The Cry of the Forgotten: A Sacred Duty to Uplift the Poor of South Africa
By a man who has found his purpose
Haj. Muhammad Yusuf Isaacs
President S.H.C.B.
The Weight of Poverty: A Nation’s Shame, A People’s Pain
To walk through the streets of Mitchells Plain and the Cape Flats is to stare into the soul of a nation still bleeding from the wounds of apartheid. The children with hollow eyes, the unemployed men sitting on broken curbs with hands calloused from nothing, the mothers boiling water with no food to put in it—this is the reality of millions in South Africa. The system designed to crush them may have officially ended in 1994, but its shadow lingers in the form of economic exclusion, generational poverty, and a society that still treats the poor as invisible.
Poverty does not ask for permission. It does not knock before entering a home and stealing a child’s future. It does not apologize for the hunger that gnaws at the belly of a laborer who cannot find work. And yet, we—those blessed with resources, with influence, with hearts still capable of feeling—have the audacity to wait for "the right time" to act. When is the right time to feed a starving child? When is the right time to teach a man to fish?
The Scourge of Unemployment: A Crisis of Purpose
South Africa’s unemployment rate is not just a statistic; it is a funeral for dignity. Over 32% of our people—and nearly 60% of our youth—are without work. What does a man become when society tells him he has no value? What does a boy dream when all he sees is despair? The streets of the Cape Flats are filled with young men who were never given a chance, whose only "opportunity" was a life of crime because no one offered them an alternative.
But here is the truth: unemployment is not a natural disaster; it is a man-made failure. It persists because we have neglected education, because we have allowed corruption to steal from the poor, because we have built economies that benefit the few while the many beg for scraps.
The Answer Lies in Education and Training
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The best charity is to teach a skill." If we are to break the chains of poverty, we must build schools, vocational centers, and training programs that do not just hand out certificates but create craftsmen, entrepreneurs, thinkers, and leaders.
Trade Schools for the Forgotten Youth – Not every child is meant for university, but every child is meant for greatness. Carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, coding, agriculture—these are the skills that turn the unemployed into employers.
Islamic and Secular Charity Combined – Muslim charities have a divine mandate to feed and educate, but this is not just a Muslim struggle. Every human with a conscience must join. The Christian, the Jew, the Hindu, the atheist—poverty does not discriminate, and neither should our compassion.
Feeding Schemes as a Foundation – A hungry child cannot learn. A starving man cannot work. Before we teach, we must feed. Soup kitchens, school meal programs, and community gardens must be the first step in rebuilding broken communities.
The Wisdom of Charity: It Does Not Ask for Permission
Charity is not a favor; it is justice. When a child in Mitchells Plain cries from hunger, Allah is not asking you if it’s convenient for you to help—He is testing your humanity. The Qur’an says:
"And whatever good you do, Allah knows it." (2:197)
You do not need a committee’s approval to buy bread for a starving family. You do not need a government grant to teach a young man a skill. Start where you are, with what you have. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Do not show lethargy in giving, or Allah will bring poverty upon you."
The Emotional Plight of the Poor: A Call to Awakening
Close your eyes and imagine:
A mother choosing which child to feed today because there isn’t enough for both.
A young girl selling her body because no one gave her another option.
A boy who joins a gang because it was the only family that acknowledged him.
This is not just "their" problem. This is our collective sin. Every Rand we waste on luxuries while our brothers and sisters starve is a debt on our souls.
Apartheid’s Legacy: The Roots of Today’s Suffering
The Cape Flats and Mitchells Plain were designed as dumping grounds for the "non-white" underclass. The apartheid regime engineered poverty, and though the laws have changed, the economic chains remain. We cannot undo history, but we can refuse to be complicit in its ongoing injustice.
The Call: Your Purpose Awaits
Allah has placed you on this earth for a reason. Will you be the one who looks away, or the one who stands in the gap?
Donate – Not just money, but time, skills, and knowledge.
Educate – Sponsor a child’s education. Fund a training center.
Feed – Support local kitchens. Organize community farms.
Advocate – Demand policy change. Hold leaders accountable.
The poor do not need your pity; they need your action. The children of the Cape Flats do not need your tears; they need your hands.
Enlightenment: The Time is Now
The greatest thinkers of history—from Ibn Sina to Mandela—understood that wisdom without action is hypocrisy. You were born in this era because Allah knew the world needed you to rise.
Will you answer the call?
"Whoever relieves a believer’s distress in this world, Allah will relieve his distress on the Day of Judgment." (Muslim)
The poor are waiting. What will you do?