A fruitful 13 years

Father and son team Goolam and Shiraz Sirkoth, together with several other family members and friends, celebrated their 13th anniversary of giving fruit to the public on June 12.

Friends and family of the Sirkoths, who contribute to serving the community during the month of Ramadan, are, back (from left): Anwar Ahmed, Goolam Khan and Idris Abdulla. Front: Muhammad Gaibie, Rafeeck Abdool, Abdool Jalal, Goolam and Shiraz Sirkoth, Ashruff Manack and Kifayatullah Bacus.

The father and son live in the Benoni CBD and mostly make donations in Benoni.

This date is symbolic to the group, because they celebrate it on the same day they began providing fruit for the Ramadan month of 2016.

“The fruit scheme started with only 20 packets of fruit, when we began helping the Bawa’s Tollie feeding scheme,” said Shiraz.

The Bawa’s Tollie organisation feeding scheme takes place every Sunday, at the Buzme Adab Hall, in Actonville, for the month of Ramadan, when halim (stew) is provided for approximately 8 000 people.

Since the fruit feeding scheme, to accompany the halim, was established, it has grown to about 4 500 packets a month.

“It is humbling to see the small children coming to our table to take their fruit after they have received a bowl of halim,” Shiraz added.

“We give fruit to anyone, it does not matter what religion the person is.”

Shiraz pointed out that the fruit may look like an insignificant amount to eat, but it serves as a greater purpose.

“We give fruit in packets to the parents, and the children take single oranges because their hands are full with their bowls,” he said.

“It is beautiful to see the smiles on the children’s faces.”