Our work in South Africa

Islamic Relief South Africa (IRSA) is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO 043-357-NPO) that has been serving vulnerable communities across South Africa since 2004. We work across 8 key development sectors: Emergency Response, Seasonal Projects, Education & Youth, Sustainable Livelihoods, Orphans & Children, Community Development, Healthcare, and Food & Water Security.

In 2024 alone, we supported 302,032 people across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Lesotho, providing food, clean water, education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.

Yes. Islamic Relief South Africa is a fully registered, independent non-profit organisation in South Africa, operating under Charity Registration Number 043-357-NPO. We were officially registered in 2004 and are affiliated to the Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) family, one of the world's largest Islamic NGOs, operating in over 40 countries.

We publish audited financial statements annually. You can view our Annual Reports and Audited Statements on our website. For every R1 you donate, 87 cents goes directly to our programmes.

No. While our work is deeply rooted in Islamic values and principles, Islamic Relief South Africa allocates resources and support to all rights holders regardless of race, religion, political affiliation, gender or belief, and without expecting anything in return.

Our programmes serve all vulnerable South Africans, from the Cape Flats in Cape Town to communities in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and beyond.

During Ramadan 2024, IRSA distributed 7,500 food packs supporting 45,711 people across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Lesotho, ensuring vulnerable families could break their fast with ease throughout the sacred month.

During Dhul Hijjah 2024, your Qurbani donations allowed us to distribute meat packs to 44,822 people across South Africa. Our Quality Assured Qurbani process also supports local economies and butchers. You can donate your Qurbani at islamic-relief.org.za/qurbani.

In 2024, IRSA supported 1,191 orphaned children with food aid, healthcare, and educational support. Our Orphan Sponsorship Programme ensures that vulnerable children's rights are fulfilled, while also equipping their caregivers with resources to build sustainable livelihoods.

You can sponsor an orphan directly at islamic-relief.org.za/orphans. Monthly sponsorships start from as little as a few hundred rand and make a lasting difference.

Islamic Relief South Africa works across multiple provinces, with our head office at 396 Imam Haron Road, Lansdowne, Cape Town. Our programmes reach communities in the Western Cape (including Manenberg and the Cape Flats), KwaZulu-Natal (including the Uga District), Gauteng (including Ennerdale, Johannesburg), and other provinces where need is greatest.

Our work also extends to neighbouring countries Zimbabwe and Lesotho as part of our regional Southern Africa programmes.

You can donate online at donate.islamic-relief.org.za using VISA, Mastercard, or Direct Debit. One-off and monthly recurring donations are both available. You can also make a bank transfer. See our bank transfer details.

For any questions about donating, contact our team on 0800 111 898 (toll free) or email info@islamic-relief.org.za.

Yes. Islamic Relief South Africa is a registered Section 21 non-profit company and holds Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) status. Donations made to IRSA may qualify for a tax deduction under Section 18A of the South African Income Tax Act. A Section 18A certificate will be issued upon request.

For more information, please contact us on 0800 111 898 or email info@islamic-relief.org.za.

Islamic Relief’s vision is to create “a caring world where communities are empowered, social obligations are fulfilled and people respond as one to the suffering of others.” This vision is inspired by our Islamic faith and guided by five core values: compassion, justice, custodianship, sincerity and excellence.

In South Africa, this vision translates into a dual mandate: providing immediate emergency relief when disaster strikes, and building long-term sustainable development that addresses the root causes of poverty, ensuring communities are not just helped to survive, but empowered to thrive.

Emergency relief is our immediate response when a crisis strikes: floods, fires, drought, or displacement. We provide food packs, shelter, hygiene kits, and urgent medical support to stabilise affected communities as quickly as possible.

Development programmes are our long-term investment in communities. These include building schools, drilling boreholes, providing vocational training, supporting orphans, and funding microfinance for women-led enterprises. The goal is to break the cycle of poverty permanently, not just respond to it. In South Africa, both approaches run simultaneously across our 8 focus sectors.

In 2024, Islamic Relief South Africa supported 302,032 people across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Lesotho. Key highlights include:

• 45,711 people received Ramadan food packs (7,500 packs distributed)
• 44,822 people received Qurbani meat packs across South Africa
• 1,526 students supported with educational resources; 22 teachers trained
• 1,191 orphaned children supported with food, healthcare and education
• 2,927 people benefited from vocational training and microfinance
• 1,570 people gained direct access to clean drinking water via 23 boreholes
• 87 cents of every R1 donated went directly to programmes

Full details are available in our 2024 Impact Report.

IRSA uses a needs-based, community-driven approach. We conduct assessments to identify the most vulnerable communities and ensure that the communities we work in have real influence on our programming and advocacy work. No community is excluded on the basis of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.

Our 8 focus sectors are Emergency Response, Seasonal Projects, Education & Youth, Sustainable Livelihoods, Orphans & Children, Community Development, Healthcare, and Food & Water Security. These were identified as the areas where donor support can have the greatest and most lasting impact in the South African context.

IRSA’s integrated approach recognises that poverty is multidimensional. A family facing food insecurity is also likely facing unemployment, lack of education, and poor healthcare access. Our programmes are therefore designed to work together rather than in isolation.

For example, our Orphan Sponsorship Programme not only provides children with food aid and education, but also equips their caregivers with livelihood skills and microfinance support. Similarly, our water infrastructure projects in communities also support agricultural productivity, food security, and women’s safety. This interconnected model ensures that every rand of donor funding creates multiple layers of lasting impact.

Islamic Relief South Africa is committed to full transparency and accountability. We publish an annual Impact Report detailing the number of beneficiaries reached, programmes delivered, and funds spent across every sector. We also publish independently audited financial statements every year.

Our reporting is aligned with international humanitarian standards. We are affiliated to Islamic Relief Worldwide, which operates across 40+ countries and publishes a Global Reach, Impact and Learning Report annually. You can access all our reports at islamic-relief.org.za/annual-reports.