Park Road in Wynberg was abuzz with the sounds of hundreds of people laughing and chatting as they convened to break bread together on Sunday 10 April.
A mass iftar, organised by the Honeybun Foundation in conjunction with Carmen Siebritz, councillor for Ward 63, welcomed people from all walks of life at 18:00 that evening for the meal traditionally taken by Muslims at sundown to break the daily fast during Ramadan.
Stephen Langman, the founder of the foundation, says they did something similar for the Salt River community the previous year.
“We wanted to do the same thing this year but with a bigger turnout. Our vision was to get anybody and everybody to come and join us, no matter their colour, religion or belief,” says Langman.
Founded in 2014, the foundation is a non-profit organisation (NPO) aimed at improving the lives of disadvantaged individuals through self-sustainability, health, education and growth.
Langman, who is a Christian himself, says, because of Covid-19 and the lockdown restrictions, many residents have lost touch with their neighbours and community. “I see the month of Ramadan as a time for the community to come together, for showing love to the community. This event was an opportunity for residents to get out of their homes and see everyone again,” he says.
Although it is difficult to share exactly how many people attended the event, Langman says there were two 100 l pots of chicken breyani which roughly provides 100 meals per pot. The tables set out for guests also offered dates, fruit and water.
“It was extremely well attended. All of the tables were full. Some people sat down while others collected food and then left. It is hard to describe in words what the mood was. Everybody was just so happy.”
Siebritz says the interfaith event was a first for Wynberg and a huge success.
“As a ward councillor, I stood very proud. I was overwhelmed by the support that we received from the community. For me it was the nicest and most beautiful thing to see how the community came out in their numbers and how they just came out to share.”
With the food sponsored by anonymous donors, and with the councillor paying for some of it out of her own pocket, Siebritz says they did not ask for donations from the community.
“Despite not asking for donations, people came out with boxes and boxes of savouries and biscuits, falooda. They came out with all kinds of things just to be able to share with the community.”
Langman thanked all those who contributed.
“A special thank you to all who came and helped us set up, dish up and clean up. Let this be the first of many for the community of Wynberg,” says Langman.
Thanks to the donation of another 100 l pot of food, the foundation and the councillor were able to arrange another such event for Saturday 16 April, but this time for the community of Fairways at Panton Road Park.
