MJC Press Conference Part 1

MJC Press Conference Part 2

MJC Press Conference Part 3

MJC Press Conference Part 4

Other Video reports can be accessed via the MJC;s official YouTube Channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/mjcsouthafrica

3rd Degree – Hard To Swallow Program

We are at a cross-roads with regard to Halaal issues within the South African community. It seems clear that some serious intervention is needed to resolve the massive holed in the procedures and policies which govern and monitor the products which are labelled halaal. This is by no means only an issue for the Halaal certifying bodies, as our Government most definitely has a role to play in clamping down on perpetrators of fraud and corporate dishonesty with regards to policing of products and their labeling.

Our Community has no doubt lashed out across a wide spectrum, and we cannot criticise them for the intense anger and sense of betrayal. While the MJC seems to be at a critical point in it’s relationship with the Muslim community, not only regarding Halaal certification but it’s very Credibility, we as a community also have a major role to play in organising ourselves, educating ourselves and establishing a strategy to tackle the problems which face us.

We are certainly lacking strong, trustworthy and mature leadership as is evident not only of the MJC’s initial response to the situation, but in terms of the manner in which other certifying bodies have viciously jumped on the band wagon and merely intended to smere the MJC’s name instead of taking a more mature stance.

We are bombarded with pieces of communication from various groups of Scholars, criticising other groups of scholars with Language unbecoming of Islamic scholarship while these very groups refuse to conduct more appropriate discussions or other forms of dialogue with each other. Merely switching to consuming products only certified by SANHA or other Certifying bodies(as some commenters are suggesting), is by no means a solution, as they themselves have been criticised for their lack of policing of those they certify.

Do we all resort to slaughtering our own Chickens and other livestock as some are suggesting and is this even practically possible? Do we become vegetarian temporarily until we again trust the certification process?

The community are looking for answers, looking for solutions, looking for leaders and so far these are escaped us.

Some have taken to setting up their own initiatives, like VOCFM’s Halaal Focus on their station and on their website, which has been responsible for providing up to date information on the controversies which have been hitting us for some time.

Public fury over halal doccie
http://www.vocfm.co.za/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=3031:2012-01-18-07-26-27&Itemid=134

MJC hits back
http://www.vocfm.co.za/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=3032:mjc-hits-back-over-doccie&Itemid=134

Butchers threatened
http://www.vocfm.co.za/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=3033:halal-butchers-threatened&Itemid=134

Channel Islam International have also taken to the issue and tried to keep their readership up to speed

CII’s Article covering the initial Halaal Scandal:

http://www.ciibroadcasting.com/2012/01/18/tv-programme-expose-rocks-sa-halaal-industry/

MJC’s Respoince

http://www.ciibroadcasting.com/2012/01/18/mjc-president-defends-the-organisation/

Others have taken to Social Media, commenting on website articles, writing letters to editors and circulating emails to voice their opinions and frustrations.

Halal Talk on MJC’s response

http://halaaltalk.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/mjc-hits-back/

nanima Blog Post

http://www.nanima.co.za/2011/11/making-pork-halaal-again-orion-meat-scandal/

Halal watch Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/halalwatch/

South African Halaal Forum Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/South-African-halaalharaam-forum/276983605673068

While we encourage the public to explore all the channels necessary to ensure issues affecting us as Muslims are dealt with, we also have to be wary of lashing out with little or not knowledge, as we have found in some quarters, and making accusation  based on heresay and based on media reports which in some cases are skewed in favor of this or that agenda.

An active member of the Muslim community and Social Media enthusiast Jamaaludeen Khan had these sobering words to say in a facebook post just after the scandal broke:

Like you, the 3rd Degree show last night concerned me greatly. I spent a long time assessing the situation and sentiments of everyone, and this morning I made contact with the MJC. I was afforded the opportunity to sit in 2 separate meetings with the key members of the MJC. After hours of discussion and looking at evidence, I can assure you that the 3rd Degree show was a huge misrepresentation of the facts. The MJC has failed only in their communication and proactive dialogue with the Muslim community, and they have felt the brunt of this, and are determined to address this. I’m not speaking on the behalf of the MJC. I am a Muslim residing in Cape Town, and what I eat is important to my spirituality so the Halaal topic is high on my agenda. I would encourage us all, in this matter and beyond, to reserve our comments and accusations until we have personally investigated and physically seen evidence. Gracias!

One of the reasons we at StrictlyHalaal.com sought to engage with this area of focus is to provide solutions, education and channels for resolving the complex issues associated with the Halaal industry. We have found that in too many instances information being circulated is of an unreliable nature or shared without further investigation. We have approached a wide variety of individuals, businesses and organisations including the 4 major Halaal certifying bodies in South Africa to work with us and make use of the tools and expertise our team has to deal with the issues which face us. The response unfortunately was dissappointing, with Halaal certifiers showing little or no interest to be involved in projects which include their “competitors”.

Where is the voice of reason and sincerity in all of this, and what will the outcome be? Should we have privately owned for profit businesses controlling the Halaal certifying process or is it time our community united behind this issue and came together to finally unify this very crucial aspect of our lives as Muslims.

We have just learnt that the MJC has established a Twitter, Facebook and Youtube Channel with the help of brother Jamaaludeen Khan after he engaged with them to offer assistnce. They intend to reach out to the community in the space where they are being criticised most prominently via social media.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mjcsouthafrica

Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/MJCSouthAfrica

YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/user/mjcsouthafrica

Watch Maulana Ighsaan Hendrick’s Introductory Message below:

This is a bold step at a time when we think it is most needed and we hope and pray that our community comes out of this fitna with a clear strategy and mature approach to tackling these issues both from the side of the Halaal Authorities and the consumer.

We would like to know what you think, what solutions you have in mind.

We call on the public, the Ulema, organisations and other interested parties to use our platform as well to help resolve the difficulties we face and to educate and inform the public on these matters.

We ask Allah to guide us, help us to use the wisest and most educated of approaches and bless us with solutions to the problems we face. May what follows be a new and more positive chapter in our development as a community.

Read their statement here.

http://www.halaal.org.za/node/70

We’ve just received reports from variou ssources over allegations made against Orion Cold Storage, a frozen foods distributor which is alleged to be labeling kangeroo and Pork products as beef and in some Cases labeling a wide range of non-halaal products as Halaal. Some evidence has been posted on the 2oceansvibe blog with a video allegedly catching packing staff red handed removing labels and “blessing” food by sticking fake halaal labels ont closed boxes of food. The allegations are that these fraudulent practices are at the instructions of the company owner, Erich M Gaertner who founded the group of companies which owns Orion in 1973.

The Following Video was posted Aired on Eye Witness News:

VOC’s online halaal news section also carried the story with much more details after investigating the matter further and reported that the MJC had some serious concerns as they had previously certified some of Orion Cold Storage’s products.

The Gaertner company’s website claims:

Orion Cold Storage (Pty) Ltd remains one of the leading importers and distributors of basic frozen foods into Southern Africa

We urge the Public to investigate matters to the best of their ability, to refer rumors to authorities and to be extremely cautious in trusting the sources of their food products.

When it comes to food, the passion remains. We’ve been working on getting the right taste for many years, but the key to good food is and will always be, using the best and freshest ingredients.

For our décor, we’ve designed our caffe to make sure that it is warm, comfortable, modern, but fun, so that customers can relax in a lounge style setting. For inspiration, we drew on a New York retro style feel, complimented with a semi-industrial look and natural look of wood, with artistic tones to finish, so come and escape with us.

As-Salāmu `Alaykum | Peace be upon you and Jumuah Mubarak.

We are officially launching a Website called Mosques in South Africa and Lesotho, http://www.masjids.co.za

This website consists of a directory with over 800 Mosques listed including detailed information (where provided) about each Mosque.

We would like to congratulate those responsible for setting up this very valuable resources and we Make Dua that Allah blesses the project with great success and grant those involved their due reward.

Looking for a Masjid/Mosque in South Africa? Give masjids.co.za a try.

Assalaamu Alaikum Wharah Matullah,

Herewith find our response to your request for clarity on the Halaal Status of Rainbow value added Poultry products due to the negative information being spread about Rainbow Processing plants.

The Rainbow processing plants are Halaal Certified by the MJC Halaal Trust and these Rainbow plants are on a continuous basis being monitored by MJC Halaal Trust appointed representatives both internally and externally, all raw materials used in the preparations of the Rainbow value added Products are Halaal and meet universally accepted Halaal Standards and stringent Hygiene criteria. The adverse information spread about the Halaal Standards employed at Rainbow Abattoirs are incorrect. Trust that this information clarifies the matter and dispels any concerns. Jazaakallah
Sheikh Moosa Titus – Senior Halaal Consultant – MUSLIM JUDICIAL COUNCIL HALAAL TRUST
20 Cashel Avenue – Athlone – Cape Town, Western Cape – SOUTH AFRICA
Tel: +27 (021) 684 4600 – Fax: +27 (021) 696 8502 – Email: shmoosamjchalaal@intekom.co.za

An image image of the MJC Halaal certificate has also been circulated for further proof of Rainbow Chicken’s poultry Products:

They released the following statement which is available on their website.

In view of the Hoax e-mail that is in circulation about KFC, the Muslim Judicial Council Halaal Trust (MJCHT) wishes to clarify and state that it certifies all the Independent Distribution Centres supplying KFC stores in South Africa nationwide.

However selected individual stores are certified by different Islamic Organizations and some are owned by Muslim entrepreneurs.

The MJC Halaal Trust also certifies a number of KFC Stores and these Stores will at all times display the MJC Halaal Trust 2011 certificate.

The MJCHT wishes to reiterate that stringent Halaal Standards and dynamic monitoring processes are in place at all Halaal slaughtering houses and production plants certified by the MJC Halaal Trust.

We seek from the community to refrain from circulating any emails without the necessary proof as this creates unnecessary confusion and doubt. We would appreciate it if prior to the dissemination of emails to groups, information contained be verified and confirmed as factual.

RAINBOW CHICKEN
PROCESSED PRODUCTS
are no longer certified Halaal by SANHA. Due to introduction of non-approved imported Brazilian meats and failure to provide info, SANHA certification of Rainbow Food Solutions plant has been terminated.
The affected products are Polony, Viennas, Nuggets, Strips, Schnitzels, Crumbed and other value added products. However, there is no change in the Halaal status of the fresh
and frozen Rainbow Chickens which are slaughtered and processed at a separate Halaal certified site. Any queries pertaining to the above or any other aspect of Halaal may be referred to our offices.
Ann 017/05.11
SANHA HALAAL HELPLINE: 0861 786 111