The students of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) of Stellenbosch University (SU) say not enough is being done to make kitchens in the University’s residences and food vendors in the Neelsie (the University’s student centre) halal.
The shortage of halal food vendors and kitchens on campus was on the agenda of the MSA’s weekly meeting held on Tuesday, 12 March.
According to the members of the student association, the University should be more informed about what “halal” is and how vendors can go about obtaining halal certificates.
‘Halal’ is an Islamic term that means “permissible”. In Islamic countries, it refers to what is allowed by Islamic Law, while in non-Islamic countries it refers to what food is seen as fit to be eaten by a Muslim.
“The University needs to inform themselves on what halal is because it’s more than just not eating pork and (not) drinking alcohol,” says Ameera Crew, a member of the MSA.
“There’s [a] certification process involve[d], and there needs to be someone from the University’s side [who] knows exactly what needs to be done for places to become halal.”
The MSA consists of approximately 15 committee members, but the number of society members tend to grow through the year.
MSA members from left to right: Aishah Rhoda, Safiyyah Hattas, Razeen Nieftagodien, Ameera Crew, Ayesha Sunge, Reem Elmahdi, and Zeenat Bardien PHOTO: Lucian van Wyk
Razeen Nieftagodien, chair of the MSA and a Masters Engineering student (27), says that when he was enrolled for his undergraduate studies between 2010 and 2013, Metanoia was the only residence with a halal kitchen in Stellenbosch.
Nieftagodien says that during this time he was placed in a non-halal residence. This meant that he had to walk from his residence to Metanoia every day to eat meals. He adds that this was an inconvenience.
He states that before Mariam’s Kitchen, the Neelsie had two halal food vendors on its premises: Noodlebosch and King Pie. Both of these vendors have since closed their doors. Noodlebosch closed down in November 2013 and King Pie in late 2014.
The manager of Mariam’s Kitchen, Junaid Bray, says the business opened in the Neelsie after Muslim students protested.
This protest occurred between 2013 and 2014 in the form of a small march, letters and petitions to the University, requesting more halal restaurants after the closure of Noodlebosch and King Pie.
The University then approached the owner of the franchise in Foreshore Cape Town, asking him to open up a Mariam’s Kitchen in the Neelsie.
Mariam’s Kitchen, the only halal food vendor in the Neelsie at Stellenbosch University PHOTO: Lucian van Wyk
Bray adds that the fact that Mariam’s Kitchen is the only halal vendor in the Neelsie is good for business.
“The only problem with us is our food is not very healthy, so we’re working on a healthier menu with a bit of spice.”
MSA members however also highlight the fact that vendors who already do not sell pork and alcohol also apply for a halal certification.
“Any person can eat halal food, not just Muslims. Getting a halal certificate won’t take away from a vendor’s customers, it will just add on to it,” says Aishah Rhoda, an MSA member.
According to Patricia Zweni, the manager of Feathers, a competing food vendor in the Neelsie, the chicken it sells is halal and cooked separately from its other dishes.
“The reason Feathers is not halal is because we sell bacon with our breakfasts, which is very popular among our customers.”
According to Martin Viljoen, the spokesperson of Stellenbosch University, the University currently has three halal kitchens in its residences, namely Metanoia, Irene and Goldfields, with the latter having been converted recently.
He adds that all Muslim students, not only those staying in the particular halal residence, are able to book meals in these residences.
As of March this year, Monica women’s residence has been added to the list of halal residence kitchens on campus.
Applications for halal certification can be done via http://mjchalaaltrust.co.za/