The Solly Philander Foundation fed a group of homeless persons living on the pavement of Ebenezer Road in Green Point last Thursday, which corresponded with the halfway point of fasting for Muslims, the 15th night of Ramadaan.
The founder of the foundation, Solly Philander, was present as was the Woodstock Wanderers Football Club, as they volunteered their services under the bridge in Ebenezer Road.
“This started out as Christmas under the bridge last year and now we have included this night, this halfway mark of Ramadaan,” said Mr Philander.
“This boeber under the bridge, this boeka under the bridge is about community – it’s about bringing people together and to show the people on the street that we do care. The narrative around homelessness is that the City has it sorted and I don’t believe they do, so we have to give a helping hand,” he said.
According to Mr Philander, unemployment, criminality, gender-based violence, and drug use are shattering families and contributing to homelessness.
“It seems like we are just waiting for people to die on the street and we cannot allow this; we cannot allow them to go hungry. We are not encouraging them to be on the street, there are problems that we do not know about and if we can feed a hungry person on the streets, then we will do so,” said Mr Philander.
Gasant Abarder, a member of the Woodstock Wanderers FC, brought their players to help carry the food and boeber pots. Hanover Park Cricket Club also offered their assistance.
“Solly has built up relationships with the people here, you don’t just rock up and feed people. The foundation works with the housing destitute every day and they trust him and what he brings, what we are bringing,” said Mr Abarder.
“As you know sharing boeber is a Cape Malay tradition and we are here to share with our neighbours who are vulnerable, we brought Gift of the Givers on board as well as getting other sponsors to donate the cups and cutlery as well as boeber, ” he said.
The Gift of the Givers also attended the gathering and provided a pot of chicken akni enough to feed 250 people.
“Hopefully this pot is enough to feed 250 people and every night during Ramadaan is different; people have different needs so we help out where we can ,” said Shafee Taliep, a project manager for the Gift of the Givers.
