World Bulletin / News Desk 

Muslim authorities have announced the holy Islamic month of Ramadan was to begin Thursday in South Africa after the moon was sighted on Wednesday evening.

“Ramadan begins tomorrow,” Moulana Ebrahim Bham, Secretary General of the Jamiatul Ulama (Council of Muslim Theologians) told Anadolu Agency.

Muslims make up about 2 percent of South Africa’s over 50 million strong population.

In Ramadan, healthy adult Muslims, except those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

Generally, most of the countries in the southern part of the continent observe the same start of Ramadan as South Africa.

Ramadan to begin in Malaysia on Thursday

Ramadan will begin also in Malaysia on Thursday, according to an announcement broadcast live on Radio Television Malaysia.

The Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Datuk Seri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, announced the opening day of the dawn-to-dusk fast.

Syed Danial said the date was set for June 18 in keeping with a command of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after obtaining the consent of the Rulers.