Volunteers came together in Bonteheuwel on the eve of Eid last Friday to cook ten 100-litre pots of food for the needy.
The five-year tradition is led by Farouk Salie, chairman of the Al-Jaamia Uthmania mosque committee.
He said the pots of chicken akhni would feed around 3000 people in Bonteheuwel and other poor areas on Eid-ul Fitr, the day signifying the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadaan.
The urgent need in the community for food relief motivated the volunteers, he said.
“Every year the amount of pots of food we make depends on the amount of donations we get. The community is really grateful for what we are doing. It means a lot to me to be part of this and to serve Allah and our community.”
Seven committee members and 10 residents met at the Jakkelsvlei Avenue mosque after 7pm on Friday to start the fires while the Bonteheuwel Walking Ladies gathered at Mr Salie’s home to chop up the vegetables and clean the chicken to go into the pots.
“I think that more people should do this because the plight in the community is so big. The more organisations that can come on board the better, especially in townships where the need is huge,” Mr Salie said.
Bonteheuwel resident Farouk Safter has helped with the cooking for the past four years.
“We will be here until 2 or 3am tomorrow morning. I know how to do this because somebody taught me how to do this, and we just carry on. It’s a legacy that continues, and it means a lot to me. As a child, we didn’t have a lot so giving back is important,” he said.
Bonteheuwel Walking Ladies chairwoman Soraya Salie said: “We are so humbled and grateful that we are able to feed so many people.”