Charitable foundation was formed in response to violence in 1980s Crossroads

THE Mustadafin Foundation sprang up during clashes in Crossroads in 1986, one of Cape Town’s biggest informal settlements at the time, which today feeds more than 15 000 needy people throughout the city five times a day.

This year the organisation marks its 30th anniversary and founder and director Ghairunisa Johnstone recalled how, 30 years ago, it began with a group of men, women and students from all walks of life who united for a common ideal – to serve.

“In 1986, during violent clashes in Crossroads, with women and children affected, we did not hesitate to go out and assist, knowing that many of the families were destitute, unemployed and from rural backgrounds.

“The team were inspired to do the right thing by providing food, shelter, trauma counselling and later education to the people,” she said.

Johnstone works not only in the Western Cape, but also as far as Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape in areas where problems such as unemployment, gangsterism and drugs are rampant.

Her first encounter with gangsterism came after moving to Hanover Park when her family was forcibly removed from District Six.

“The persistent knocking on our door was from men who wanted to bless our house. We later found out that they were a gang preying on new and vulnerable tenants,” she said.

Her primary objective in helping communities was to give people a chance of being self- sufficient, selfreliant and independent through education, she said.

Their key functions included education, poverty eradication, health, community development and disaster relief.

Over the past years, Johnstone said, they had sent more than 200 children back to school and were working in Tafelsig with children who had either never seen a classroom and had dropped out of school.

“We had a 100 percent pass rate with our after-school programmes with children from Hanover Park, Manenberg, Kewtown and Vygieskraal. These are children with problems in reading, maths and science.”

She said her parents had instilled a love for people in her from a young age.

“My parents stood firm in their beliefs and protected us against all odds, which moulded me into the person I am today. They taught me that if there is food for one, share it with another. Man needs basic food, shelter, clothing and education.”

mika.williams@inl.co.za