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The unsung heroes are the foundations of humility. They are the people that ease the burdens of life’s often unfair tolls, the reasons for fuller bellies and happier smiles. We often praise corporations and the wealthy echelon for their ‘acts of service’ but I personally believe there is far more to be said about those who come from struggle, or may still even be in it, and still find a way to help others.

Such was my thinking when I came across a picture of a man in simple clothes standing at the helm of a large pot, writes Cape {town} Etc’s Ashleigh Nefdt. A very simple photograph that only partly captured a far more complex and beautiful story of humility in Cape Town’s heart – that of ‘The People’s Cook’ and his family’s initiative that feeds people irrespective of their religion. A family that ensures that community members are fed, not just on special holidays on religious calendars, but throughout the year. Throughout COVID-19, and actually for quite sometime before this.

“My dad cooking this morning, later today he will distribute this food somewhere in cape town to the needy & poor,” the simple caption of a photograph that quickly went viral, read.

The man in the photograph is Mr Mogamat Nordien, and his powerful story could not be captured in the image alone, but as one Twitter user captioned the picture “big spoon, big pot, big big heart,” could come close.

The 64-years old Mr Nordien was kind enough to share his story with me.

“Before I can tell you about our present operation, I need to tell you where I come from,” he began.
“I was born and raised in District Six, the youngest of 12 children. My late mother was a housewife and my late father was employed by the City of Cape Town as a street sweeper for +- 30 years.  My late father was orphaned at a young age and his foster mother taught him the ethics of life and also gave him the Muslim education. In 1928 he started his first religious school, until he retired in 1980 when we were forcibly removed from District Six.
My parents embedded in us to have affection to mankind and to be conscious of people irrespective of religion. That was my foundation of who I am today.

Fast track to the 80’s… during my stay in Saudi Arabia (during the first Persian Gulf War) I had a challenge where 340 SA pilgrims & non Muslims were stranded and I negotiated with the Saudi government and the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, the late Pik Botha, to evacuate all South Africans back home successfully.  I was at the young age of 32 then.

When I returned to SA in the late ’90s my first feeding challenge was with the Tonado in Cape Town i.e. Gugulethu, Manenberg, Surrey Estate.

In 2005, people from various areas were dumped by the government in Symphony Way and left living in the bush and street. And from this day I started to spend most of my time with the needy, with some close friends and my own children were still very young. Today those same people live in Blikkiesdorp which is no better.
In 2020, when COVID started, I was ready and knew exactly where challenging areas were. I started this from my house and at this stage, my children were already part of the operation. Our areas covered for the last two years stretch from areas in the Cape Metro into Gordon’s Bay.  Some weekends we will distribute hot meals, or ingredients for meals depending what stocks we have. My children and my wife give full financial support where possible, as I’m a pensioner and religion plays no part of those in need.
When it’s the Muslim religious festivities we cook for those in need, the same applies for when it’s Christian religious activities.
On 1 January we will cook again and will distribute in Blikkiesdorp.
This brings great joy to myself, my wife and my children,” he ended.

People praised the actions of Muhamed-Nur Nordien’s father. There was something incredibly humbling about the photograph without even knowing the full magnitude of this family’s story.

The most recent distribution was in Manenberg, an area that had seemingly little festivities going on according to Mr Mogamat Nordien.

“This is an ongoing family & community initiative. We feed people around the cape town area during the year. Its funded by my family & private donors. Dad & members of the community do the cooking and distribution,” Muhamed-Nur Nordien explained.

People’s reactions:

To make donations or to contact the family:

0724726745 | 076 272 3737

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The international community reacts to Desmond Tutu’s passing

Picture: Muhamed-Nur Nordien

 

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