There are some cars that you drive and immediately understand what you’re in for. Then there are cars that seem to have a personality of their own. The Land Rover Defender falls firmly into the latter category.

The Defender makes a trip to Woolies feel adventurous but is happier disappearing down a dirt road in the Drakensberg, with the nearest tar road a distant memory.

The latest Defender 110 D350 takes things a little further, replacing the previous D300 with a more powerful version of Land Rover’s 3.0-litre inline-six turbo-diesel.

I was extra fortunate to have the Defender 110 D350 X-Dynamic HSE on a recent trip to Cape Town. A detailed description may not be necessary. Just think of the Defender gliding along the picturesque Chapman’s Peak drive, followed later, on the same day, cruising along the Atlantis Dunes -white sand, blue skies and the Table Mountain offering a beautiful view in the distance.  

Power and more power

The figures are impressive. The 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel produces 257kW and a substantial 700Nm of torque, enough to propel this sizeable SUV from 0 to 100km/h in a claimed 6.4 seconds. That is simply amazing for a vehicle weighing around 2.4 tons.

More importantly, it is the way that torque arrives that makes the D350 so enjoyable. Cruising along a stretch of road with the ocean in sight, a slight tap on the accelerator makes overtaking a slow-moving truck considerably less stressful. The engine has that deep, muscular diesel character that seems particularly appropriate for a vehicle carrying the Defender name.

It claims fuel consumption of around 8.5 litres per 100km, but real-world figures are closer to 11 litres per 100km. That’s not economical for sure, but considering the Defender’s size, weight and performance, it is hardly shocking.

Familiar, but smarter

Land Rover hasn’t radically altered the Defender’s design, and that is probably a good thing. It remains one of the most distinctive SUVs on South African roads. The upright stance, squared-off proportions and rear-mounted spare wheel give it an unmistakable presence.

There are subtle changes, though. The headlights have been revised, the rear lamps sit more neatly into the rear door and there are new finishes and detailing, including the lovely Woolstone Green colour of the test vehicle.

Inside, the changes are more noticeable. The infotainment screen has grown to a substantial 13.1 inches and is beautifully integrated into the dashboard. It is quick and clear and, importantly, easy to read. The 12.3-inch digital driver’s display is equally useful, allowing navigation information to sit directly in front of the driver

Storage has also been reconsidered, and there are USB-C charging points aplenty.

The cabin remains one of the Defender’s greatest strengths. It feels robust without feeling cheap and luxurious. Soft-touch materials and leather sit alongside chunky, hard-wearing surfaces that remind you this is still a vehicle designed to go places where the road has long since disappeared.

Where the Defender makes its point

The aluminum-intensive D7x architecture and electronic air suspension give it an impressive ability to deal with rough surfaces. Corrugated gravel roads and South African potholes are dealt with remarkably calmly. Anyone who has driven a badly corrugated road towards a bush lodge in KwaZulu-Natal will appreciate this.

The Defender 110 is arguably the sweet spot of the range when it comes to ride comfort. It isn’t quite as cosseting as a BMW X5 on smooth tar, but the BMW certainly does not have the Defender’s extraordinary off-road ability.

You sacrifice a little on-road plushness and gain a machine capable of taking you considerably further once the tar disappears. There is up to 900mm of wading capability, while maximum ground clearance in off-road height rises to around 11.5 inches. In other words, the Defender isn’t simply pretending to be adventurous. It really is.

A Defender made for South Africa

There is a temptation to dismiss the modern Defender as an expensive lifestyle accessory.

And, to be fair, plenty of them will probably spend most of their lives negotiating parking at Gateway, the Waterfront or Sandton City rather than river crossings. But that doesn’t make the capability irrelevant. The Defender doesn’t feel uncomfortable at all when the tar ends.

South Africa is a country where a vehicle can be required to perform several completely different jobs in the same weekend. It can take you through Johannesburg traffic on Friday afternoon, carry the family down to the KwaZulu-Natal coast, swallow luggage for a trip into the bush and then tackle a gravel road that looks as though nobody has maintained in 20 years.

The price of being different

There is, of course, one significant obstacle. This vehicle is not cheap. Costing well over R2m with extras, the Defender 110 D350 X-Dynamic HSE is not an impulse purchase. And Land Rover’s options catalogue is extensive enough to make it frighteningly easy to add another few hundred thousand rand to the bill. And that may be its most compelling selling point.

Ultimately…

The Defender 110 D350 is an unusual thing in today’s SUV market.

It is genuinely luxurious without becoming soft. It is enormously capable without feeling agricultural and it is fast enough to embarrass some supposedly sporty SUVs while retaining the ability to disappear down a track that would have most calling for assistance.

The Defender has something many of its rivals struggle to manufacture personality. It feels like a proper adventure vehicle that has somehow learned to enjoy the finer things in life.

Price: R2 033 000 before optional extras
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder diesel
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 257 kW
Torque: 700 Nm
Claimed fuel consumption: 8.5 l/100 km
0–100 km/h: 6.4 seconds claimed / 6.57 seconds tested
Luggage capacity: 857–1 946 litres
Optional seven-seat configuration: 160–1 826 litres
Wading depth: Up to 900 mm

Architecture: D7x aluminium-intensive monocoque

Suspension: Electronic air suspension

Off-road system: Terrain Response 2

Off-road technology: Adaptive off-road cruise control, terrain cameras and electronic air suspension

The post Land Rover Defender 110 D350 – personality of its own appeared first on Al-Qalam.

More than 60 civil society organisations, faith groups, trade unions and community movements from South Africa and across the continent are expected to unite under the banner of “Operation Ubuntu”, calling for an end to xenophobia, greater protection for vulnerable communities and justice for all Africans.

Operation Ubuntu marches will take place tomorrow (Saturday, August 8) in three cities across South Africa – Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg. In Durban, supporters are expected to assemble outside the eThekwini Mayor’s Offices at 10 am. Organisers are also encouraging communities across Africa to hold vigils at 8 pm Central African Time, with participants asked to wear red as a symbol of sacrifice, unity and solidarity.

Durban community activist Saydoonisa Sayed of the South Africa Palestine Movement, told Al-Qalam that Operation Ubuntu was a call to revive a shared humanity and stand in solidarity with vulnerable communities. “There is no place in Islam for xenophobia, racism, Afrophobia or hatred towards those seeking safety,” she said. 

Sayed noted that the early Muslim communities welcomed those fleeing persecution with generosity and compassion, urging communities to uphold those same principles today.

Shaheed Mahomed, the Cape Town organiser for the Operation Ubuntu campaign and member of the Workers International Vanguard League, told Al-Qalam that the campaign is about sending a clear message that xenophobic violence does not represent the values of ordinary South Africans. “The broader community in South Africa is not xenophobic. We live in peace with our migrant and refugee sisters and brothers. We felt there has to be a public response, not only issuing statements or providing relief, but saying to the world that the people of South Africa stand shoulder to shoulder with immigrants and refugees,” he said.

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The march comes amid growing concern over attacks on foreign nationals and is being held on the eve of Women’s Day to highlight the vulnerability of women and children, particularly those displaced by conflict, poverty and migration.

According to the organisers, their campaign extends beyond opposing xenophobia. Their demands include land and housing justice, opposition to the PIE Amendment Bill, stronger action against gender-based violence, an end to the criminalisation of poverty, and what they describe as an end to the exploitation of Africa’s wealth by multinational corporations.

Mahomed said that xenophobia is not unique to South Africa but is a global phenomenon. “When there are xenophobic attacks, it divides us and when we are divided, it makes it easier for the capitalists and imperialists controlling Africa,” he said.

He believes public anger is being directed at migrants instead of those profiting from the continent’s wealth. “The question is always that these people are taking our resources. It’s a major distraction from who is really taking our resources,” he added.

He argued that instead of blaming migrants for unemployment and poverty, attention should be directed towards the large-scale extraction of Africa’s resources and economic policies that continue to leave many communities struggling.

He said that the country’s wealth should be used to improve housing, healthcare, education and job creation rather than allowing ordinary people to be turned against one another.

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Mahomed said undocumented migrants are often blamed for problems they did not create. “The poor migrant who is coming here either as a refugee or as an economic migrant should be welcome to come here,” he said.

“We are saying, document the workers and propose a two-year moratorium on the mass expulsions taking place,” he added.

Mahomed stressed that the government should focus on addressing systemic failures instead of targeting vulnerable communities.

Mahomed said Operation Ubuntu is intended to be the start of a broader movement across the continent: “We are making a historic call. We are waiting for workers, communities and people across Africa to respond… to say, ‘Africa unites’.”

Organisers said that the initiative was intended to remind Africans that lasting solutions to poverty, inequality and violence can only be achieved through solidarity rather than division.

He highlighted that Surah An-Nisa (4:36) instructs believers to show kindness to relatives, neighbours, travellers and those in their care, adding that these teachings remind Muslims to respond to migrants and refugees with compassion rather than hostility.

The post Muslims to join Women’s Day March against xenophobia appeared first on Al-Qalam.

For more than 20 years, Farzana Rahiman has dedicated her life to protecting vulnerable children. As a social worker, she has entered homes where violence, poverty and gang activity are an everyday reality. She has faced threats, witnessed dangerous situations and made difficult decisions to remove children from harm.

Yet it was not the dangers of her profession that left her most disheartened. Instead, it was being told that the hijab she has worn for most of her life had become an obstacle in obtaining a firearm licence.

A police officer at Parrow Police Station told her that her application came back with an X next to her photo. The officer told Rahiman that the problem with her application was that she had a scarf on, and her application was thus not approved.

Now the portfolio committee on Police is set to submit a question to the Provincial Police Commissioner on why the hijab wearing applicant was denied a licence.

The mother of two daughters said she grew up in a home where faith and education went hand in hand.

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“My parents have four daughters and we were raised in an Islamic home with Islamic ethos but very strong on the sentiment of education. So, between my four sisters, we all hold degrees,” she told Al-Qalam.

She credits her late father for encouraging his daughters to pursue opportunities without allowing cultural stereotypes to limit them.

Those values remained with her throughout her career. Today, her work often takes her into environments where social workers are exposed to real risks.

She explained that there are communities where she no longer allows staff members to conduct home visits because of safety concerns.

The decision to apply for a firearm licence, she told Al-Qalam, was not driven by fear but by practicality after years of working in unpredictable situations.

After completing accredited firearm training, purchasing a firearm and submitting the required documentation, Rahiman believed she had fulfilled every legal requirement. Instead, months later, she learnt there was an issue with the photograph accompanying her application because she was wearing a hijab.

Rather than simply complying, Rahiman began researching the legal framework herself.

She said she searched for court judgments and carefully examined the Firearms Control Act but could not find any provision preventing Muslim women from wearing a hijab in firearm licence photographs. “As far as the Firearm Controls Act goes, the only thing that you’re not allowed to wear is a hat and sunglasses.”

What followed, however, left her questioning the system.

She recalled being advised that she could wear a wig instead or even use artificial intelligence to alter her photograph.

For Rahiman, those suggestions missed the fundamental purpose of an identity document.

She explained that every official identification document she currently holds, including her passport, driver’s licence and identity document features her wearing a hijab. “If the purpose of the identification card is to be able to identify the licence holder, then you should be able to see me.”

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The issue, she believes, extends beyond a single application.

During the days following the publicity around her case, Rahiman said she heard from other Muslim women who claimed they had removed their hijabs simply to complete the licensing process.

She worries that many women may never challenge such decisions because they lack the knowledge, confidence or resources to do so. “Not everybody has access to resources. Not everybody has insight in the ability to use those resources.”

Rahiman also expressed concern about what she believes is a rise in anti-Muslim sentiment online. “Islamophobia is highly on the rise in South Africa, and this is something I’ve experienced personally,” she added.

The post Hijabi social worker challenges firearm license process appeared first on Al-Qalam.

For many learners at Durban’s Open Air School, access to medical care is an essential part of the school day. Thanks to a donation of essential medical equipment from the Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (IMASA) Durban, the school is now better equipped to provide health care.

The handover took place on 23 July at Open Air School in Glenwood, a specialist public school that caters for approximately 260 learners from pre-primary to Grade 12 with special educational needs, including learning, physical and mental disabilities. 

The donation included two beds, two medicine cabinets, a portable aspirator, a nebuliser, a stretcher and medicine kidney trays for the school’s sick bay. The equipment will help staff respond more effectively to learners who require medical attention during the school day.

Speaking to Al-Qalam, IMASA Durban and IMA Baytul Nur Chairman, Solly Suleman, said that the organisation was motivated by a desire to ensure that every child has access to a safe and supportive learning environment.

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He stressed that care should never depend on ability: “Every child deserves to feel safe, seen and supported while at school, regardless of their disability. We wanted to help make their learning experience easier and more dignified.” 

Suleman explained that the equipment would strengthen the school’s ability to provide day-to-day medical care. “With beds for rest, a stretcher for emergencies, and tools like a nebuliser and aspirator, the staff will be far more prepared to respond to learners who feel unwell or need immediate attention. It gives both learners and staff peace of mind,” he said. 

He told Al-Qalam that meeting the learners was one of the most memorable parts of the visit. He described the visit as “unforgettable”, reflecting on how the IMA Durban team was welcomed with dancing, singing, bright smiles and “the sweetest hugs”. The learners were so full of light and so welcoming. “The hugs, the joy and the happiness were overwhelming in the best way,” he added.  

Suleman highlighted that the initiative reflects IMASA’s commitment to serving communities and supporting vulnerable members of society. “At IMASA, we are committed to helping anyone in need, regardless of race, religion, background or ability. Supporting Open Air School is part of living out that commitment and ensuring that even the most vulnerable in our community are cared for,” he said. 

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He also thanked the school’s staff for their dedication to the learners: “Thank you for the incredible love you pour into these children every single day. You are changing lives.”

When addressing the learners, Suleman thanked them for the warm welcome: “You brought so much joy to our hearts. Keep shining, you are seen, you are loved, and you matter.”

Suleman is confident that the equipment will make a meaningful difference to both learners and staff, strengthening the school’s ability to provide timely medical care when it is needed. The donation is a reminder of what can be achieved when communities come together to support those who need it most. 

Reflecting on the visit, Suleman said that the experience reinforced an important lesson. “This experience reminded us that to give is to receive. We came to give, but we left having received so much more. The kindness of the learners softened our hearts and brought tears to our eyes. It reminded us why we do this work,” he said. 

The post IMASA – Medical equipment for Open-Air School appeared first on Al-Qalam.

After weeks of competition on the netball courts and soccer fields, the Association of Muslim Schools (AMS) KZN gathered learners, coaches, parents, principals and organisers for a Champions Dinner that celebrated not only the winning teams, but also the people whose dedication made the tournaments possible.

Hosted in partnership with Al Baraka Bank, the evening brought together the winning Open Category soccer and netball teams on July 29th at the Al Baraka Bank Head Office in Kingsmead, Durban.

For AMS, the dinner marked the culmination of months of preparation, competition and collaboration between its affiliated schools.

AMS head of sports, Zain Muhammed, said the sporting programme has grown into much more than a series of tournaments. “Over the years we have built a real synergy between our affiliated schools, where the focus is on growing together. The sports wing is one where we encourage mass participation. The learners look forward to the tournaments every year, and they continue to get bigger and better,” he said.

Muhammed described the Champions dinner as a fitting conclusion to the season. “We culminate in this dinner to acknowledge the achievements of the learners, coaches and schools. It is important that they are recognised for the effort they have put in throughout the season,” he said.

Nasir Seedat, General Manager of Retail, Wealth and Marketing at Al Baraka Bank, told Al-Qalam that the Champions Dinner was about celebrating the people behind a successful sporting season. “While the trophies mark the end of the competition, we wanted to recognise the dedication, commitment and hard work that went into getting there,” he said.

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The evening’s programme reflected both celebration and personal development. Proceedings opened with a recitation from the Qur’an, followed by welcome addresses from AMS and Al Baraka Bank.

One of the highlights was a leadership session presented by a Dale Carnegie representative, encouraging learners to develop the communication and leadership skills needed to succeed both on and off the sports field.

Guests also heard from one of the learners, who shared a personal reflection on the tournament experience and the opportunities it had created. The evening concluded with an interactive quiz before attendees gathered for dinner.

While the Champions Dinner recognised the Open Category tournament winners, Seedat said the season also placed significant emphasis on character.

During the tournament, the Akhlaaq Awards recognised one team in each age group for demonstrating exemplary character, respect, teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the competition. “We believe these qualities are just as important as winning because they reflect the true spirit of sport and the values we hope young people will carry with them throughout their lives,” said Seedat.

He hopes that learners left the evening with an appreciation that success extends beyond lifting a trophy. “The tournament reminded us that commitment, discipline and teamwork are essential, but so too are humility, respect and integrity,” he added.

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Seedat said that recognising young people’s achievements encourages them to strive for excellence while reinforcing that character is as important as talent. “Sport teaches resilience, discipline and leadership, but it also teaches respect for teammates, opponents and officials. Those lessons stay with the learners long after the final whistle,” he said.

Reflecting on the broader impact of the AMS tournaments, Seedat said the events strengthen relationships between learners, parents, educators and schools while promoting healthy competition and mutual respect. “Sport has a unique way of bringing communities together. Success belongs not only to the players on the field, but also to the people who encourage and support them behind the scenes,” he said.

Looking back on the season, one moment stood above the rest. “For me, it was seeing the pride on the learners’ faces as they celebrated alongside their teammates, parents, coaches and principals. There was a real sense of joy and achievement in the room,” said Seedat.

He said that the evening reminded them that while sport is about competition, it is also about community, character and creating memories that young people will carry with them for years to come.

For the learners who gathered to receive recognition, the evening was not simply the end of a tournament; it was a celebration of a community that continues to grow together on and off the field.

The post AMS KZN Champions dinner honours sporting excellence and character appeared first on Al-Qalam.

Across the world, the right has increasingly made xenophobia one of its central mobilising strategies. Migrants are blamed for unemployment, pressure on public services, crime, social breakdown and the failures of government. In many countries, particularly in Europe, this anti-migrant politics has become tightly entwined with Islamophobia. Migration is presented not only as an economic or administrative problem but as a threat to national culture, religious identity and civilisation itself.

South Africa’s anti-migrant politics is now following this path. The xenophobic project led by March and March and supported by other authoritarian and far-right forces is beginning to combine hostility towards migrants with hostility towards Muslims. The language has shifted from claims about migrants taking jobs and places in schools and hospitals to warnings about a Muslim “takeover”, Muslim “dominance”, an “Islamic invasion” and the introduction of Sharia law.

Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, the leader of March and March, recently asked on social media whether South Africans were wrong to oppose Muslim organisations that shelter or provide humanitarian support to migrants displaced by xenophobic violence. She claimed that foreign Muslims were seeking “dominance” in South Africa.

Speaking to the BBC, Ngobese-Zuma said that South Africa was undergoing a “very serious religious takeover”. Muslims comprise only around 1.5% to 2% of the population. The idea that such a small minority is taking over the country is plainly absurd. But the lack of any factual basis for Ngobese-Zuma’s claim does not make it politically insignificant. Far-right politics has never depended on an accurate description of reality. It works by identifying a vulnerable group, exaggerating its power and portraying its ordinary presence in society as a coordinated threat.

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Nkosikhona Ndabandaba, also known as Phakelumthakathi and closely associated with the same xenophobic mobilisation, has taken this language further. Responding to an image warning of an “Islamic invasion” and the introduction of Sharia law, he reportedly wrote: “Never ever, especially the terrorists!”

In the standard move of the right around the world, migrants, Muslims and terrorists are collapsed into one category. Muslim religious identity becomes grounds for suspicion, and the presence of foreign Muslims is portrayed as a security threat. This is a significant and alarming development in South African far-right politics. The migrant is no longer accused only of competing for jobs, using hospitals or operating small businesses. The migrant is now also presented as the carrier of a hostile religion and an agent of cultural conquest.

The expansion of the target is already visible. Xenophobic mobilisation is usually justified by saying that it is directed only against undocumented migrants. In practice, documented migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, foreign-owned businesses and South Africans who defend them are also threatened. The turn towards Islamophobia widens the target again. Muslim organisations, business owners, charities and South African Muslims who defend migrants can now be portrayed as part of the alleged takeover.

A recent post by the Pakistan South Africa Association described a visit to a church in Delmas, where it distributed food and grocery hampers to families in need. The initiative was explicitly interfaith and humanitarian. Yet some of the responses accused the association of trying to buy influence, gain control of the country or conceal predatory intentions. An ordinary act of solidarity was treated as proof of conspiracy.

The same suspicion is directed at Muslim organisations that defend migrants from unlawful arrest, exclusion or intimidation. When Muslim organisations call for due process or support migrant-owned businesses, their intervention is not treated as a constitutional position. It is presented as Muslims protecting “illegal foreigners” in pursuit of a larger religious agenda.

The argument is structured so that Muslims cannot answer it. If Muslim organisations remain silent, they can be accused of refusing to contribute to South African society. If they provide food, shelter or legal support, their assistance is described as an attempt to buy influence or impose religious dominance.

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The xenophobic and Islamophobic narratives strengthen each other. Xenophobia constructs the border as being under attack. Islamophobia constructs the nation’s culture and religion as being under attack. Ethnic nationalism adds a further claim that a particular community is losing control over territory, institutions and political authority. Together, these narratives allow a movement that emerged around resentment over jobs and public services to appeal to fears about identity, religion and national survival.

Democracy requires that questions of citizenship and legal status be decided through lawful procedures rather than by political movements, mobs or social-media campaigns. It protects freedom of religion and the right of civil-society organisations to offer humanitarian and legal support.

March and March’s politics increasingly challenge these principles. It claims the authority to decide who belongs, who may enter a hospital or school, who may run a business and which organisations may assist people under threat. Its leaders present migrants as people whose rights can be suspended and Muslims as a community whose motives are inherently suspect.

The growing danger of far-right populism extends beyond migrants and Muslims. Journalists, progressive lawyers, left learning trade unionists and radical grassroots activists are all coming under increasing attack. March and March has actively sought to delegitimise constitutional and humanitarian opposition to xenophobia.

The threat to South Africa does not come from Muslims or migrants. It comes from a far-right politics that turns the poverty, institutional collapse and kleptocratic politics that drive and justify public anger into hostility towards minorities, while leaving the political and economic forces responsible for the crisis untouched.

*Dr Buccus is an academic, political analyst and editor of Al-Qalam.

The post Xenophobia’s Islamophobic turn worrying appeared first on Al-Qalam.

Business Day has published a letter of complaint regarding Halal certification, which, apart from being contradictory, is deliberately conflated with what the writer refers to as “consumer awareness and transparency”. 

In addition to his attempt at mischief-making by hoping to provoke the ire of Christians through injecting a controversy on the Halal industry in South Africa, it will not be far removed to conclude that he does so in pursuit of Israel’s Islamophobic agenda.

That he represents an agency linked to the settler colonial regime which faces serious charges of committing genocide in Gaza, Daniel Jacobi and his outfit known as “South African Friends of Israel”, it does not surprise us that he would do so. 

Published on 6 August 2026, and titled “Religious certification’s role in consumer choice”, it is riddled with contradictions. 

For instance, his question about why Halal certified products have become the “default standard in so many supply chains” is explained and answered by himself. 

“Businesses are free to seek certification where there is consumer demand or export markets require it. For many manufacturers, halal certification is a commercial decision that opens access to local and international markets”, is his explanation. 

Indeed, if it is understood in such logical terms, underlined by the fact that Halal certification is purely a dietary requirement, not a bogey of any sort, nor associated with what Israeli-inspired Hasbara (propaganda) peddles as “Islamist terrorism”, why then is it necessary to politicize it as Jacobi does? 

We are confident that the overwhelming majority of South Africa’s consumers respect and accept Halal as a matter of dietary choice, health standards, and consumer transparency rather than an ideological symbol. 

It is common wisdom that the guidelines for Halal certification share similar imperatives for Kosher certification. These are, amongst others, hygiene, cleanliness, ethical treatment of animals and quality control. 

Crucially, these practices ensure food safety, which benefits all consumers regardless of faith. 

While these facts are indisputable, Jacobi’s dispute lies elsewhere. It is to politicise an Islamic imperative, which he unashamedly does by injecting red herrings. 

His fake concerns must be rejected with contempt. 

Jacobi is the same person who, on the appointment of former Minister Naledi Pandor as chair of the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF), publicly alleged that it has been hijacked by “radicals”. 

He also led a group of South African members of parliament and religious leaders on a highly controversial trip to Israel during 2025.

Jacobi confirmed that the trip was made and described it as “a mission to discover historic facts to Israel.”

The confirmation took place after the Good Party raised questions about its “secret mission.”

At the time, Rebecca Davis (Daily Maverick) critiqued it by claiming that it seemed to have been “a very one-sided ‘fact-finding mission’”.

She correctly assessed that any of the nine South African MPs who visited Israel on a recent “fact-finding mission” will testify to the media that “there was no evidence of apartheid and, to the contrary, Israel is a vibrant progressive multi-racial and multi-ethnic society, in which the rights of all citizens are protected and upheld by the rule of law”.

Her conclusion was based on the claim of the group that organised the trip in its press statement: “All delegates observed that, and will confirm with South African media, that there was no evidence of apartheid and, to the contrary, Israel is a vibrant progressive multi-racial and multi-ethnic society, in which the rights of all citizens are protected and upheld by the rule of law.”

By all accounts, it is evident that Jacobi and his pro-Israeli aligned group are invested in promoting and defending the Zionist-apartheid regime. 

The issue of Halal thus becomes a convenient decoy to raise the ire of South African consumers against Muslims at a time the country is confronted with social issues related to foreign migrants, xenophobia and Islamophobia. 

*Iqbal Jassat is an Executive Member of the Media Review Network (MRN)

The post Targeting of Halal certification by Israeli-aligned lobby smacks of islamophobia appeared first on Al-Qalam.

One of the most effective ways to challenge prejudice is through meaningful human interaction. Research from around the world consistently shows that when people meet, engage and learn from one another, fear and misconceptions begin to disappear.

National Mosque Open Day (NMOD) was launched by SAMNET in 2017 and is held annually on Heritage Day, 24 September.

The initiative encourages mosques across South Africa to open their doors to the public and welcome visitors from all backgrounds. Since its inception, the campaign has grown significantly, with dozens of mosques participating across the country and across Africa.

The concept is simple: invite your community to visit your local mosque, learn about Islam, observe the mosque environment, ask questions freely, and engage with Muslims in a welcoming and relaxed setting. A typical Open Day may include a guided mosque tour, an explanation of prayer and wudu, refreshments, and possibly a Q&A session.

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National Mosque Open Day is not about debate or conversion. It is about building understanding, strengthening relationships and creating opportunities for people to learn directly from one another rather than through stereotypes or misinformation.

Heritage Day provides the perfect opportunity to showcase the diversity of our nation and to demonstrate that mosques are not only places of worship, but also centres of community, service, compassion and learning. It is a Public Holiday when most people are available to attend and volunteer.

At a time when Islamophobia is growing globally, opening our doors is a practical and positive response. Every conversation helps replace suspicion with understanding, strangers with neighbours, and misconceptions with meaningful human connection.

We invite all mosques and musallahs to participate in this year’s National Mosque Open Day on 24 September 2026.

For more information or to register your mosque, please contact SAMNET at info@samnet.co.za or WhatsApp 0843333979 or visit www.samnet.co.za

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The post National Mosque Day – ‘Challenging islamophobia through engagement’ appeared first on Al-Qalam.

The South African Palestine Movement says they were harassed by police this week when they peacefully protested outside the Durban International Convention Centre where the SADC Summit was being held.

A small group of just 10 peaceful activists gathered to exercise their constitutional right to peaceful assembly and to raise concerns about xenophobia, Afrophobia, and the protection of human rights across the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region.

“Instead of facilitating this lawful and peaceful picket, protesters were confronted by an overwhelming police presence. There were approximately four times as many police officers as protesters, creating an atmosphere of intimidation rather than one of protection.

“The role of the police is to safeguard the rights of peaceful demonstrators, not to intimidate or discourage lawful civic participation. Such disproportionate policing risks undermining the constitutional rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and protest.

“We call on the relevant authorities to ensure that all law enforcement officers uphold the Constitution and respect the rights of those who engage in peaceful, non-violent protest. Democracy is strengthened when peaceful voices are protected, not silenced.

“Peaceful protest is not a threat—it is a cornerstone of a democratic society. From the Durban ICC we moved to the @ANC offices  – and again the police asked us to move,” the statement added.

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Across various parts of the country, self-appointed groups are entering businesses, questioning employers, inspecting workplaces, identifying foreign workers, and demanding to know who is legally employed. 

Regardless of the names these organisations give themselves, one question rises above all others: who has authorised them to enforce the law?

There is no denying that illegal immigration is a legitimate national concern. Every sovereign nation has the right, and indeed the duty, to protect its borders, regulate immigration, and ensure that those living and working within its territory comply with the law. South Africans are equally entitled to expect that these laws are enforced fairly and consistently.

Yet the responsibility for doing so has always rested with the state. The ANC government since 1994 has failed to adequately secure the country’s borders and enforce immigration laws. This has fuelled public frustration and a growing sense that the government has neglected one of its most fundamental responsibilities.

That failure is not an invitation for private citizens to become law enforcement officers. Border security, immigration enforcement, and the lawful deportation of undocumented foreign nationals are constitutional functions of the state. When government fails to act decisively, it creates a vacuum, and vacuums are often filled by self-appointed groups.

This is precisely where South Africa now finds itself. The grievances expressed by many of these groups are understandable. Citizens are concerned about unemployment, pressure on public services, crime, and the perception that immigration laws are not being enforced. These concerns deserve to be heard. But legitimate concerns cannot justify illegitimate methods.

When private groups enter businesses without lawful authority, interrogate workers, intimidate employers, and conduct what amount to their own immigration inspections, they move beyond civic activism into an area that threatens the rule of law.

The Constitution was never intended to permit citizens to appoint themselves as immigration officials or police officers. Our democracy depends upon due process, lawful authority, and equal protection under the law. 

Once those principles begin to erode, the consequences become increasingly difficult to contain.

Today it may be businesses employing foreign nationals; tomorrow it could be farms. The next day it could be factories, schools, shopping centres, or any institution targeted by whichever group believes it has the authority to intervene.

History shows that vigilantism rarely remains confined to its original purpose. Once groups become accustomed to exercising power without legal accountability, that power often expands.

An equally serious concern follows naturally. If businesses become accustomed to groups arriving unannounced and demanding access, what prevents future groups from demanding payment instead? 

What stops criminal syndicates from presenting themselves as community organisations? How long before intimidation evolves into organised extortion?

These are not hypothetical fears. They are risks that emerge whenever lawful authority is gradually replaced by informal power.

The silence from the government has only intensified public concern. Many South Africans are asking: Where is President Cyril Ramaphosa? During periods of heightened public tension, citizens reasonably expect visible leadership, clear communication, and decisive action. 

When that leadership appears absent, uncertainty grows, confidence weakens, and speculation inevitably fills the void.

Government now carries a dual responsibility. First, it must urgently restore public confidence by strengthening border security, improving immigration administration, enforcing existing laws, and lawfully deporting those who have no legal right to remain in the country. 

Secondly, it must make it unmistakably clear that no private group, regardless of its motives, may assume the powers of the state or take the law into its own hands.

South Africa’s Constitution protects the rights of businesses as well as individuals. Inspections and enforcement actions must be carried out by authorised officials acting within the law, not by self-appointed groups demanding access to private premises.

The Freedom Charter envisioned a South Africa founded upon justice, equality, dignity, and the rule of law. Our constitutional democracy cannot allow parallel systems of enforcement to emerge simply because public frustration has reached breaking point.

South Africa stands at a defining moment. If we excuse vigilantism because we agree with its immediate objective, we may one day discover that the same methods are being used for very different purposes. 

The issue before us is larger than immigration. It is about whether we remain a constitutional democracy governed by law, or gradually become a society where organised groups exercise authority simply because they can.

Government must take responsibility for the conditions that have contributed to this moment. It must address the legitimate concerns of its citizens through effective governance, economic growth, secure borders, and the consistent application of the law. 

But it must do so within the framework of the Constitution, because once the rule of law gives way to the rule of the crowd, everyone, citizen and non-citizen alike, ultimately becomes less secure.

The choice South Africa makes now will shape not only its immigration policy, but the future character of its democracy.

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