Gig to raise funds for Stalwart
|Published
ILL: Community worker Ebrahim Smith, 59, vannie Heideveld ILL: Community worker Ebrahim Smith, 59, vannie Heideveld
The family of a well-known community worker has rallied local artists to raise funds for his medical bills.
Ebrahim Smith, 59, from Heideveld served as the Disaster Manager at the Mustadafin Foundation for the past 20 years until he fell ill last year which has left him blind.
His daughter, Lameesha Smith, 28, says it was a shock for everyone to see her once hale and hearty father becoming weak and helpless.
“My dad has been very involved in so many communities being the Disaster Manager for Mustadafin,” she says.
“He fell ill over a year ago with viral meningitis and also had a severe stroke during that time which left him without sight and some loss of memory.
“Losing his eyesight left him extremely depressed.”
She says her dad needs R20 000 to see a neurologist.
“My dad was always involved in music and many of our friends are singers, even my sister’s husband Riyaad Otto, so we decided to give a variety show to raise the funds ourselves. We contacted all the artists we know and they all jumped on board gladly and everyone on the show is performing at no charge.
“We have to go private because the government hospital told him to wait until November 2020 and we don’t want him to suffer that long.
“One of his biggest wishes is to see what his grandkids look like now and to get back to work so he can help those who are in need.”
ON THE BILL: Joseph Stone show
There will be a fundraising show at the Joseph Stone Auditorium in Athlone on Saturday, where artists like Riyaad Otto, Nur Abrahams, Fagri Isaacs, Adil Dante, Ekraam Cupido, Madeegha Anders, Monox and Just Us will perform.
Entry is R130 and the show starts at 8pm.