‘Giant is gone’
GREAT LOSS: Dr Anwah Nagia
Family, friends and colleagues of struggle stalwart Dr Anwah Nagia paid their last respects to the social activist on Tuesday.
The well-known businessman died of Covid-19 related complications on Monday at the age of 62.
Nagia’s janaazah was held at the Muir Street Mosque in District Six.
Among the many roles he played, he was also the chairperson of the District Six Beneficiary and Redevelopment Trust.
Moulana Abdul Khaliq Allie, the first deputy president of the Muslim Judicial Council, says Nagia will forever be remembered and they will ensure his legacy continues.
“He has left his mark in the various sectors of society that he has worked with, there will be people to continue with that journey, be it in the Palestinian cause, human rights matters for social justice, the feeding and relief work that he has been undertaking or sports and education sectors, he has left his footprints,” Allie said.
The moulana said they will pray continuously on Nagia’s soul so he can be rewarded by Allah abundantly for his immense contribution to the Cape Muslim community and society at large.
“The poor in our country today have lost a friend,” he added.
Western Cape High Court judge Siraj Desai says Nagia worked until his last breath.
“He called me from hospital giving me instructions as to what to do and who to speak to from the beneficiary trust,” the judge says.
He says Nagia was an outstanding individual, and one of the finest people he knew.
“Over the years he was a loyal friend, if you never had loyalty from a friend like that you have not lived. We extend our condolences to his family,” says Desai.
Mustadafin Foundation director Ghairunisa Johnstone-Cassiem says she met Nagia in the 1980s and worked with him to build up the renowned foundation.
“He was a comrade when we met and later my boss.
“It is a great loss for us and as you can hear everyone is saying a giant is gone,” she says.
She says Nagia was tireless in his commitment to helping others: “Even though with Covid-19 he knew he was supposed to be at home he continued with work.
“He was a soldier that died with his boots on because he was always about giving.”