights. entrenched backward cultur-
al practices that marginalizes
build our life around someone sponding duty, for example if the dignified development of
else, and not to walk in some- you are awarded custody then women, children and the com-
one's shadow, "said Khan. it is your duty to fulfill the day munity.
Waheeda Amien expertly to day needs of the child. The
demonstrated the distinction MPL discussion unnerved We would like to hear from
between the Muslim Personal some participants because of you - Do you think that there
Law (MPL) and the South the different interpretation of is a need for an Islamic regu-
African Law highlighting its the Shar'ia and the cultural latory body within a secular
collective benefits and the and traditional practices in context?
need for regulatory bodies. society. "You need to look at Email us on info@islamic-
She emphasized that with each what rights are available on media.co.za, fax 021 697
right there is usually a corre- the different schools of 2304 or sms 074 2274345
7
y
H is to r
Love for the Holy Prophet Muhammad
And know that the loftiest of exem-
plars, the most noble and the great-
est and the most binding to all
Muslims is the Messenger of Allah,
Allah bless him and grant him peace:
verily he is by unanimous agreement
the Greatest Exemplar. And the obli-
gation due to him is the greatest
after that of Allah; and the adab with
him the most emphasised of the
adab and obediences. For whosoever
loves him and immensely esteems
him, he has indeed loved Allah and
whosoever obeys him has indeed
obeyed Allah. Says Allah, the Exalted:
"Say, if ye do love Allah, follow me:
Allah will love you and forgive you
your sins. For Allah is the Oft-
Forgiving, Most Merciful" (al-'Imran:
31). And says the Exalted: "He who
obeys the Apostle, obeys Allah" (an-
Nisaa: 80). And says the Exalted: "So
take what the Apostle assigns to you,
and deny yourselves that which he
withholds from you. And fear Allah;
for Allah is strict in punishment" (al-
Hashr: 7).
Spirituality leads to Paradise
"Whoever guards the five presciribed
Salaah while believing that the
Salaah is the Right of Allah, will
enter Jannat." (Ahmad).
Seventy thousand of my people will
enter paradise without being taken to
account. They are those who do not
use spells or take omens, but put
their trust in their Lord.
(Bukhari, Muslim).
Non Violence cherished by God
"You have two characters which Allah
loves; gentleness and deliberation."

Should the West mentor Muslims peers

(Muslim).
Advocate of Non-Violent Jihad
The most excellent jihad is when one
speaks a true word in the presence of
a tyrannical ruler.(Tirmidhi).
SOURCE-ISLAMONLINE.NET PICTURES: M Yusuf Karriem and they were only meant Prohibition of Blind Fury
for raising kids, sex and No judge must give judgement
A hot debate of women's staying back at home. "I between two people when he is
empowerment in the don't understand why reli- angry.(Bukhari, Muslim).
Muslim world dominated, gion is being included in Honour the Lives of non- combatant
the closing session of the every matter. If we have to civilians.If anyone kills a man who
US-Islamic World Forum advance and progress, we had made a covenant (anyone who
held in Doha in February. have to stop the inclusion belongs to a Non-Muslim community
Participants were divided in of Islam in politics and with whom a treaty of peace has
whether Western women government affairs," she been made, or a member of protect-
should be a role model for added. ed communities) will not experience
their Muslim peers. However, Sadiq Al-Mahdi, the fragrance of paradise.(Bukhari)
"Women empowerment and a former Prime Minister of Non Abusive and Non Offensive
liberalization do not mean Sudan, said Islam should Behaviour
that we should follow the The Prophet (PBUH) never expressed
not be blamed for women's
disapproval of food; if he desired it
western model. We are first disenfranchisement. "It is he ate it and if he disliked it he left it
Muslims, and we can't give not Islam that prohibits alone.(Bukhari, Muslim).
up our identity," said women empowerment, but A good way of acting, a good manner
Mariam Bibi, an education- this is the current despotic of conduct and moderation are twen-
ist who is running various EDUCATION: Young Muslim women graduates of the International Peace political system in all over ty-fifth part of prophecy.(Abu Dawud).
schools in Pakistan. "I am a University South Africa (IPSA), receiving their BA degree in Islamic Studies at a
graduation ceremony held on the 21 February 2007.(l-r) Nadiema Taliep the world whereby even Promotion of InterFaith activities
liberal woman, but I can't (admin.secretary), Rafeeqah Jassiem, Tasmeena Myburgh, Zulfaa Ismail, men are marginalized. Only The Allah's messenger (PBUH)
be like French. I can't Shafeeqah Abrahams, Thoraya Rhoda (Academic Secretary) a group of exploiters, passed a mixed company of Muslims,
forego my indigenous iden- whether men or women, is polytheists who worshipped idols and
tity," Bibi said. more than 230 dignitaries from the US empowered," he said. Jews and he gave them a salutation.
Bibi said Muslims as a whole had lost and more than 34 Islamic countries to dis- Veteran journalist and Al-Hayat's colum- (Bukhari, Muslim).
trust in western culture, which in fact was cuss a plethora of issues that expanded nist Jihad Khazen, said women advance- In the year (631 CE), Prophet
totally different than theirs."When this year to cover problems facing ment and their education was the only Muhammad received a delegation of
Muslims watch western movies, which Muslim minorities in the West. achievement in the Arab world during the sixty Christians from Najran in
are full of violence and sex, then they last ten Medinah. They were received in the
think that they would be naked women all Western Ideology years. "I don't agree with those who think Prophet's mosque wearing their
over on the streets in America or Europe, that Arab women are totally neglected crosses. The companions of prophet
and that the west wants to introduce the But Rola Dashti, Chairperson of Kuwait and deprived," he said. But he said one Muhammad tried to prevent them
same culture in the Islamic world," said Economic Society, sees western ideology cannot force women to be "liberal" or from praying in the mosque, but the
Bibi. prophet allowed them to pray in the
as far as women are concerned is the best engage in politics as they should do it mosque, and they did so facing East.
"Being a working woman, I have this firm way to empower women in the Muslim their ways. "Many women who were
believe that our women can't digest the world. studying with me at (Egypt's) Cairo
A True Warrior is a Non Anarchist
The strong man is not the good
western model of liberalization as after "We, the women rights activists, are con- University used to wear mini-skirts, but wrestler; the strong man is only the
all we are Muslims, and we have our own sidered anti-Islam, and anti -patriotic now they ask their daughters to wear one who controls himself when he is
values." because we are bringing the western ide- hijab or veil and don't work," he said. angry.(Bukhari, Muslim).
"We while working for women rights we ology of active women participation in "What can governments do in this regard. The Highest Status of a Believer is
must not challenge the local culture, the public life," she said. We can't force them." Peace Maker
rather we should make inroads for us with "Though, we have won the war against "This could be surprising to us but we Abu Huraira reported that the
our indigenous cultures, otherwise the extremists in Kuwait and various other should think that why those women who Prophet (PBUH)as telling that Moses'
people will never accept any change, no Arab countries as women are now educat- used to wear mini-skirts, don't prefer that son Imran said, "My Lord, who is the
matter it is positive," she added. ed and advanced there, however, I fear if for their own daughters." greatest of Thy servant in Thy estima-
Held this year under the slogan women are not empowered and provided tion?" and received the reply, "The
"Confronting What Divide Us", the US- equal share in the policy making process, We would like to hear from you - one who forgives when he is in a posi-
Islamic World Forum is organized by the they will loose the war they have won," SHOULD THE WEST BE THE ROLE tion of power. (Baihaqi).
Qatari government and the American she added. Rola said Islam was being MODELS FOR THEIR MUSLIM PEERS If anyone walks with an oppressor to
Brookings Institution. strengthen, knowing that he is an
misused by extremists who believed that Email us on info@islamicmedia.co.za,
The three-day forum brought together women had no right in nation building, fax 021 6972304 or sms 074 2274345 oppressor, he has gone forth from
Islam. (Baihaqi).
 March 2007 - Safar 1428

LETTERS & SMS

9
Is Vangate Mall a Muslim mall?
Dear Editor ic judgement. The mall is broader society basis that does and empowered change for
SMS CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

an Islamic point of view they

The fact that someone has per-
haps publicly stated that
Vangate Mall is a 'muslim' mall
is short-sighted and exclusive.
Firstly, the mall itself was
establised on the premise and
intent as a medium of commu-
nity development, enhancement
and empowerment, clearly with
respect to ALL the surrounding
areas. To isolate its consumers
shows poor business acumen
and even poorer socio-econom-
meant to service the poor and
disenfranchised communities
within and around the greater
Athlone and surrounding areas.
However it seems the develop-
ers, be they Muslim or not, for
quite frankly this is a side issue
for me, obviously changed the
parameters of the ballpark. It is
funny how 10yrs on, we as
South Africans fail to under-
stand and comprehend that
whatever enterprises we delve
into, that we are a part of a
not differentiate between
colour, class and creed, and is
this not what we fought for dur-
ing the height of apartheid
resistance ? It seems many of
us, although liberated physical-
ly are still enslaved psycholog-
ically.
Being part of a new South
Africa means becoming an
active, responsible, productive
and nation-building participant
in our modes of work and wor-
ship, and ensuring progressive
ALL.
Muslims must also stop becom-
ing defensive when real con-
cerns are expressed about fun-
damental issues that affect a
general society. It is more
important to remedy the short-
comings, than to dwell on
cliched arguments and silly
sectarian squabbles, that only
make us look more exclusive as
a community. As for not selling
alcohol, if the owners of the
supermarkets are Muslim, from
cannot sell liquor or derive any
benefit thereof.
Quite frankly the bottom line
for me is, who exactly will be
benefitting, because there are
Jewish and Christian develop-
ers also in the mix. If the com-
munity at large is not benefit-
ting then THAT is my gripe
period!
BY the way I am Muslim :).
Yours in Fairness and
NationBuilding
Mymoena Arnold

When Muslim women have careers

YASMINA FRANKE
Muslim women are constantly under the
spotlight. From the pulpit to the
columns, Muslim women are criticised
for adopting western ideas and being
responsible for single-handedly
destroying the moral fibre of society.
This is a gross generalisation and huge-
ly inaccurate. There are many Muslim
women who operate in a "western" envi-
ronment whilst maintaining their
Islamic identity with admirable determi-
nation.
These women understand that there are
no compromises in Islam. Either you're
a Muslim (and adhere to the teachings
of Islam) or you're not. One cannot
choose to act and behave like a Muslim
in some instances and when it is incon-
venient, forsake all beliefs.
These women take strength and encour-
agement from the knowledge that Islam
is determined to protect the reputation
of women by instructing her to "lower
her gaze and guard her modesty" and
not to draw unnecessary attention to
herself. Through this behaviour she
does not open herself up for hearsay and
scandals. Contrary to popular misun-
derstanding, Islamic dress for women is
NOT a device whereby men can oppress
women nor is it a means to prevent
women from participating in various
activities in society. Islam stipulates
boundaries for dress so that women are
respected and not become objects of
sexual exploitation.
When a Muslim woman adheres to the
Islamic dress code she can be comfort-
able in the knowledge that she will be
treated and respected more so on the
basis of her character, her skills and
ability and NOT according to physical
appearance, which the hijaab adequately
protects.
Amongst the many women who have
heeded the Quranic injunction to seek
and impart knowledge, to speak the
PICTURE: M Yusuf Karriem ty, they are intelligent, committed and
truth and to fight NEVER apologise for being Muslim
injustice and women in a western world. They
oppression are the become agents of change in the struggle
ones who are pro- to achieve tolerance and understanding
gressing through the of the Islamic way of life.
ranks and are now The road that they travel is a not an easy
taking senior posi- one. It is fraught with challenges, con-
tions in business, flicts and criticism by others who do not
government, poli- understand Islam and even of their very
tics, academia and own kind who are not able to reconcile
social structures. the two. The battle with their nafs is a
They are continu- daily hurdle that they conquer. And
ously in pursuit of when the road gets really treacherous
knowledge as the and they are in desperate need of
Hadeeth beautifully advice, they turn to the Book of
states: "The seeking Wisdom, the Holy Quran and they
of knowledge is reflect on the lessons they derive from
incumbent on every the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW),
Muslim, male and his wives and his companions (may
female". Allah's peace and blessing be upon them
This very pursuit of all).
knowledge is what In turn, the corporate world is starting
helps to build up her to acknowledge and respect her. They
academic ability, have come to depend on her to be hon-
resulting in the est, fair and just in her dealings with
achievement of colleagues, staff, clients, and suppliers
qualifications that and diligent in executing the responsi-
gets her into senior bilities given to her. These are the
positions. qualities she has become known for -
These women have mastered the art of rate world. the very qualities Islam has taught her
combining their careers, motherhood These women have come to realise that and by living out these qualities, those
and wifely duties. The many conflicts you can be modern, yet modest. They around her stand to benefit.
they have to resolve at home amongst wear highly fashionable corporate suits These are the women that we must
their children, the encouragement they to work, which are long, flowy and salute and encourage. They are the wor-
provide during difficult times, the cover the owrah. They cover their hair thy role models for the younger genera-
domestic training they impart, the nego- with beautiful scarves that complement tion who may have been led to believe
tiation skills they employ when shop- the whole outfit. They participate in that being a Muslim woman and having
ping, the empathy, support and affection boardroom debates with controlled a career are two mutually exclusive
they offer their husbands are the very voices and behave respectably amongst entities and cannot be integrated within
skills that make them so effective in the their peers, whilst maintaining their the parameters of Islam.
workplace. They juggle a multitude of professionalism and femininity. They So, before we criticise ALL women, let
tasks simultaneously, knowing exactly exercise their right to abstain from us not forget those courageous and
how to prioritise and fulfil the many social events at work that put them in brave women who go out there in the
expectations society have of them. situations which conflict with the teach- corporate battlefield and return home
Their multi-faceted roles at home are ings of Islam. They lobby and cam- every day with their heads held high,
the perfect training grounds for the paign for the rights of Muslim staff, for their reputation in tact and PROUD TO
challenges that await them in the corpo- access to wudu and solaah facilities. BE MUSLIM WOMEN.
They proudly carry their Islamic identi-

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10 March 2007 - Safar 1428

Why should South Africans pay exorbitant Hadj fees? SAHUC worst Hajj ever!
who was working with him
CONTINUED FROM LETTERS PAGE wasnt his wife.strange women &
men walking around shopping &
SMS: Why must SA Hujaaj pay eating together. the ulama tells
more?Somebody must explain us at home a man should not look
why a gujaaj from the UK pays at a woman. our Nabi [SAW] said
£1400 while S.Africans must pay a strange man & woman should
exorbitant fees. not be in each others company
they r garaam 4 each other. Why
Editor: Ebrahim Ismail, secre- do SAHUC employ women with
tary general, of SAHUC said that no magram 2 work for them on
the reason for the cheaper inter- the mission?then that woman
national flights is because the expect another woman's husband
British Airways flies their own 2 be magram for her.it is
people. And, also travellers need wrong!how can parents allow
to shop around for cheaper their daughter to travel to other
flights and travel in the low sea- countris witout a magram?why
son and not expect cheaper air don't sahuc just employ men?Y
tickets in the high season. cant hujaaj use Saudi hospitals &
why do agents allow women to
SMS: Why do SAHUC send perform gadj alone? They lie 4
females alone to Makkah? da Saudis then they have the
Me, my friend & our husbands nerve to stand on Arafah 4 gadj
went 4 gadj this yr.algamdulil- & they are a nuisance for others
laah.SAHUC was very & expect our husbands to help
helpful,but we are very upset them! That is when the jolling
what we saw happening in Macca comes in. SAHUC we dont like
and Madina between SAHUC what you are doing when ur in da
workers we know that man & Holy cities of Macca &
Madina.it is disgustingshame on
u for allowing garaam acts in the
Holy Land.i've faxed sahuc a let-
ter as well pls do something
about da wrong sahuc is doin.no
wonde da Saudis think nothing of
SA women.help us as Muslim
ladies. Die gooie daar uit.to
regain our honour and
dignity.shukran a concerned
Muslim ummah.
Editor: Ebrahim Ismail said that
the female staff were the medical
staff, which was outsourced to
the Islamic Medical Association,
only their salaries were paid by
SAHUC. He added that when
performing a special service you
don’t need a mahram and some
females prefer to be examined by
a female doctor. In response to
using the medical facilities in
Makkah -Hujaaj can use the
Saudi hospitals in an emer-
gency,but the KSA requires that
each mission must have their
own medical team, to fulfil the
role of the primary caregiver.
SAHUC’s secretary-general,Ebrahim Ismail, said that South
Africans experienced the worst Hajj ever because of the new
developments in the KSA and the high number of repeat
Hujaaj.The new developments in KSA were the additional
safety regulations imposed on the hotels and the construction
on Mina. “Hujaaj, need to brace themselves for the next two
years - until the construction on Mina is complete,”said
Ismail. South Africans will have to be patient with the quota
system as all countries will fall under the OIC - 1000 hujaaj
for every 1mil of the total population of Muslims.”If SAHUC
wants to increase the quota for South African Muslims it will
need to engage with the KSA soonest,” said Ismail.Ebrahim
Ismail, has subsequently resigned from the hot seat as secre-
tary-general of SAHUC, but has not resigned as its member.
SAHUC new executive committee
The South African Hajj and Umrah Council is pleased to
announce that at the Annual General Meeting which took
place in Johannesburg on Saturday, 03 March 2007, a newly
elected Executive has been elected as office bearers for the
next two years by the participating members of the National
Executive Committee comprising of:
Moulana Ihsaan Hendricks(President)
Ebrahim Vawda(1st Deputy President)
Mustafa Murudker(2nd Deputy President)
Shaheen Essop(Secretary General)
M. Abdul Fattaag Carr(Assistant Secretary General)
Emaam Hashim Sallie(Treasurer)
Akhtar Thokan(Assistant Treasurer)

Insight into the lives of the CIR Jihadists

SOURCED BY MOULANA SHUAIB APPLE-
BY
Interview with the President of the
Chechan Republic of Ichikeria, Amir
Majlisul-Shura Dokka Umarov, 8 March
2007
Q: On what stage is the fight of
Chechen people against the Moscow
aggressors today? Which, in your sight,
the prospects for this fight?
Dokka Umarov: In the name of Allah,
Most Merciful, Most Compassionate!
First, I would want to send best wishes
to the Ukrainian people, which today
survives the pressure from of the
Kremlin regime.
As for the situation in the North
Caucasus, in spite of the assertions of
Putin, war continues. Information
blockade can create temporary illusion
about the fact that the war ended, but it
can't change the real state of affairs.
Again I declare, that the war continues.
Planned combat operations in all this
time never ended, as each day they are
carried out by our subdivisions, espe-
cially in the mountain regions.
Q: How you can explain the fact that the
noticeable part of the participants in the
first war, and even leaders did pass to
the side of enemy?
Dokka Umarov:The Most High warns
us in the Quran that He will reveal
intentions, purposes and tendencies of
those claiming to be Muslim. No one
remains untested. Therefore, Jihad
appears as a blessing from Allah. Jihad
determines, who are insincere and weak.
He who pursued purposes distant from
Islam, and the independent Chechen
state or it was simply supergrass and the
agent of enemy was exposed. The first
war was only preparation for the sec-
ond.
At the same time I want to refute popu-
lar opinion that a large quantity of par-
ticipants in the first war turned to the
side of enemy. I will name numbers for
you.
In the assault of Chechen capital on 6
August, 1996, 850 Mujahideen partici-
pated. When 3 days passed and it
became clear that we did not intend to
leave from the city, the forces of the
"militiamen" and "volunteers" began to
appear. Up to the moment of the known
ultimatum of General Pulikovskiy in the
city there were already 3 thousand
armed people. After the ultimatum, 850
Mujahideen remained.
After the conclusion of truce in
Khasavyurte, armed forces began to
appear as fungi after rain. Since the
beginning of the second war these
forces, were financed and created by
FSB, they scattered or "turned" to the
side of Russians.
Clear example - are the Kadyrovs,
father and son. Russian propaganda
states that they fought on the side of the
Mujahideen against Russian troops in
1994-96 years. But this is a lie.
Neither father nor son shot any
Russians. Akhmad Kadyrov (secret
service nickname FSB "Adam") was a
supergrass and regular agent KGB - FSB
even from the Soviet times, he sat
through the entire war together with his
sons in the village of Hosi- yourt. He
was activated by FSB, when Lebed
appeared. He appeared once in the vil-
lage Oyskhar (Novogrozniy) after
Raduev marched into Kizlyar, and par-
ticipated in the press conference. His
son, Ramzan Kadyrov, all this time was
the chauffeur of his father. That is the
entire "battle road" of these supergrass-
es.
Magomed Khanbiyev participated in the
operation's of the first war and a little in
the second (ex-minister of Defense
CRI), which however, found for himself
justification for surrendering to enemy.
He and several men from his relatives
surrendered.
Also we have, in the first war, Sulim
Yamadayev (large part of the war he's
sat through on the oil well in Benoy),
was the same supergrass as Kadyrov, he
together with Kadyrov engaged in
hostage taking.
Q: Did the government of CRI recog-
nize inadvisable conducting operations
on the mass seizure of hostages among
the citizens?
Dokka Umarov: In the war with the
aggressor we are guided by the position
of the Shariah, which says: "fight with
them just as they fight with you, but do
not transgress". Both in Nord-Ost and in
Beslane for Putin created the opportuni-
ties to end the genocide of Chechen
people, to end war with the retention of
its honour. It showed that for the
Russian authority the life of people,
means nothing. This is sick maniac.
The Mujahideen never killed people in
Nord-Ost nor children in Beslane. They
(Mujahideen) did not transgress. Putin
killed them. This is the fact, which is
acknowledged today by all.
In our military operations we will be
guided by the principle of military-
political expediency, and rest on the
position of the Shariah.
Q: Does the Chechen people hope to
have its own state?
Dokka Umarov: We have our state. It
was restored on 6 September, 1991, as a
result of people revolution. Today our
state is occupied by enemy, we wage
war against the occupiers and are
assured that sooner or later the enemy
will be banished not only from our
earth, but also from entire Caucasus.
Q: Does Chechen people distinguish
between totalitarian, aggressive and
sectarian "Russian Christianity" and
humane freedom-loving Christianity
such, as Ukrainian? (i.e. possible col-
laboration in the fight against the gener-
al imperialistic enemy of Moslems and
Christians on the basis of mutually-
respect?)
Dokka Umarov: The Quran determines
Christians as people of Holy Writ.
Therefore Shariah prescribes in the
interrelations with the people of Holy
Writ to call to the monotheism and to
act into the correspondence with the
agreement.
Ukraine also is under pressure and
aggression from the side of Russia.
Moscow did not leave its plans with
respect to the return of control over
Ukrainian people. Therefore
Ukrainians, Chechens and other peoples
of the Caucasus are objective allies in
the fight against the neocolonial plans
of the Kremlin.
PICTURE: Sourced
CRI JIHADIST: Dokka Umarov, president of
the Chechan Republic of Ichikeria, Amir
Majlisul-Shura Dokka Umarov
Commander Abu Hafs
Abu Hafs was born in 1973 in Jordan.
After studying at university, he arrived
in Chechnya in 1995 to wage war
against the Russians. He joined the
well-known Mujahideen group under
the leadership of Emir Ibn Khattab. Due
to his outstanding military capabilities
and strategic thinking, he held the post
of instructor for that group. After
Khattab's martyrdom, Abu Hafs became
the assistant of the new commander,
Emir Abu Walid. When was also mar-
tyred, Abu Hafs became the commander
of this group. At the moment he is the
assistant of the Chief Emir, Dokka
Umarov.
 March 2007 - Safar 1428
Hamas-Fatah coalition misses West’s goal
JERUSALEM: The Hamas-led
Palestinian government, boy-
cotted by the West since its
election more than a year ago
because of Hamas' support of
terrorism, announced Thursday
a unity coalition with the more
moderate Fatah movement in
hopes of ending the boycott.
But the political document
guiding the new government
does not fulfill the internation-
al community's three demands -
to recognize Israel, forswear
violence and accept previous
Israeli-Palestinian agreements -
and Israel announced that it
would therefore not deal with
the new government or any of
its ministers, Hamas or not.
The United States is expected
to follow suit but the European
Union will face a fierce inter-
nal debate about whether to
continue its isolation of the
Palestinians.
Miri Eisin, a spokeswoman for
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert,
said Olmert would continue "to
maintain dialogue with the
elected Palestinian president,"
Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah,
known as Abu Mazen, "who
does accept the three princi-
ples."
Other Israeli officials com-
plained that Abbas had failed to
make good on his promise to
Olmert last week that a cap-
tured Israeli soldier, Corporal
Gilad Shalit, would be released
before a new government is
formed. "If Abu Mazen could
deliver Shalit, he would, but he
can't," an Israeli official said.
"So it raises new questions
about his ability to deliver,"
meaning that Olmert's discus-
sions with him will be limited,
the official said, "to the
improvement of the quality of
Palestinian life."
The new government, still led
by Prime Minister Ismail
Haniya and dominated by
Hamas, contains some moder-
ate figures from Fatah and
independent parties, including
the finance minister, Salam
Fayyad, and it was greeted with
relief by ordinary Palestinians,
who hope that it will be able to
pay their salaries and put an
end to internal warfare.
The diplomatic struggle over
whether to funnel aid through
Fayyad is just beginning.
Germany, which currently
holds the presidency of the
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INTERNATIONAL
11
Palestinian Unity
European Union, is likely PICTURE: AFP to Abbas and to the key Government shapes
to support Israel, as will
Britain.
Fatah figure in Gaza,
Muhammad Dahlan, noted
with tentative list
The French foreign minis- that except for the deputy Palestinian Prime Minister-
ter, Philippe Douste-Blazy, prime minister, Azzam al- designate Ismail Haneya
said in Paris that the new Ahmed, the head of the announced on Thursday
Palestinian government Fatah faction in the legis- afternoon that Palestinian
"could open a new page in lature, the Fatah ministers President Mahmoud Abbas
relations with the interna- were relatively unknown has approved the list of the
tional community." But he and untainted by accusa- new national unity govern-
also called for the immedi- tions of corruption. ment The following is the
ate release of Shalit and for "Fatah needs time to reor- tentative list of the lineup of
an end to "all forms of vio- ganize and reform and is the national unity govern-
lence against Israel and its CRITICAL LEADERS: Fatah-Mahmood Abbas playing for the next elec- ment obtained by Xinhua
citizens." and Hamas-Ismail Haneya discuss the new tions," Buttu said. "This from Haneya's office.
The European Union's for- national unity government government is based on
eign policy chief, Javier 'samoud,' or steadfastness. Prime Minister: Ismail Haneya
Solana, said the European that "a step backward" from the It doesn't seem to have any (Hamas)
Union would wait to see the agreement in Mecca. other policy, and Palestinians Deputy prime minister: Azzam el-
government list as approved by The document does call for an have no real expectation that Ahmad (Fatah)
the Palestinian legislature, extension of the often-broken they will do anything about Minister of Finance: Sallam
expected on Saturday, and the cease-fire by Israel and the serious problems." Fayyad (Third Way Party)
political document that governs Palestinians and for further dis- Hamas also appointed a number Foreign Affairs minister: Zeyad
it. cussions on how to organize the of lesser-known figures, leav- Abu Amer (independent)
A State Department spokesman, many - and often competing - ing out of the government well- Interior Minister: Hani al-
Sean McCormack, said similar- Palestinian security forces. known hard-liners like Siam Qawasmi (independent)
ly that Washington "will wait One of the main aims of the and Mahmoud Zahar, who had Minister of Tourism: Kholood
until the government is actually unity government is to end the been foreign minister. While D'eibes (woman) (independent)
in place and we have an under- violence that has broken out Israel sees the unity govern- Minister of health: Radwan el-
standing of what their platform between Hamas and Fatah in ment as a victory for Hamas, it Akhras (Fatah)
will be before we make any recent months. is clear that some key Hamas Minister of Labor: Mahmoud el-
final judgments about it." In Gaza, an Abbas aide, Nabil figures are very unhappy with Aaloul (Fatah)
The document was slowly Abu Rudeineh, said the main the coalition, which makes Minister of transportation: Sa'di
negotiated on the basis of a aims of the government were Hamas look less principled and al-Kronz (Fatah)
unity statement put together by "internal security and ending more willing to compromise to Prisoners Affairs Minister:
Palestinian prisoners in Israel the suffering of Palestinians," keep its hold on cabinet seats. Suleiman Abu Sneinah (Fatah)
jails and was pushed along by getting aid abroad to again The new foreign minister is a Minister of Education: Nasser el-
early in February at a meeting pay full salaries and stopping former Fatah member and inde- Deen Asha'er (Hamas)
called by the Saudis in Mecca. the internal clashes. Haniya pendent, Ziad Abu Amr, who Minister of Telecommunication:
Abbas argues that it implicitly said the main aim was "internal has a Ph.D. from Georgetown Yousef al-Mansi (Hamas)
meets international demands, security." and was supported by Hamas, Minister of al-Waqf (Moslem
and argues further that as the In Gaza, Mustafa el-Sawaf, a but who also has close ties to properties): Suleiman al-Shendi
head of the Palestine Liberation political analyst close to the West. (Hamas)
Organization, he is the only Hamas, noted the continuing The new government has 25 Minister of Planning: Samir Abu
legal negotiator for the Hamas-Fatah clashes and said, ministers. In a complicated for- Eisha (independent)
Palestinians in any case. "One can say there is really no mula, Hamas controls the most Minister of Sports and youths:
The document mentions Israel Palestinian consensus on the seats, then Fatah, while the two Bassem N'aime (Hamas)
only as an occupier of program. I give this govern- factions also control the Minister of Justice: Ali Sar tawi
Palestinian land. It does not ment six months." appointment of some independ- (Hamas)
recognize Israel's right to exist One of the sticking points in ent figures. There are also Minister of Agriculture: Mohamed
and does not explicitly accept the negotiations was the members of four other parties el-Agha (Hamas)
previous Israeli-Palestinian Interior Ministry post, which in parliament, including Municipal Affairs Minister:
agreements, but says the agree- had been held by an important Fayyad and Information Mohamed al-Barghouthi (Hamas)
ments, including international Hamas figure, Said Siam, who Minister Mustafa Barghouti. Minister of Culture: Bassam al-
agreements, will be "respect- is said to oppose this new In Ramallah, there was relief Salhi (People's Party)
ed." agreement with Fatah. The two and hope. Said Batrawi, owner Information Minister: Mustafa al-
And it does not forswear vio- sides settled on a bureaucrat, of Samir Restaurant, said: Barghouti (Independent
lence. On the contrary, it Hani al-Qawasmi, 50, whose "This is great news. We want Palestine)
"affirms that resistance is a family is from Hebron in the law and order so we can feel Minister of Economy: Zeyad al-
legitimate right of the West Bank but who was born there is authority and govern- Zazza (Hamas)
Palestinian people." It says and lives in Gaza. ment. We need the siege to be Minister of Social Welfare: Salleh
"halting resistance depends on But most experts expect that he lifted so we can improve the Zeidan (Democratic Front)
ending the occupation and will have little power, and that economy." Minister without portfolio: Wasfi
achieving freedom, return and the Executive Force, set up by Taghreed El-Khodary con- Qubaha (Hamas)
independence," a reference to Siam in Gaza as a parallel tributed reporting from Gaza, Minister of Public Work: Sameeh
"the rights of Palestinian police force loyal to Hamas, and Khaled Abu Aker from el-Abbed (Fatah)
refugees and their right of will continue to be controlled Ramallah.source-www.iht.com Minister of Women Affairs: has
return to their lands and prop- by Hamas leaders. not been chosen yet.
erties." Israeli officials called Diana Buttu, a former adviser
feeding, advice Immunisations. Sister Rubitex cc Zoghra Moosa
Cooper has a nursing science diploma
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(Bukhari)
12
Malaria epidemic expected in Mozambique
PAT SIDLEY
Johannesburg–Health experts fear
epidemics of several infectious
deseases in Mozambique as the
flood waters recede and mosqui-
toes begin breeding.
According to Pierre Kahozi of the
Maputo office of the World Health
Organization, malaria is endemic
in the region but there are fears
that a much greater outbreak
might occur in around a month. It
is too early to tell if the situation
has already worsened markedly,
he said.
Scores of suspected cases of
cholera have been reported and
more are expected, along with
cases of other diarrhoeal condi-
tions. The Mozambican govern-
ment has reported a "high degree"
of cholera and malaria in camps.
Cholera is endemic in Maputo and
Beira, but numbers of cases are
expected to increase in the wake
of the floods.
Dr Kahozi said that agencies were
unable to get adequate statistics
on diseases because tens of thou-
sands of people were being airlift-
ed to safety, and operations to get
food, drugs, and other provisions
to refugees had only begun this
week. Because of the lack of clean
water, soap, clothing, and sleeping
mats, skin diseases like scabies
have been reported, along with
bacterial conjunctivitis in chil-
dren.
Among the other problems likely
to be encountered by health
authorities are the dangers from
land mines. After Mozambique's
two wars, an estimated one mil-
lion land mines were left unex-
ploded in the ground. These have
been shifting because of the
floods and may be unstable. The
International Committee of the
Red Cross has been asked to help.
An influx of more than 100000
Mozambican refugees is expected
in South Africa. The Northern
Province of South Africa, which
has a common border with
Mozambique and which itself has
been battered by the floods, is
March 2007 - Safar 1428
making provision for accepting PICTURES: Islamic Relief Worldwide -SA
refugees.
Neil Cameron, chief director of
communicable diseases at the
health department in South Africa,
says that more cases of malaria
are expected within a month when
the breeding cycle of mosquitoes
is renewed. He said the floods had
wiped out breeding grounds and
that this had contributed to a lull
in the disease.
Before the floods, South Africa
had seen an explosion in malaria.
The Department of Health in
KwaZulu-Natal and the national
health department had begun
using dichlorodiphenyl-
trichloroethane (DDT) for the first
time since 1995 to control mos- MEETING: Cassiem Khan of ISRW-SA meeting
quitoes.
with the Director of Zambezia Province Disaster
Management Centre in Quelimane
Dr Cameron said that the number
of cases of malaria in South Africa
had increased from 12000 in 1995
QUICK REG
to 50000 in 1999. The increase
could be attributed partly to cli-
matic changes and resistance to
certain drugs. Reporting methods
have also become more accurate,
so the number of cases might pre-
viously have been underreported, DISTRIBUTION: Islamic Relief Worldwide - South Africa dis- Formation of Close Corporation
but there has been a real increase tributing vital aid to the flood victims of the Morrumbala Proffessional Business
Registration
in the incidence of the disease, Dr District Zambezia Province
Company Secretarial Services
Cameron said. Some 380 people
died last year.
It is possible that DDT will be
used again in Mozambique. Its use
Formation Trusts
there was stopped several decades
ago, because 80%of the country's
health budget came from donor
funds, and donors refused to allow 224 Belgravia Road,
the use of DDT. Mozambique's
earlier attempts to tackle the mos-
Lansdowne, 7780
quito problem were hampered by
South Africa's aggressive policy Contact: Shouket Samsodien
to the country during the apartheid
era, when troops were flown in to Tel: 021 696 2500
fight the Mozambique government Fax: 021 696 2501
and it carried out air raids to
destabilise the regime.
The issues involved in tackling
malaria are now being considered
as part of a special development Views and opinions expressed by con-
initiative on infectious diseases
being undertaken jointly by the
tributors and advertisers in this publica-
health departments of three coun- tion do not necessarily reflect those of
tries: South Africa, Mozambique, FLOODS: ISRW - SA Driving through waterlogged raods in the editorial team or the publisher.
and Swaziland. Quelimane town