25 years since Ali initiated feeding scheme

This Easter will mark the 25th anniversary of a feeding scheme launched by former world heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali for the homeless in Durban. With Ali was Solly Manjra who cooked several degs of breyani and Iqbal Sabat who a quarter of a century later is still feeding the destitute in the Durban Casbah district.

Ali arrived in South Africa on a Mission of Peace to stop the political violence, which raged even more viciously in KwaZulu-Natal. For a voluntary feeding scheme, it must be something of a record, which today feeds more than 300 people a nourishing meal.  Among the beneficiaries are refugees, the unemployed, the homeless and those who have been abandoned by their families. Mr Sabat said that it was the single most inspirational moment in his life, which launched him into a lifetime of volunteer public service.

“I think about that day how we got started and here was probably the most recognized Muslim in the world at that time was amongst us in Alice Street dishing up food for the indigent. Since then we provide hot meals five days a week to anyone who comes to our kitchen hungry. A quarter of a century is about to pass as we continue to serve anyone who needs a meal,” said Mr Sabat.

Mr Manjra, who was just 44 years old at the time, said that he has a photograph of that event when Ali opened the lid of the deg and served the very first meal. “It is an event which I cannot forget. Here was an international celebrity who had no qualms of serving the poor out in the street. I have not seen anything like that and my family has more than a century service in the food business. It was a moment of great inspiration and I continue to cook daily for my customers and for anyone who is hungry. Money is not all. It is being service. That was the lesson that Ali taught us,” said Mr Manjra. He said that he did not remember how many people were fed, but Ali insisted in serving each person, despite the long queues.

After making sure that every person was fed, Ali went to visit KwaMashu and Chesterville to be among the poorer members of the Durban community, saying that he needed to be among the poor to remind him that his place was not with Royalty, but amongst the humble people of the world.

Solly Manjra has gone on to become Durban’s most famous and sought after caterer.  Both Manjra and Sabat (featured above with Muhammad Ali) are continuing to serve and feed and the poor and maintaining the tradition set by Ali.