It is with great pleasure
and excitement that MSA Union wishes to announce the launch of our second
official national election – Alhamdulillah! This will be taking place at the
MSA Qur’aan Conference in Johannesburg at WITS University from 27 April 2015 –
3 May 2015. The election meeting is set for Saturday, 2 May, during the conference.
Our first official
election took place in January 2013 in Magaliesburg with all MSAs nationally being
invited to take part. During the latter part of 2012, MSA of the Cape was
re-established by MSA’s in the Western Cape as they too saw the need to work
together. Alhamdulillah, the camp in
January 2013 was a great success and a truly national, representative body was
elected. Further progress was made and now MSA Union is alive and well.
Since
then, we have had 2 more national camps in Durban, with 5th national camp
hosted in December last year in Cape Town (the first national camp in the
Cape!) The challenge now is ensuring that we work together to keep MSA growing,
to continue doing what is right, to strengthen ourselves and become the standard
of excellence and active citizens that Islam promotes. The next national
elections will, therefore, be a huge step in working towards achieving our
vision.
Our electoral officer
for this year, who was appointed as per the process outlined in our Constitution,
is Dr Abdul Rahim Mirza. The duties of the electoral officer is detailed below this announcement, which has been taken from our
Constitution. All future queries and all nominations should be submitted
directly to him at abdurmirza@gmail.com
The MSA Union nomination
forms for the MSA Union Committee 2015/2016 are now available. You can obtain them from emailing our electoral officer or union@msa.org.za. Also included for your reference are the portfolios
for MSA Union 2015/2016 and the election protocol.
The timeline for the
election period is as follows:
01 Apr: Nominations
Open (Nomination forms available)
18 Apr: Nominations
Close
20 Apr: Confirmation
of Nomination
24 Apr: Announcement
of Candidates
2 May: Elections
Please familiarise
yourself with the election protocol. As per the criteria for MSA members, you can nominate yourself or
someone else. If you are nominating someone else please make sure you give in
the form to the election officer in good time so that the candidate can be
contacted to fill out portions of the form themselves (if he/she accepts
the nomination).
Please note it is the
duty of the individual campuses to inform their constituencies of
the MSA Union elections and to distribute the nomination
forms.
JazakAllah-Khair
MSA Union of South
Africa
Twitter: @MSA_Union
Facebook: MSA Union
For more information, contact:
Khadeeja Manjra (Acting President of MSA Union) 0713512094
Election Protocol as per the Constitution (adopted in February 2013)
Annexure 2:
Election Rules
(1)
Introduction
This document
will set out the rules of Union with regard to elections. This process will be
democratic and this document will set out guidelines to ensure that elections
are free and fair.
(2)
Appointment of a Chief Electoral Officer
(a) The Chief
Electoral Officer will be appointed by the Union executive committee.
(b) The Chief
electoral Officer may not be serving on the current union committee.
(c) The Chief
electoral Officer must be selected by a two thirds majority of union Executive
committee.
(d) The Chief
electoral Officer may have severed on a previous Union committee, however must
be independent.
(3) Duties of
the Chief electoral Officer
(a) To set a
date for the national union election in consultation with the executive
committee of union.
(b) To make a
call for nominations to all chapters and to design a nomination form.
(c) To ensure
that all nominees are eligible to run for elections.
(d) To
conduct the election meeting.
(e) To
announce the names of the elected officials and communicate this to all
chapters.
(f) To
provide the outgoing union committee with a full election report.
(g) To ensure
that elections are free, fair and transparent.
(4)
Eligibility of nominees
(a) The
nominee must have served on a chapter MSA for a minimum of one year; this may
be waived in writing by the chapter chairperson or a MSA Union project manager
(for individuals who have served for the full project term) by elaborating why
this clause should be waived. The letter must be attached to the nomination
form.
(b) The
nominee must submit a completed nomination form to the Chief electoral Officer.
(c) The
nominee must not have served as an elected official on MSA Union for two terms.
(d) The
member will be eligible if he/she served on a campus committee within 3 terms
of the Union election. The nominee must be elected while still on campus and
may serve on the Union committee while off campus.
(5)
Nominations
(a) Notice of
elections must be given to all campus' one month before national elections will
take place.
(b) The list
of portfolios that are available for contestation must be forwarded to all
national chairpersons who have the responsibility to circulate to eligible
members.
(c) The list
of portfolios should include executive and non-executive offices as well as the
duties that all portfolios is expected to carry out.
(d) A
completed nomination form must be submitted by the nominee or by a chapter or
by a current or former campus committee member no later than 2 weeks before the
election date.
(e)
Nominees/nominators must demonstrate their capabilities to carry out the duties
of the portfolio they wish to contest.
(f) The
nomination form must include 12 signatures from current msa committee members
in support of candidacy.
MSA Union Committee Structure and Portfolio Outline
Entailed in
our constitution and developed in 2013 after identifying duties, strengths and
weaknesses, MSA Union has a 12 member committee, with 6 executive positions. A
proper definition of duties is vital in building on what we currently have and
really taking MSA to the next level. The duties outlined aren't exhaustive but
are just guidelines. Portfolios should be filled based on ability and
competence. Each portfolio head should have a subcommittee working under
him/her to enable the work to get done.
List of Portfolios
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary General
- Treasurer General
- Deputy Secretary General (Internal Administration and Fundraising)
- Head of Tarbiyyah & Training
- Head of Media & Marketing
- Head of Social media
- Head of Information Technology
- Head of Internal Administration & Fundraising
- Head of Politics , SA & international affairs
- Head of Campus Affairs & Emerging Markets
- Head of Community Outreach and Social Development
- Head of Public Relations and Human Resources
- Ex officio member (Appointed position)
SECTION 10:
OFFICE BEARERS OF UNION (AS PER CONSTITUTION)
(1) The
President
(a) The
president is the chief executive officer of Union. The president may attend all
meetings and executive committee meeting of all structures that fall under
union.
(b) The
president may call an extraordinary meeting of union or the executive committee
on twenty four hours’ notice.
(c) The
president may delegate any of his / her powers to any other member of the
executive committee on condition that the decision is ratified by a simple
majority at an ordinary meeting.
(d) The
president may nominate any member of union to represent union as the need may
arise.
(e) The
President may issue statements on behalf of union.
(f) The
President will sign off the minutes of each meeting along with the Secretary
General.
(2) The Vice
President
(a) The vice president
will be responsible to assist the President in matters that affect union.
(b) The vice
president will be responsible for internal discipline of Union.
(c) In the
event that the President is incapacitated, the vice president will assume the
presidents functions.
(3) The
Treasurer General
(a) The
treasurer general is responsible for maintaining all the financial records of
union, he / she is responsible for all financial transactions of union.
(b) The
treasurer general is responsible for fundraising.
(c) The
treasurer general will present unions’ financial standing at every ordinary
meeting.
(d) The
treasurer general will ensure that yearly financial statements are drawn up and
presented at a general meeting.
(4) The
Secretary General
(a) The
secretary general will be the primary administrative officer of union.
(b) The
secretary general will be responsible for keeping the database of all members,
all chapters and relevant organisations.
(c) The
secretary general should ensure that adequate minutes of meetings and records
are maintained.
(d) The
secretary general is responsible for maintaining the office of union.
(5) Deputy
Secretary General
(a) Deputise
the Secretary General.
(b) Develop
and maintain MSA databases (general, alumni, c.o.c, media).
(c) Ensure
Union has full member lists and committee lists.
(d) Build up
national contacts (printers, sound, volunteers, venue, catering).
(e) Run
Alumni and fundraising events.
(f) Start
stop orders to maintain cash flow.
(g) Maintain archives.
NON-EXECUTIVE PORTFOLIOS
Head of
Tarbiyyah & Training
- Develop a national and campus level tarbiyyah programme
- Develop content that can be used on all campuses with weekly, monthly objectives. Establish Halaqaat.
- Host international and local speakers for campuses.
- Run Islamic based exhibitions for campus' (inventions of Islam, art).
- Establish a Da'wah programme.
- Run MSA training workshops to up skill campuses and individuals.
- Assist with Jummuah roster.
Head of Media
& Marketing
- To be the brand manager of MSA Union.
- To keep the website updated, fill it with content and encourage national participation.
- Keep logos, letterheads and make it available to relevant people.
- Design posters, pamphlets and media for national initiatives.
- Ensure that the Message magazine goes out once a year.
- Establish a national newsletter that goes out monthly and has content from Union and national chapters.
- Create content for MSA when needed.
- Ensure that pictures are taken at MSA events.
Head of
Social Media
- Ensure that MSA has a presence on all social media platforms.
- Ensure that all platforms are updated regularly and that participation is maintained. Ensure that photos, videos from events are uploaded.
- Explore new media platforms.
- Keep records of national chapter social media, and assist where possible.
- Develop campaigns that are centred on social media.
- Ensure that any public comments/ questions are replied to.
- Keep the blog updated, encourage MSAs and the public to post art, poems, articles, etc.
Head of Information
Technology
- Development of platforms for MSA (mobile site, apps, etc)
- Keep the website up and running.
- Continuously develop the website, keep it new, updated and on the cutting edge. Ensure campus' have credentials for website, blog.
- Assist campuses with their webpages on union site.
- Provide technical support to union and campus'
- Build up equipment for MSA (sound, projectors, mixers, walkie-talkies) and keep records when loaned.
- Record events/stream events.
Head of
Politics, SA & international affairs
- Establish and maintain political relationships (BDS, AMEC, and PSA).
- Ensure that campuses are aware of SRC structures and are active.
- Monitor situations locally and internationally and keep union informed of Developments.
- Prepare fact sheets on situations and send to all msa chapters.
- Ensure MSA issues statements/ runs events on situations where needed.
- Ensure that rallies and protests that we participate in are in line with MSA values and safety / security.
Head of
Campus Affairs & Emerging Markets
- Ensure that campus constitutions are in line with MSA Union.
- Assist with building of JK's and general upkeep.
- Establish and maintain MSA high schools.
- Establishment of new campus MSA's.
- Explore how MSA can move into technikons, colleges, unisa.
- Create a "how to start a MSA" book.
- Create a skeleton constitution.
Head of Community Outreach
and Social Development
- To facilitate the decision regarding the flagship project.
- To look into partnering with other organisations to uplift communities.
- To oversee the flagship project manager.
- To find programs/ projects that MSA members nationally can be part of.
- To keep MSA informed regarding national days - Cansa, disability weeks, etc.
- To undertake initiatives that benefit communities and societies.
- To ensure that MSA undertakes environmental programmes.
Head of Public Relations
and Human Resources
- Chief custodian of The Union’s strategic HR agenda.
- Frame a clear and easily implementable HR Policies.
- Plan and implement an effective HR Plan that is aligned to The Union’s strategic plan and overall organisation people agenda.
- Update HR policies in line with the business and organisation requirement.
- Have an updated repository of Job descriptions for all roles in the organisation along with measurable performance indicators for each role.
- Maintain employee records and files for ease of reference (both on-line and physical copies of the records) with the Secretariat.
- Be astute to handle dynamics at the workplace and help employees.
- Build an environment which recognizes top talents and top performers to look into innovative ways to brand MSA in conjunction with media head.
- Ensure that MSA members in MSA branded clothing are present at relevant events.
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