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AFOSA (AHLUL BAIT AS FOUNDATION OF SOUTH AFRICA)AFOSA was established in 1991 to serve as umbrella body and spokesperson for shi'a and their rights on various levels nationally and internationally. Jamaats, groups and organisations affiliated receive the principle guidance, support and direction from the mother body but at the same time they are independent in management and running of their affairs and activities. The Ahlul Bait trust is registered wing of AFOSA, which manages finances, and all assets of shi'a communities in the country. WESTEREN REG ION A - CAPE TOWN AREA In Cape Town the Shi'a community consists of different individuals and groups started their activities and religious programmes from their homes and occasionally from Sunni mosques. Sometimes they held their programmes in a small center in Guguletu, which belongs to a Shi'a group by the name of Al-Jihad. The Shi'a community gradually started to swell and bigger premises were needed for their programmes. They moved to a rented office but became too small after a few years and eventually they moved to their own premises, which was originally a church. It was changed into Ahlul Bait Islamic Centre, which consists of a mosque, library and other offices. This premises also serves as Afosa's national head office. Plans for development of this centre are in process. B - PHILLIPPI AND MBEKWENI AREA In 1997 an I slamic Center was built in Phillippi under the auspicious of Afosa, which serves also as a madressah for the local black community in that township. In the same year Afosa bought another property in Mbekweni (Paarl) and established Fatima Azzahra Center of Mbkweni, which also serves as a mosque as well as madressa for children in the area. NORTHERN REGION A - JOHANNESBURG AND PRETORIAGauteng is the financial capital and business hub of the country. Here also the school of Ahlul Bait (a.s) started in conjunction with other regions mainly amongst the indigenous people in the African townships. During the early years activities started in homes and garages of the brothers except in some areas where they made use of temporary premises. Over the years these communities had grown bigger in size and developed. At this moment there is a medium size Center (A l Abbas-mosque and Madressa ) in the process of establishment in Garankuwa Township near Pretoria. A huge plot has been purchased in Kwa Thema, near springs for the purpose of the establishment of Al MuStafa Islamic Complex. In Katlehong the community is making use of a scout center, which they are leasing, from the locl council. At a later stage even amongst the Indian communities, small groups of people found the truth in the School of Ahlul Bait (a.s.). They started their activities in the Johannesburg and Pretoria areas from their homes. They are also in dire need of appropriate premises for their programmes and maddressah. In recent years a number of Pakistani Shia youth and some khoja families migrated from African countries and settled in the main Johannesburg Area. This new Shia group along with Lebanese and Iranian migrants are presently renting a building for their religious programmes in Muharram and Ramadan. Plans for the purchase of new suitable premises are in the pipeline for the near future. A number of local and foreign Muballigeen are also working in the different areas of this region. B - KROONSTADIn 1998 as a result of the hard work of our local mubballigeen a small community of Muslims in African areas of Kroonstad became Shia. They do not have any center there but they are striving hard for growth of their community and planning for the establishment of a Mosque. C - BLOEMFONTEINThere also a few brothers mainly students accepted the school of Ahlul Bait (A.S.) came together and started activities in FORM OF A SMALL ISLAMIC GROUP FROM UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. D - PIETERSBURGSome students of the University of the North started a small Shia study circle. They use the prayer facilities of the University for their activities. EASTERN REGION A - DURBAN Here a small group of brothers met in the mid-80 by making use of their houses, civic centers as well as in libraries from where they conducted their classes. Alhamdulillah 1998, they could manage to establish Imam Husain (A.S) Mosque. In recent years they started working among the African people in the townships. B - PORT ELIZABETH In Motherwell a township area in Port Elizabeth a small group of brothers came in contact with Shia brothers of Gauteng and started their own jamaat. At the moment they share Mosque facilities with the Sunni brothers. PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMMES: Beside traditional commemoration programmes organised by our Shia Communities on different occasions, AFOSA felt the need to introduce the rich history, culture and message to the broader society in a way that is relevant to the present situation. We mainly used two important occasions over the last decade to educate and enlighten the general public about Ahlul Bait (as). PUBLIC PROGRAMMES:
Ideological Development Programme :The purpose of this programme is to ensure:
The following programmes have been organised: A) Evening classes on Aqaid, History, Fiqh, Ahlaaq
B) Idealogical Classes
C ) Madrasatul Imam Husain (A.S) This is the Islamic School (basic teachings), which runs across the country for children and youths in some areas weekly and others on a daily basis by Mubaligeen and capable brothers and sisters. Following Madrassas are active:
D ) Ideological Training Camps:
All-important dates in the Islamic calendar such as Birthdays of Imams, Martyrdoms, etc (especially Muharram and Ramazan ) are paid reverence to by the Ahlul Bait community nation-wide. All followers converge in the various regions for these important events, to share in these experiences. They are usually marked by speeches and plays, which are prepared by members of the local community. The occasions are usually the means we have at our disposal to introduce the culture and teachings of the Ahlul Bait (a.s.). More >> |
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