Al-Qalam 
By Azra Hoosen
On a crisp Sunday morning in Johannesburg, the fairway became more than a sporting ground as the inaugural K7 Africa Muslims Agency (AMA) Charity Golf Day brought together the sporting and business community in support of education and local upliftment.
The event, hosted at the Royal Johannesburg Golf Club on 19 April 2026, marked a new approach by AMA, combining sport and corporate social responsibility. While the organisation hosts various initiatives throughout the year, this was its first venture into the golfing space.
At the centre of the initiative was the Aman School of Excellence in Finetown, the chosen beneficiary of the day.
AMA Events and Volunteer Coordinator, Mohammed Tahir Hamid, told Al-Qalam that the concept was driven by a desire to connect with new audiences. “We try to reach different audiences through our events, and the sporting community has been very supportive. This was an opportunity to link the game to a greater cause,” he said.
Hamid added that the scale of planning reflected the importance of the cause. “The planning that went into this took a lot of time and effort, but it’s for Aman School, and we know these efforts will help change the trajectory for these children,” he said.
Hamid emphasised that collaboration remains central to the success of such initiatives: “Projects like these need support from multiple angles: funding, skills, awareness and community involvement. It is about building relationships that can make a long-term difference.”
Participants responded positively. “People were keen to understand the difference they could make, not just as players, but by raising awareness in their own spaces,” he said.
The focus on education was intentional. “By providing a high standard of education, these children are given an opportunity to further their studies and access meaningful employment. That is how cycles of poverty can be broken,” said Hamid.
Funds raised will support both learner needs and infrastructure development, including upgrades to the school’s computer room and science laboratory.
Golf Day Director Shaheen Essop highlighted that the focus remained on creating an enjoyable experience for participants while advancing a meaningful cause.
Essop described the initiative as a different approach to fundraising. “We believe this will be more beneficial but also showcases how we, as Muslims, can do things with integrity and good Akhlaaq,” he said.
Essop emphasised that the key is the message of giving and the impact it delivers for the school.
He noted that the choice of venue contributed to the overall experience, describing the Royal Johannesburg Golf Club as one of the country’s stalwart courses, offering players a full 18-hole experience in excellent condition.
Adding to the spirit of the day, one of the event’s key partners, the AC&E Group, increased the stakes by contributing an additional R10 000 prize for the longest drive on the 18th hole.
Rafeeq Isaacs, Head of Operations and Marketing at AC&E Group, emphasised that deen comes first before everything else. “We have to dedicate time to charity and serving Allah,” he said.
First prize went to Moulana Tahir Kara and Naeem Isaacs, who competed as a team and emerged victorious. The winners received a golf bag along with a stay at the Hyatt Hotel. In a notable gesture, the winner of the longest drive, representing AC&E Group, donated R5 000 of his prize money to the Aman School.
The school has become a focal point within the surrounding community, serving as a space of development and engagement for families in the area.
From the morning registration, where participants gathered and connected, to the prize-giving ceremony that concluded the day, a sense of camaraderie was evident throughout.
Following the success of its inaugural edition, AMA hopes to establish the charity golf day as an annual event, with plans to expand participation to other provinces in future.
With strong backing from sponsors and stakeholders, organisers are already planning for the next one.
Hamid had the last word: “It takes a community to uplift a community. When people come together with a shared purpose, the impact goes far beyond a single event.”
