Giant pots of food prepared by a Muslim charity each week are supporting several feeding schemes for the needy around the city.
Staff from the South African National Zakáh Fund’s Athlone, Retreat, Mitchell’s Plain, Elsies River, Manenberg, Belhar, Paarl, Stellenbosch and Vredenberg branch offices visit the organisation’s Salt River head office every Friday to help prepare seven 60-litre pots of food for distribution in some of Cape Town’s poorest neighbourhoods, including Hanover Park, Kensington, Lavender Hill, Tafelsig, Elsies River, Brooklyn, Delft and Manenberg
Sanzaf regional manager Shafiek Barendse says the organisation also cooks food for the needy and works with various feeding schemes throughout the week.
“We found that there is strength in unity. We can do so much more if we liaise and work with organisations in different communities.”
People could not be expected to improve themselves if they were going hungry, he said.
“Once they have nourishment, they will be able to apply themselves with doing courses and with going to school.”
The cooking on Friday relies on supplies donated by sponsors and the organisation also provides supplies to feeding schemes in various communities.
Sanzaf provided 2800 to 3000 grocery hampers to needy families each month, depending on funding, said Mr Barendse.
Founder of the Helping Hands non-profit in Brooklyn, Yasmina Fredericks, came to pick up a 60-litre pot of chicken akni at the Sanzaf office last Friday.
“We would be extremely lost without the support of Sanzaf,” she said.
Her feeding scheme supported 350 to 400 people – including the elderly, needy families and the homeless – each week, she said.
Adeebah Sha, from Moms Who Care, a non-profit in Newfields, also came to collect a pot of food.
“The support given by Sanzaf has been a huge help in feeding the community to ensure we provide meals to the community.”
Ms Sha said residents of Hanover Park old-age homes were among the 250 to 300 people her organisation supported daily.
Visit sanzaf.org.za or call 021 447 0297 or 021 638 0965 to find out more about Sanzaf.
