It’s been a sad week.
Today we mourn and salute two humble heroes who dedicated their lives to serving their communities: Dr Anwah Nagia and John Nicholson.
It’s difficult to sum up the massive contribution Nagia, 63, has made to the people of Cape Town and South Africa.
The businessman’s human rights work dates back to the 80s as an anti-apartheid activist.
His passion and commitment to social justice led to him taking on the mantle of the Chairman of the District Six Beneficiary and Redevelopment Trust.
He was also founding member of the District Six Museum foundation.
While the redevelopment of District Six was one of his more high-profile causes, Nagia’s work extended to other spheres such as education and charity.
He served as chairman of various NGO bodies including the Mustadafin Foundation, one of the largest feeding schemes in the country.
In the 80s, he set up a learnership programme for adult basic education in clothing factories, and later he served on the Senate and Council of the University of the Western Cape.
The finance and investment expert was also a champion of the Palestinian liberation cause.
Mustadafin Foundation director Ghairunisa Johnstone-Cassiem said of Nagia, who succumbed to Covid-19 this week: “It is a great loss for us and as you can hear everyone is saying a giant is gone.
“He was a soldier that died with his boots on because he was always about giving.”
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon.