As the country entered Day 57 of the COVID-19 lockdown, KwaZulu-Natal based Muslim businessmen, professionals and donors have joined forces to create “Muslims For Humanity”, an initiative that will support and assist NGOs to reach as many needy people as possible.

In a statement, Muslims For Humanity says they will not be “just another” NGO, but rather a donor-led association that will assist NGOs to work together to optimise their resources and become more effective and efficient in the wake of rising challenges sparked by the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic.

The association,which will be based in Durban, is expected to quickly spread across KwaZulu-Natal and ultimately hopes to extend to the whole of South Africa.

Interim coordinator and Willowton Group CEO, Mahomed Zubeir Moosa says the COVID-19 pandemic will have profound effects on humanity and the Islamic year of 1441 and Gregorian calendar 2020 will forever be remembered as the most impactful year in everybody’s lives.

“However, we need to embrace the positives and this has given us the opportunity to not only restart our lives, lifestyles and businesses but also to take cognisance of our surroundings.”

Moosa says that according to economists, the precarious economic situation in South Africa prior to the March 2020 lockdown will inevitably see the fallout from Covid-19 being far worse than in most other economies.

“Because of the financial challenges that lie ahead, the need for humanitarian aid in South Africa will dramatically increase whilst the availability of donor funding will simultaneously decrease.”

Moosa acknowledged that while Muslim NGOs had been doing some incredible work in the past and like the Muslim community, frequently helped all communities, faiths, colours and creeds, they face a whole new set of challenges.

He says the association will include donors and Muslim NGOs that share a common purpose of serving humanity in the most efficient way possible.

“We have no intention of either replicating the great work currently being undertaken by the many NGOs nor do we intend to be prescriptive to them. We just feel that our resources can be better used when they are pooled together whilst we are all feeling the financial effects of Covid- 19.”

A number of NGO’s and community organisations have already committed their participation in Muslims For Humanity, including Jamiatul Ulema KZN, Sunni Jamiatul Ulema, Al Imdaad Foundation, SANZAF, Darul Ihsan and Muslim Relief Alliance PMB among others.

Listen to the interview with Mahomed Zubeir Moosa