Memons Spread Humanitarian Work in South Africa

Welcome Address by Councillor Fawzia Peer, Chief Whip of the eThekwini Municipality, at the opening ceremony and gala dinner of the of the World Memon Organisation and Board of Management Meeting in Durban on 13-15th February 2009.
Assalamu alaikum. Peace be to you.
Sawubona.
Good Evening to the officials and members of the World Memon Organisation.
I acknowledge the presence of the honourable and distinguished guests.
Assalamu alaikum. Peace be to you.
Within the spirit of the ancient Islamic greeting used by Muslims worldwide, I trust that the three-day get together of the World Memon Organsation will generate a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
Your conference, taking place in the international convention city of Durban, will bring strangers together on common grounds even when they do not speak each other's languages.
Ladies and gentlemen, I extend an official welcome to all of you from the eThekwini Municipality and the African National Congress that is the ruling party in the City of Durban.
I take this wonderful opportunity to open the three-day World Memon Organisation’s gala dinner and board of management meeting.
At the city hall, we were thrilled when we received information that this international meeting was taking place in Durban in the second month of the New Year.
I am particularly pleased that this historic gathering and important board meeting is taking place at a historic juncture in a city filled with the history of ancient peoples who had traversed this Indian Ocean Rim over the past centuries.
Let me use this opportunity to thank Mr Solly Suleman of the World Memon Organisation, South Africa Chapter, for firstly winning the bid to bring this meeting to Durban, and secondly, for giving me the humble of honour and duty of addressing all of you this evening.
On behalf of the Mayor, His Worship Councillor Obed Mlaba and the eThekwini Municipality and the African National Congress, the ruling party in our democratic city council, I wish to personally acknowledge the presence and participation of the more than 200 delegates.
Among the delegates, I am told, are leading international and local business people and community personalities.
I thank the leadership of the World Memon Organisation for holding its Board of Management Meeting at the Elangeni Hotel, one of the city’s finest hospitality centres.
Durban is indeed honoured to be hosting this prestige annual meeting that rotates every year between chapters across the globe.

We are privileged to be this year’s host city.
Ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you, brimming with a sense of pride that the World memon Organisation will be leaving behind its global footprint and legacy on what we fondly refer to as the “Golden Mile” – a stretch of sun-baked beaches.
Given the organisation’s extensive work around the world, in which you succeed each year in changing the human landscape, the Local Organising Committee has certainly chosen an appropriate venue for this evening’s braai.
The Bay of Plenty has come to represent the collective abundance of human spirit, compassion and goodwill of this vibrant African city where East criss-crosses the West.
Our ancient cultures have merged to produce a unique cacophony of the sights and sounds of our cultural diversity and demographics.
By Sunday when you wrap up your meeting, you would have appreciated the uniqueness of our city, our hospitality and our people.
As I address, the world is facing more than a financial crunch.
Add poverty, starvation, unemployment, diseases and you have a cocktail of horrendous social problems.
Ladies and gentlemen and distinguished delegates, South Africa’s democracy is maturing progressively after 15 years, but yet we face a myriad of challenges that we had largely inherited an apartheid state that was financially and morally bankrupt.
In few weeks, the nation will go to the polls to elect the third government on 22 April, followed by the inauguration of a new president, cabinet, and ministers.
The national elections will impact on our city. There will be changes at the city hall, but I assure you that a democratically elected leadership will be in place to take our dynamic city into the African century.

As Chief Whip of the African National Congress, I believe the vision and mission of the World Memon Organisation falls within the ambit of my party’s slogan that promises a “Better Life for All”.

Having experienced both worlds, the apartheid state and the democratic state, I can assure you that more progress in improving the lives of the impoverished communities have taken place since President Nelson Mandela led the new South Africa in 1994.
Our job as city councilors and politicians at the coalface of our communities, I can share with you that our seven-day week job has its fair share of complexities and challenges as we navigate our work to bring relief and comfort to the poorest of the poor in our city.
Ever since I joined public office, I have embraced a simple and ancient philosophy: “It is better to light a candle, than to curse the darkness”.
Given some of the local and global social and economic dynamics I have briefly alluded to, we need to borrow from the pearls of wisdom of our Blessed Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be Upon Him) when he inspired us with these uplifting words: “When the world pushes you to your knees, you are in a perfect position to pray”.
In South Africa, and particularly in city, we have learnt a culture of volunteerism from our great leaders before us – Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Yusuf Dadoo and many other leaders.
This evening, I am comfortable to be addressing a movement that thrives on volunteerism and self-help.
Your mission and vision is in a perfect position to brighten the bleak human landscape.
This evening, I urge the World Memon Organisation, to keep up your momentum as a leading global social responsibility organisation that encourages businesses and individuals to assist the underprivileged, and may you continue providing leadership vision and empowering our women and youth.
This evening, I urge you to continue building your business networks to fund and sustain this worthy worldwide cause.
I am firmly of the view that government alone cannot solve the social ills of the world. The private sector such as business and your organizations are the catalysts for public-private sector partnerships.
I salute you this evening for having assisted countless families and individuals globally with skills development, scholarships, and bursaries.
The organisation deserves due recognition for providing equipment to empower disadvantaged people to become self sufficient.
The R100 million you have individually and collective invested in this noble humanitarian cause and campaign has not gone unnoticed, at least in the City of Durban.
The city is truly honoured that an organisation of your stature and status has gathered here to map the way forward.
May your organisation of associations, corporate bodies and Jamaats continue to spread your vision and mission across the world.
May your socio-religious calling be heard loud and clear in communities where the sun has to rise.
May the Memon community spread its love and humility to distance lands where people live with hope of a new tomorrow.
I Thank you.




Speech researched and written for the Office of the Chief Whip, Cllr Fawzia Peer of the eThekwini Municipality, City of Durban, South Africa, by Marlan Padayachee Amanda Cele, GreenGold Africa Communications: greengold@telkomsa.net/ www.greengoldcom.com/ www.marlanpadayachee.com/ 083 796 1762/ (031) 266 1762/ Durban South Africa __________________