Appointed as waqf ambassador on the eve of her final Grade 12 examinations, Head Girl of the Auckland Park Academy of Excellence (APAX), Aneesa Randeree, pledged R20, 000 in a waqf donation aimed at supporting leadership development, the underprivileged and educational initiatives at her school. Speaking at a special dinner function attended by fellow learners, staff members and special guests, which marked the end of her tenure as Head Girl, Randeree made the announcement during her outgoing speech. APAX, which opened its doors in 2011, is a Muslim school situated in Johannesburg. Waqf is a divine trust instituted by the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century. Property, ethical investments, and assets – such as houses, shares, cash etc  – are put in a trust whereby the core investment or capital cannot be eroded, but its fruits have to be used for the benefit of the community. According to Sacred Law, waqf cannot be ceded or sold. Randeree’s donation was handed to AWQAF SA, an NGO that specialises in waqf, and that runs several local and national programmes – such as Maths tuition, the drilling of water wells and social cohesion events focused at uplifting South Africa’s less fortunate.  AWQAF SA won international awards for its efforts in 2013-14. In her speech at the dinner function, Randeree said, “waqf is the most powerful sacred, sustainable,  enduring,  and empowering of all Islamic voluntary charities. I’d like to give something back to my school, a tangible legacy as a token of my appreciation…I’d ...

AWQAF SA, an NGO which contributes toward growth and development in post-apartheid South Africa, launched former Deputy Education Minister Enver Surty’s memoirs, “In Pursuit of Dignity”, at the Old Assembly Chambers in Parliament on Wednesday. Surty, who has served the ANC at various levels for more than 30 years, was one of the architects of the constitution, as well as serving as terms as Deputy Chief Whip of the National Council of Provinces, Justice Minister and becoming the country’s longest-serving Deputy Minister of Education. His memoirs, written in an easy and anecdotal style, take the reader on a warm journey of his activist life from Rustenburg at the foot of the Magaliesburg to parliament at the foot of Table Mountain. Speaking at the launch, held in the Old Assembly in Cape Town (which became the National Council of Provinces after 1994) Judge Seraj Desai reminisced about his university days at Durban Westville where he studied law together with Surty. Calling themselves the “philosophers” in their student years, Desai linked Surty’s memoirs to the pertinent issues of the day, such as land redistribution and non-racialism. He said it was significant that today when people were asked to fill in their race on legal forms, whites would more often than not tick off their identity. This spoke to a certain historical arrogance, he said, as those from other groups would ignore the question, not regarding it as relevant. Desai noted that Surty had broached the topic of land in his book, but ...

AWQAF SA, in collaboration with Al-Falaah College, Albaraka Bank, Printworx, the KZN Education Department and KWay, embarked on successful matric Maths intervention programmes during August at the Al-Falaah College in Springfield, Durban, and at the Ladysmith Civic Centre.    About The programme was specially targeted at underperforming learners who required a boost to enable a pass at the end of the year.  Learners who obtained 30% to 40% in the June examinations were sent invitations by KZN Education to attend intensive two day workshops.  The workshops were presented by coach and mentor, Mr Muhammad Khota, of the Gauteng-based KWay Maths Institute. Grade 12 learners and educators from over 55 Department of Basic Education schools, and four Association of Muslim Schools, attended the workshops. Learners from around KZN travelled from as far afield as 60 kms to get to Al-Falaah College and Ladysmith.    Mohammed Zaffar Ahmed, one of the facilitators, said that they had experienced an encouraging response, with more than 250 learners attending each day.  Format “Classes commenced at 08:30 and ended at 14:45, with the learners enjoying a good lunch.  Learners and educators requested more of these classes to be held, as they found them not only beneficial but user-friendly. The learners were enthralled by the short-cut methods shown by the coach to complete intricate examples that had previously flummoxed them.   “Judging from the many positive responses of teachers and learners who attended, our Maths intervention was hailed a success,” he said.  According to Coach Muhammad Khota of KWay, the ...

AWQAF South Africa, in partnership with Turkish NGO Diyanet Vakfi, will be performing Qurbani in six neighbouring states, thirteen underprivileged communities across Southern Africa and at Mvezo Great Place located in Mthatha. Qurbani, an annual devotional sacrifice of livestock whose meat is distributed to the poor, symbolises an Abrahamic tradition at the time of the annual Islamic ‘Eid ul-Adha festival. It coincides with the Hajj, the major pilgrimage, to Mecca. The event commemorated is when the prophet Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice his son, Ismail, but at the last moment – as a sign of mercy – was given a big-horned ram to sacrifice instead. A moment of great sadness and pain was transformed into one of great joy and relief. During Awqaf’s #Share the Care Qurbani 2019 programme, over 250 cows and sheep will be slaughtered on the day of ‘Eid (12 August), and the meat distributed to 18, 000 underprivileged families. Some of the recipients only eat meat once a year during Qurbani. This year, Awqaf SA celebrates a moment of enormous historical significance and cultural sharing. On the invitation of Chief Zwelivelile Mandela, a Qurbani will be held at the Royal House of Mandela at Mvezo Komkhulu, Nelson Mandela’s Birthplace, near Mthatha. Mvezo Great PlaceSource: The Guardian An Awqaf SA delegation, headed by its Chairman of Trustees Haroon Kalla, and its CEO Zeinoul Abedien Cajee and Deputy CEO Mickaeel Collier, will witness this historic event as well as representatives from the Muslim Judicial Council and ...

The Winterveldt Muslim community has worked diligently to establish a working model to eradicate poverty through sustainability, education, economic activity, and unity. Under the guidance of the Winterveldt Madressah and  Winterveldt Shura Council, the community has formed a network in the community which has established the following: The Winterveldt Madressah was established in 1983 and currently has 215 students and 19 in private Muslim schools under the their bursary program. The  Umveliqangi Winterveldt Jum’a Masjid has a Waqf (endowment) borehole that provides the community with free water. Their  Burial Scheme offers facilities for burial ablutions and insurance cover for the community. They have formed the Phakamani Business Association which boasts a membership of 58 Muslim businesses. Under their Waqf property portfolio, they have managed to build a retail centre comprising of four shops. Chairs and tables that were donated by Awqaf SA The rental received continues to support and maintain their community institutions and it’s activities through empowerment and financial aid. Abdul Rahim Nkumane, who is the chairman of the Winterveldt Jama’a mentioned that: “These projects collectively serve as a prototype and model for sustainable community development. “ To compliment the valiant efforts of the Winterveldt communitiy, Awqaf SA has sponsored desks and chairs on behalf of their generous donors. Awqaf SA takes this opportunity to express its sincere gratitude to the donors/ waqifoon who have contributed generously towards the upliftment and support of the communities efforts to achieve growth and sustainability. May Allah reward them all abundantly for their ...