Ramadaan traditions and recipes to feature in Facebook show
LOCAL radio presenter Ayesha Laatoe is set to host a detailed Facebook Live session this week, and discuss how the month of Ramadaan has evolved over the years and the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the Islamic holy month.
The Facebook Live session is set to take place tomorrow at 3pm, and will also feature Laatoe’s famous food and dessert recipes.
Laatoe said the importance of “feeding the soul” would be touched on, and how cooking and sharing was a big part of the Ramadaan “gees”.
“As the youngest in my family I was never really forced to cook, but when I got married it fitted me like a hand in a glove. Raising six children and being home raising my children, I wanted to do more,” she said.
While raising her children, Laatoe said, she would sew their dresses, knit their jerseys and even had time to make pastries, pies, samoosas and koeksisters.
My kids grew up assisting in the kitchen from a certain age and I must admit my two sons are great cooks and bake as well.”
Laatoe said that Ramadaan provided those in the Islamic faith with the opportunity to reflect on the relationship between preparing food for Eid and spending time with family and friends.
“Eid morning I make vermicelli, a tradition we grew up with, so much so that our neighbours would stop over on their way home and have some vermicelli.
“Today it’s shared either at the breakfast table, as something sweet at a special function or as a dessert served with ice cream,” said Laatoe.
THE Department of Public Works is under pressure with the growing problem of its properties being invaded, after more than 1 200 properties have been illegally occupied.
The department told the portfolio committee on public works yesterday that the problem was growing, with more properties and its buildings being illegally occupied by a number of people.
Department acting deputy director-general Naledi Stemela said they were trying to find a solution.
“The issue of the properties that are illegally occupied is a matter we are aware of. It’s one of those big thorns. An investigation was conducted around 2017/18, and that investigation yielded about 1 200 properties that were illegally occupied. We are finalising that, but this number grows every day,” said Stemela.
“There was a big discussion in terms of what needs to happen with these properties, because it’s not a matter of just waking up and evicting everybody, because there are various types of people that are occupying these properties,” Stemela said.
They needed to find a way to determine who lived on those properties so they could get them to sign a lease agreement. This was one of the mechanisms to deal with the problem.
She said they needed a verification process to determine who was there and if they were able to sign a lease, or if they were able to pay rent. “This would start in October,” she said.