14 July 2006
On 13 July 2006, a Ministerial delegation headed by the Minister in The
Presidency Essop Pahad met with a delegation of 60 representatives of the South
African Muslim community at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The full
Ministerial delegation comprised the following:
* Minister in The Presidency, Essop Pahad;
* Minister of Intelligence, Ronnie Kasrils;
* Minister of Home Affairs, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula;
* Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aziz Pahad;
* Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development; Johnny de
Lange;
* Deputy Minister of Education, Enver Surty.
The government called the meeting to discuss the perceptions of the Muslim
community that leading religious figures as well as some Muslim religious and
educational institutions might be the subject of security concerns by the
state.
In an open and candid discussion Ministers Pahad and Kasrils assured the
Muslim leadership that there was no security policy specifically directed at
the Muslim community.
In response to questions regarding the deportation of foreign nationals, the
Ministers emphasised that the government was opposed to renditions and remained
committed to following due legal process.
In order to allay the concerns of the Muslim community it was agreed that
mechanisms be created to ensure better communication and liaison between the
government and the Muslim community on security issues.
Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad also briefed the meeting on the government's
approach and on-going efforts in respect of the current crisis in the Middle
East. The meeting raised serious concerns at the escalation of the conflict in
Gaza, the military offensive in Lebanon, the on-going construction of the
'apartheid wall' and humanitarian crisis resulting there from.
The government and the Muslim delegation unequivocally expressed their
condemnation of the current Israeli military offensive both in Gaza and in
Lebanon and called on organs of civil society in South Africa to mobilise mass
support and solidarity for the Palestinian people.
The Muslim delegation was grateful for the opportunity of airing matters of
mutual concern and interest in a frank and cordial manner and committed itself
to on-going dialogue and interaction with government.
For more information contact:
Dr Essop Pahad
Minister in The Presidency
Cell: 082 552 3564
Naheem Jeenah
Cell: 084 574 2674
Issued by: The Presidency
14 July 2006
Source: SAPA
