Burning Issue

GBV: South Africa’s second pandemic

The COVID-19 crisis and social distancing measures have caused deep concerns about their impact on women and girls. We are bombarded with news headlines every day – another woman killed in intimate partner violence. These headlines point to the increased risk women in these relationships face under lockdown conditions. The…

11 Aug 2020 1 hr 19 min

Land occupation in the WCape: Have we reached a tipping point?

In tonight’s show, we are dealing with the thorny issue of land occupation. Land and housing and is always a sensitive subject, which lends itself to race and politics. Recently, our news has been dominated by reports of lady land occupation attempts in Cape Town, which have descended into violence…

4 Aug 2020 1 hr 32 min

Schools on the front line against COVID-19 - part 1

Following our discussion on the re-opening of schools about a month ago, we pick up this conversation again this evening amid the growing calls for schools to be shut down. There is a serious concern that since learning resumed on June 8th, there are 1169 staff members and 523 pupils…

1 Jul 2020 36 min

Schools on the front line against COVID-19 - part 2

Following our discussion on the re-opening of schools about a month ago, we pick up this conversation again this evening amid the growing calls for schools to be shut down. There is a serious concern that since learning resumed on June 8th, there are 1169 staff members and 523 pupils…

1 Jul 2020 44 min

100 days of COVID19: Challenges of Muslim

Friday marked 100 days since South Africans were informed of the first Covid-19 patient and the country has seen a steady increase in cases and deaths. At first, the bulk of the country's cases were "imported" cases from foreigners entering the country and citizens returning from overseas trips. And then…

23 Jun 2020 41 min

No Hajj for SA: What happens next:

It was heartbreaking for our local hujjaj as they dealt with the news that the hajj is off the cards for this year...it’s something many knew would be an option, but to hear the official decision was still very tough for many pilgrims. Due to lockdown restrictions, such as the…

16 Jun 2020 43 min

Is it time for the Muslim community to confront anti-black racism?

The past week has been an emotional trigger for many South Africans as we witnessed mass protests in the wake of the murder of an unarmed black man George Floyd, pinned on the ground by a white police officer in Minneapolis who forced his knee on his neck for more…

9 Jun 2020 1 hr 27 min

Reopening places of worship under level 3 of the lockdown

In Burning Issue this week, we look at the discussion amongst ulema for more defined regulations for masajid to reopen under lockdown level 3; the medical challenges of opening up congregational prayers; the potential risks placed on all places of worship, and whether religious freedoms should supersede the importance of…

3 Jun 2020 40 min

Places of worship reopening under level 3

In Burning Issue this week, we look at the discussion amongst ulema for more defined regulations for masajid to reopen under lockdown level 3; the medical challenges of opening up congregational prayers; the potential risks placed on all places of worship, and whether religious freedoms should supersede the importance of…

3 Jun 2020 39 min

Should the opening of schools be put on hold?

As more businesses start to open up under Level 3 of the national lockdown, South Africa also faces the huge challenge of schools reopening this week - under what is unusual and difficult circumstances. The reopening of schools in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic is the biggest issue on…

26 May 2020 1 hr 27 min

Why South Africa is facing a food crisis?

The national lock-down has made the lack of food security among poorer communities worse and the government will this week provide details of further action to provide food to vulnerable and destitute people who cannot afford to buy food. Over the past three weeks there have been distressing images of…

21 Apr 2020 1 hr 04 min

Can the lockdown be effective on the Cape Flats?

Assalamu alaikum and welcome to Burning Issue. My name is Mogammad Faseigh Petersen. This past week has been a watershed moment for South Africa, which has turned our entire lives on its head. South Africa commenced a 21 day lockdown period on Friday which ends on April 16th – in…

31 Mar 2020 1 hr 20 min

Janazah conditions in the time of COVID-19

So as we know, South Africans have been confronted with a new reality of a complete national shutdown from midnight on Friday morning to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The figures for COVID19 continues to rise, with todays stats showing there are 554 positive cases in South Africa –…

24 Mar 2020 1 hr 22 min

COVID19: To close the masjid or not?

This week was certainly a lifechanging week for South Africans as we heard the president declare that we are now in a national state of disaster following the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country. In a nutshell, the president has said that there is a partial travel ban, schools…

17 Mar 2020 1 hr 17 min

Umrah Suspension

Now just last week Saudi Arabia suspended foreigners' entry for the Umrah pilgrimage and tourism from countries where the new coronavirus has spread, as a growing number of cases outside China deepened fears of a pandemic. The kingdom, which hosts the two holiest sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina,…

3 Mar 2020 1 hr 04 min

Should sexual offenders be denied parole?

So this week was really a devastating week for South Africa as we saw another girl child killed senselessly. We all know the name Tazne Van Wyk, the 8 year old girl from Elsies River whose body was dumped in a storm water drain in Worcester last week. Tazne had…

25 Feb 2020 1 hr 06 min

Burial Societies

Death we know is inevitable. And no amount of preparation can ever really prepare us for the eventuality of death. But financial preparation is something important for many families, especially in these tough economic times. Do you make use of a burial society? And has it been effective in providing…

18 Feb 2020 1 hr 13 min