Background

Somalia does not have a diplomatic representation in South Africa. The central government of Somalia has disintegrated long before South Africa become democratic. Somalis started streaming into South Africa from 1993 due to civil war that plagued their country. The formation of a voice for the community became an obligation. SASA was then established out of necessity in June 1997.

It was founded by a group of Somalis residing the greater Johannesburg. They were mainly professionals, business people and community figures. Soon the mobilization spread to other provinces of the Republic. Today, SASA is not only the oldest and largest organization within the immigrant communities but also the most effective. It has 13 fully functional offices and very huge network of individuals across the country.

Objectives

• To organize and energize the Somali community in SA.

• To educate the newly arrived Somalis the Dos and Don’ts in SA by orientating them.

• To build unity by inculcating the culture of peace, reconciliation and tolerance.

• To facilitate capacity building by mobilizing resources from within and without the community.

• To promote the ethos of self reliance and local integration.

• To promote language skills, higher education among youth, organize recreation facilities and health awareness.

• To combat the scourges of xenophobia, racism and all other social ills.

• To collect and disseminate information about and relating to the refugee community in SA.

• To defend the rights and the
welfare of the community.

• To liaise with all relevant government institutions, national and international organizations and civil society groups.

• To support and co-ordinate social welfare programmes aimed at alleviating the plight of vulnerable members of the Somali community, especially women, children and the disabled and the elderly.

SASA Achievement

In line with its mandate, SASA can proudly pronounce with limited resources it has represented the Somali community with diligence. Due to the absence of Somali diplomatic mission the community have a place to turn to. We have managed to exist a decade of community service.

SASA’s work is recognized by the different government departments, international organizations and civil society groups. It has received not less than 10 prestigious awards from various organizations.

Under a new slogan “A Decade of Community Service” SASA plans to fully reintegrate the immigrant community to the mainstream SA societies in 2008/2009.