Every six weeks, Salaam Foundation delivers 10 000 meat and veggies packs to families around Gauteng. The meat packs supplanted by healthy organic vegetables are delivered to various communities helping to fight the huge issue of food insecurity. Around eleven communities receive the packs and 15 areas are visited for home deliveries. We are going to be introducing some of these communities and the impact these meal packs have.
This week the focus is on Bekkersdal!
Bekkersdal is an area in the Gauteng province situated about 7 km east of Westonaria and 14 km south of Randfontein. It was established in 1945 to house black people who worked in the towns and in the surrounding gold mines and were forcibly removed during the Forced Removals away from the urban centres. Over 30 years into democracy, the area faces much of the same challenges with service delivery severely lacking in the area like most informal settlements in South Africa. It has been the site of many protests around service delivery concerns.
Moulana Ayub Mokoena is the ameer and is in charge of Bekkersdal Muslim Association. As the person in charge, Moulana Ayub said there are many financial challenges facing the Association including the paying of stipends to those people who help to run the centre. The financial challenges remain the biggest issue for the community and the primary concern.
The centre consists of a masjid, madrassah and creche. The association also has a qabrastan, a Muslim burial ground.
Sustainable long-term livestock project in action!
This is what it’s all about. Equipping communities with the tools and skills to become self-sustaining. #SalaamFoundation #SalaamFoundationUpdates #ChangeTheWorld pic.twitter.com/mz5VqSCzCS
— Salaam_Foundation (@salaam_found) January 28, 2025
One of the main projects Salaam Foundation initiated in the community is a long-term livestock project which started three years ago. A number of goats and cows have been given to the community and they are responsible for looking after and ensuring the health of the livestock. There are around 75 goats who make up the herd. Initially Salaam Foundation gave the community 25 goats and three cows. In January 2025, one of the cows, Maria, which was given to Moulana Ayub from the Salaam Foundation Farm in the Vaal gave birth to a baby leading to an increase in the herd. The project is called the five-year project of which the idea is that the livestock will eventually be used to sustain the community and make them self-sufficient.
“They gave us the fishing rod and not the fish only,” Moulana Ayub joked. Salaam Foundation gives the community 160 meat and vegetables packs every six weeks as well.
Moulana Ayub said that through the assistance received from Salaam Foundation they are able to develop the Muslim community and its people in Bekkersdal. He said he appreciates that Salaam Foundation treats them like a Muslim community and not just a donor community.
“They kept our dignity intact while giving us the best of services.”
You can support this work by donating:
Salaam Foundation
FNB 6266 914 7665
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Ref: South Africa + your name (zakat/lillah/sadaqah)
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