INSIDE PARLIAMENT WITH HON. GANIEF HENDRICKS Thursday | 23 April 2020 AL JAMA-AH CALLS ON POLICE TO ACT WITH RESTRAINT AL JAMA-AH has made an urgent appeal to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to issue a statement on the Amended Regulations on the sale of cooked meals and the free distribution thereof. This followed as the Parliamentary National Constituency Office of Al Jama-ah’s Covid-19 Team 24 hotlines received several calls from NGOs, community activists and individuals inquiring on the Regulations pertaining on the distribution of cooked meals to the needy. The inquiries followed the arrest of a community worker, Tauhierah John and another person, who served soup to several needy children in Capricon on behalf of a local NGO, Where Rainbows Meet. The arrests caused panic amongst several other community organisations and activists who have been feeding the needy since the start of the Lockdown. Another non-profit organisation who requested the services of its Hub in Delft to distribute bread to needy communities, were informed by their local councillor to stop the distribution as they, the Hub were not registered. Although we recognise members of the South African Police Services have a duty to maintain law and order Al Jama-ah is also concerned about some Metro police harsh action against community activists who feed the poor with hot meals. The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa commended South Africans for opening their hearts to each other. We would like to see this spirit of helping one another to continue without activists having to fear arrest and police harassment. The Regulations are clear that free cooked food is allowed to be distributed to the needy. We trust the Metro police will stop harassing community activists. The Party also calls on all NGOs and community activists to adhere to the Lockdown Regulations during their distribution of food to the poor. Al Jama-ah also thank the Department of Cogta for their rapid response to the public’s inquiry. Honourable Mogamad Ganief Ebrahim Hendricks (MP) Leader of Al Jama-ah in Parliament Tel : +27 21 403 2911 Fax : +27 86 684 8625 Cell : +27 82 780 2573 [email protected] PA Office Room V410. Old Assembly Building 120 Plein Street. Cape Town Member of Portfolio Committee and Small Business Development Alternate member of Employment and Labour AljamaahZA Al_jama_ah Aljama-ah www.aljama.co.za HOTLINE : +27 21 224 0553 .