More than 3 000 residents in Parkwood Estate stieked uit for a mass boeka with tables that stretched 700 metres down Blackbird Avenue.
The road was closed off by traffic authorities and community members arrived at Masjid As-Sabr after 2pm already for a Ramadaan program.
Later, vehicles filled with steaming pots of akni, samoosas, pies, koesiesters, dates, fruit, water, cooldrink, boeber and bread arrived.
WHOLESOME MENU: There was a healthy variety of food for the mass boeka
Community worker, Rashaad Allen, who runs a drug rehabilitation facility in the community, says he was overwhelmed away by the generosity shown by the entire community to those less fortunate.
Allen says about a month ago, they started spreading the word via the mosque that they wanted to have a lekker boeka for the community.
“I went to the two moulanas at the mosque and I said, let’s have a mass boeka for the community, man,” he says.
MOUTH-WATERING: Samoosas and pies plated and ready to be served to mense
“They came back to me and said we are doing it. We had a month to call everyone we know (to get donations) and on Sunday when we started setting up, I was blown away by all the food that arrived.”
On Sunday shortly after 2pm, Allen, members of the mosque and community organisation Jabulani started setting up the gazebos and laying the “table” which consisted of sheets spread in the road.
GENEROUS: A helper stirs a big pot of akni for boeka
He says the “table” was about 700 metres long and the road was packed with honger mense.
“It was really a beautiful sight to see the families out in the road enjoying a simple meal.
“We have come a long way from seeing just the negative side in Parkwood. Look at what the community was able to do with just a bietjie organisation. I am very proud,” Allen says.
He says people from all walks of life attended, from young kids to pensioners and people from different religions. En almal is huis toe met ’n barakat.
“We always pray for our community and I know we will do this again. This event was sponsored by the Almighty himself.
“We did this last year as well and it was not as big. Next year we will go even bigger,” Allen says.
After the taraweegh prayers, Allen says he drove down Blackbird Avenue and there was no dirt in the road.
“The community cleaned the area after our meal. This is what we should be doing: taking care of each other,” he says proudly.