Songezo Zibi rejects claims halaal is taking over SA’s food industry

Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi has spoken out against a complaint about halaal products dominating SA foodstuffs, saying it is divisive and Islamophobic.

A viral social media video by Sokhana Saliwa raised concerns about SA’s Muslim minority “dictating” how citizens eat. Saliwa argued that almost all food products and restaurants were becoming halaal-certified, despite the vast majority of South Africans identifying as Christian.

“My problem is that the number of these restaurants is growing,” Saliwa said in the video.

“Almost every restaurant now is becoming halaal. I’m not attacking Muslims, but I’m not a Muslim and the majority of people in this country are not Muslim. The food we eat should be prepared in ways that are not Islamic, because we do not believe in Islam. It should be prepared according to what the vast majority prefers. Even snacks and chips are certified halaal, even though most consumers aren’t Muslim.”

The video triggered an intense online debate, with some users alleging that non-Muslim South Africans were being excluded from government catering contracts due to strict halaal requirements.

Zibi dismissed any suggestion that the Islamic faith was forcing halaal practices on to non-Muslims.

“This is Islamophobia, but it uses very clever language,” he said. “When they use terms like ‘replacement,’ they are trying to convince non-Muslims that we will soon no longer be able to find food that suits our preferences.”

Zibi emphasised that every religion is entitled to its own dietary practices and warned against creating unnecessary divisions among South Africans. “They want us to fight and squeeze out Muslim South Africans, even though we have many religions in South Africa.”

“Muslim South Africans have a right to halaal food, and when they go to the local supermarket, that food should be available. Similarly, Jewish South Africans have a right to kosher food, and supermarkets and local butcheries must cater for them too. This is not replacement; it is unity in diversity. We must be able to live alongside South Africans who practice different faiths.”

Zibi warned that these narratives were part of an attempt to divide South Africans against one another along religious, racial and ethnic lines. “We must not allow it to happen. The way they will try to make us fight each other is by making us forget our history and succumb to misinforming narratives.”

Halaal food refers to items permissible for consumption under Islamic dietary law. Forbidden products include pork, its by-products and alcohol.

Practicing one’s faith should never be viewed as a threat to others, said Zibi. “We must ask ourselves: what are these people trying to achieve by pointing out religious divisions? We must refuse to be made ignorant. Muslim and Jewish South Africans are our brothers and sisters. We live here together and this country belongs to all of us.”

TimesLIVE