SANZAF to distribute over 27 000 Fitrah hampers on the day of Eid ul Fitr

FOR more than 46 years, the South African National Zakáh Fund (SANZAF) has been collecting and distributing Zakah, Fitrah and Fidyah to the needy.

SANZAF is a faith-based, socio-welfare and educational organisation that strives to facilitate the empowerment of needy families through the efficient collection and effective distribution of Zakáh and other Sadaqát in a proactive and cost effective way through projects – with dignity, sincerity and a shared responsibility.

Thank you for helping us “do more” this Ramadaan as we continued to serve humanity in this holy month. All through the Western Cape, our dedicated staff and loyal volunteers worked hard to ensure we provided Iftar to over 500 000 individuals, distributed more than 7 000 pre-Ramadaan grocery hampers and have run various other development, awareness and daily welfare consultations across the province.

The organisation called out to the public to “do more” this Ramadaan and by the grace of God, they heeded that call. In addition, our offices nationwide distributed over 27 000 Fitrah food hampers across South Africa, 20 000 of those were distributed to needy families in the Western Cape before the day of Eid.

Fitrah, or Zakat al-Fitr, is the special obligatory alms paid by all Muslims at the end of the Ramadaan fasting month with the purpose of ensuring that no Muslim goes hungry on the celebratory day of Eid.

A big portion of the Zakah collected during Ramadaan will be distributed through various projects and programmes throughout the year. Many of these projects, such as the SANZAF Education, Empowerment and Development Programme (SEED), focus on sustainability with the end-goal of breaking the cycle of poverty by providing the tools and interventions recipients require to better their situation and become contributing members of society.

By empowering others, it injects uplifting resources back into the community, offers long-term opportunity and gives joy to those in the darkest moments of their despair. This is the true essence of our work, an organisation of hope, making an impact and a tangible difference in the lives of those in need.

And that, surely, is the biggest focus of all for this Ramadaan. Doing more with all that the almighty has blessed us with. The poor and the aggrieved should be comforted by the wealth of others, knowing that at the end of the holy month, the holders of this trust given to them by God, and by God alone, will redistribute some of it and help them.

Through strategic partnerships and established networks, SANZAF is able to strengthen the effectiveness of the work we do. We salute organisations such the Saabri & Ashrafi Relief Fund and the Greater Athlone volunteer group for ongoing support during Ramadaan.

A heartfelt thank you to our stakeholders, volunteers and most importantly donors, whose contributions allow us to serve humanity. May we make the most of these blessed days by spending it with those close and dear to us. A blessed Eid Mubarak to one and all.