All Praise is due to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta?ala, our Cherisher,
Creator and Sustainer and may His Choicest Salaw?t and Sal?m be
showered upon His most beloved Messenger, Our Master Muhammad Sallall?hu ?alaihi wasallam, upon his
family, his illustrious Sahabah and upon all those who tread the
exemplary path of the Sunnah. ?m?n.
We offer thanks and gratitude to Allah Ta?aala for giving us
the opportunity to serve His Course and pray that He accepts our feeble efforts
notwithstanding the many shortcomings on our part. Indeed our responsibility is
great and our shoulders are weak however our only support and source of assistance
is the Divine Court without which we can accomplish naught.
As we approach the impending hour, our challenges become
greater and the need to hold fast onto the Hablullah becomes all the
more necessary. We make dua that Allah protects us from falling prey to the
various fitan, unite the hearts of the leadership and keep us steadfast
on the path of Truth and on the Siraat al-Mustaqeem.
Activity Report
The AGM report is usually a medium
for reflecting the achievements, challenges, triumphs and the bottom line of a
single year. In an age of ever increasing expectations and pressures and
accelerating new applications of advanced technologies, it is also a platform
for prospecting as much as for retrospecting.
Whilst SANHA has primarily been
established to monitor and certify foods, beverages and other consumables,
Halaal is increasingly becoming a holistic lifestyle choice and is transcending
the areas of the food industry. Fashion, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals,
cosmetics & skincare, logistics, leisure & lifestyle, travel &
hospitality and medical care are some of the areas which are increasingly embracing
the ?Halaal concept?
Alhamdulillah,
notwithstanding all odds, we are in a position to submit, with utmost humility,
a satisfactory report for the period under review.
Ulama Leadership
Whilst the membership of SANHA encompasses a wide
spectrum of representation from both Ulama and non-Ulama organizations, the
Ulama members play a leading role in both the management and operational
function of the organization.
In the period under review, the Ulama Council represented by
the Theological Committee met on two occasions. All matters of a Shar?i nature
are deliberated and decided upon exclusively by this component of the
Executive. Input is however always welcome from the broader membership.
All matters requiring expert juristic opinion are referred
to the Fatwa Committee. This organ assisted in resolving the following issues
during the past year:
Shellac ? a resinous secretion of an insect commonly used in
the food and pharmaceutical industry. This ingredient was previously ruled
impermissible, however due to further research and fatawa issued by senior Muftis abroad, the matter was submitted to
our Fatwa Committee for review who revoked their fatwa of impermissibility.
Accordingly, the ingredient is now deemed Halaal.
Cigarettes ? based on information that some cigarette
manufacturers use haraam ingredients
such as blood haemoglobin and liquors in the filter and tobacco flavouring, the
fatwa committee was consulted who
ruled karahiyyah strong detestation).
Both the trade and consumers have been urged to abstain from promoting and / or
indulging in this abhorrent harmful substance.
Shrimps ? Since the shrimp was deemed from a different genre
to prawns, the fatwa committee was consulted who ruled that the same ruling of
prawns would be applicable to shrimps as well.
Executive &
Management Board
A total of five meetings were held between the two organs of
SANHA in the past period. The
Management Board is responsible for strategy implementation and managing the
day-to-day affairs of SANHA in accordance with the policies and
objectives approved by the Executive.
Associate Membership
Community organizations, Masjid Jamaats, Madaaris, Darul
Ulooms, and Muslim Professional bodies have shown their confidence and support
for SANHA for which we are grateful.
A total of 137 organizations across the
country have formally registered their membership support, Alhamdulill?h. There is however, a need to further grow this
support base and we accordingly urge Imams and Ulama who are connected to
Masjid jamaats and educational institutions to complete the necessary
application forms and submit to any of the SANHA offices.
New Certification
Notwithstanding the global crisis
faced by world economies, there has been a significant increase in the demand
for Halaal certification not only in South Africa but globally. In comparison
to the previous year, a 25% increase in applications received has been
reflected in the past period. A total number of 243 applications were received
out of which 189 have been concluded.
Many establishments could not withstand the financial crunch
and were forced to close their doors as a result of which in access of 50
Halaal certificates were withdrawn.
The total number of plants certified by SANHA currently stands at 1275
Inspectorate
The Inspectorate department continues to bear the greater
responsibility of monitoring and maintaining Halaal certification standards at
certified plants. Alhamdulillah, a zero-tolerance approach is
implemented where there is gross wilful breach of the Halaal standards.
Approximately 6500 inspections were conducted during the
period under review. Additional staff has been employed in the various regions
to meet the ever increasing challenges faced by this department.
International Activity
Alhamdulillah, due to the sincerity of
its founding members SANHA continues to gain recognition from the international
arena and has become a source of reference for many organizations around the
globe.
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WHASIB, Thailand -
SANHA was once again invited by the Halaal Science Centre to attend this annual
event.
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World Halaal Council -
SANHA representatives serve their final term on the World Halaal Council
Executive. Our representation on the Membership Committee will continue for
another year. SANHA attended the WHC General Assembly in Turkey as well as the
Executive committee meeting held in Malaysia earlier this year.
-
Indonesia ? On
the invitation of the Majlisul Ulama Indonesia, SANHA attended their seminar on
implementing Quality Control systems in the Halaal Certification process.
-
Pakistan ? SANHA was invited to
present a paper at the First Halaal Congress in Karachi hosted by the Trade
Development Authority of Pakistan. On this occasion, a special presentation was
requested of SANHA at the offices of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce.
Requests
were thereafter received from two institutions viz. Jamiatur Rasheed and
Jamiatul Uloom al-Islamiyyah of Karachi to provide an induction course on
Halaal Certification for their members. A group of fifteen Ulama were hosted by
SANHA for a period of 6 weeks, Alhamdulillah.
-
Kuwait ? SANHA was invited as
the representative of Africa to attend the first Halaal Conference hosted by
the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Some awakening seems to have been created
especially on the issue of mechanical slaughter
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SANHA PAKISTAN ? Alhamdulillah,
offices have been set up in both Karachi and Lahore and staff have been
appointed to manage the activities in the region. Special Duas are requested.
Public Relations
Alhamdulillah, some salient
achievements are highlighted hereunder:
In addition to the
weekly radio Q & A programmes hosted by Radio Islam, SANHA is also called
upon by other community radio stations from time to time to respond to current
matters and issues of interest. In the past year, we made representation on 13
occasions on Voice of the Cape and on seven occasions on Radio al-Ansaar
Over the last year
SANHA?s website has been upgraded to be more informative and user friendly.
Many new additions have been made to the website e.g. Gps Co-ordinates, recipe
column (under construction), recent announcement column etc. reviews and
suggestions are being done on an ongoing basis.
Halaal Helpline service
continues to field up to 100 queries daily and remains the flagship of our PR
activity.
The electronic
E-Bulletin and Flash News publications are also issued on a fortnightly basis
which has also been well received by its local and international subscribers.
The Masjid Times has
also been introduced which is circulated with the monthly hilaal notices.
Hosted the Halaal
Pavilion in conjunction with the Africa Big Seven and SAITEX Trade expos
Participated in the
Hartley Road School Fair to ?Educate and create Awareness? among the public.
We highlight hereunder some additional points of information
from the past period:
Total number of plants
certified during the year: 188
Number of announcements
issued in the past year: 26
Total number of Muslim
employees under the direct and indirect employ of SANHA: 237
Three official offices
based in the major cities of South Africa viz. Durban-KwaZulu Natal,
Johannesburg-Gauteng and Cape Town-Western Cape and two regional representative
bases in Eastern Cape and Northern Cape respectively.
Total number of Chicken
Abattoirs approved by SANHA - 27
Total number of Red Meat
Abattoirs approved by SANHA - 25
Total income received by
SANHA in the last period ? R 11.1 million
Total expenses incurred
by SANHA in the said period ? R 10.5 million
SANHA fully subscribes
to the principles of integrity, accountability and transparency and complies
with the generally accepted business practices by which bona fide entities seek
to govern themselves. Accordingly in
addition to publishing and handing out its audited financial statement at its
AGM, a summarized version is also now displayed on its website.
Annual Halaal
Certification introductory course is offered to D?rul Ift? students at the
Gauteng office. There has been increasing requests from final year students to
facilitate such program as not all students pursue ifta on completion of their
Aalim course.
SANHA continues to
assist the Muslim Prison Board with Halaal catering guidelines which needs to
be customized for the relevant prison environments.
The chicken saga and court action instituted
by the Scholars of the Truth chairperson, Moulana AS Desai and represented by
Moulana Farhan Patel of De Deur continues to remain pending.
Obituaries
Earlier this year, SANHA lost one
of its Stalwarts, Moulana Younus Rhoda who notwithstanding ill health served on
the Ulama Council and Executive Committee representing the Jamiatul Ulama ?
Western Cape.
The loss of another guiding beacon
in the person of Hazrat Moulana Yunus Patel rahimahullah
has been felt not only by the Ulama but from the multitude of followers around
the country and beyond. Moulana was indeed a pillar of strength and
encouragement from the founding days of SANHA and remained an active and avid
patron of SANHA till his last. We shall sorely miss his advices and unwavering
support. May Allahu Ta??l? grant them the best of rewards and favour them and
all the Marhoomeen with a lofty station in Jannah and grant the bereaved
families sabr jameel. Aameen!
Conclusion
Alhamdulill?h, SANHA has been growing
from strength to strength purely with the Grace of Allahu Ta?ala and the
commitment of its members and selfless dedication of its staff. I take this
opportunity to thank all Members of the Ulama Council, Executive, staff and all
those associated with this department for their support, assistance and
cooperation.
May Allah Ta??l?
reward you all and also those beyond the organization who have contributed and
supported this course in any and every way. Aameen!
Muhammad
Saeed Navlakhi (Moulana)
Theological
Director
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