Johannesburg – After a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19 the South African Black Muslim Conference (SABMC) will take place. The theme for this year is economic development.
Many conferences were impacted by Covid-19 and while they chose to go online, SAMBC did not. There were suggestions to go online but according to Aslam Tawana, spokesperson for SABMC, this is due to how inaccessible it would have been to those who normally attend their conference.
“We are all aware of how expensive data is in South Africa. Had we gone that way, the brothers and sisters who are in a position to have data would have been able to participate. This conference is massive. Our delegates are from the rural villages as well as from outside the borders of the country. So, we decided to postpone it until such time everyone could come together and have a face-to-face conference.”
The previous conference focused on establishing committees such as PR marketing, education committee, finance, and economic development. These matters have been sitting for the past two years being ironed out and will now be presented at this year’s conference for a final resolution, said Tawana.
The focus of the conference this year
This year’s conference will be focused on how black Muslims can be active participants in the economy. It will also focus on the ways they can gain funding and the resources they need to start or grow a business.
“The main thing about economic development is how black Muslims can be able to come together and start basic things like forming corporates, transforming business, having business development models, being able to go out and look for funding. To have business finances by tapping into various resources through organisations that we work with or other Muslim organisations as well as state-owned entities. It’s about how we can access those opportunities that are given out. That will be the crux of the conference.”
The conference will have a variety of speakers similar to the previous conference. Although the speakers are not known as yet, Tawana is in talks to bring various Muslim scholars, businesspeople and professionals who will focus on economic development.
Facing the critics
There have been many critics of the conference who feel it is of no benefit to the people. For Tawana, these criticisms are of no concern to them and will not stop them from hosting another conference.
“As long as something is alive and moving, there will be criticism of it. All we know is that we are a train on the move. We have been given a mandate to go and get the water from the river. We can’t be listening to the music of the frogs. If we listen to the music of the frogs, it will be problematic, and we will not be able to achieve what we want to achieve. We are looking forward and we are focused. People will always criticise. That is their nature.”
The conference is set to take place from 17 to 19 June. Registration costs R850 and Tawana has urged all those who wish to attend to register early to avoid disappointment. Maryama Mkwanda in conversation with organisers of the Black Muslim conference.
