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Role-players from the student community, Muslim organizations and wider civil society have expressed great sadness at the passing of student leader and icon Yusuf Talia this morning.
“RIP Yusuf Talia, the good die young,†wrote one admirer on Twitter. The steady stream of eulogizing tweets, soon got the name of the young leader trending in South Africa.
Talia was President of the MSA Union, an umbrella body representing Muslim students nationwide. No stranger to University of Witwatersrand(Wits) students, Talia served as Vice president of the Wits SRC, in addition to earning degrees in accounting and science.
He was also renowned for the spirited battle he fought against a personal disability and had campaigned throughout his life for common dignities and better opportunities to be afforded to those with physical disabilities.
In 2013, he was named one of the Mail & Guardian’s Young South African’s for efforts toward realising his “goal of invigorating young people and proving that they are all capable of attaining their goals if they maintain their passion and determination.â€
Diagnosed at an early age with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Talia had been wheelchair-bound since he was 10. Whilst studying at Wits, one of his lungs collapsed and he had spent 42 days in intensive care. During his long stay at campus, he made valued contributions to a number of bodies on campus and in the Muslim community, with the aim of creating a world in which all our differences are understood and able to find expression. As a member of the Disabled Students Movement Talia organised the first disability awareness concert in the Muslim community, in 2009. He had represented student interests on the Higher Education Disability Service Association for several years. He was also the head of mentorship at Redineo, an organisation that steers the educational development of underprivileged children.
In an interview with Cii Radio, Talia located his passion as residing in education, and spoke of a mission to broaden the role of the MSA to both prior and beyond campus.
“We have indeed lost a giant of our movement, Comrade Yusuf Talia’s legacy lives on,†wrote Tasneem Essop of the WITS SRC this morning. Former SRC President Muhammad Cajee spoke of Talia’s “superb leadership and character†remaining an inspiration to him. And Moulana Ebrahim Bham of the Jamiatul Ulama South Africa praised Talia for rising beyond his physical challenge to become an inspiration. “May Allah SWT elevate him,†he said.
Talia’s funeral will leave from 21 Surbiton Avenue, Auckland Park at 21:00 for the Newclare cemetery where Janazah Salaah and burial will be performed.
May Allah SWT grant him the highest stages in Jannah, and afford peace to his loved ones.
www.ciibroadcasting.com/2014/09/22/outpouring-of-tributes...
“RIP Yusuf Talia, the good die young,†wrote one admirer on Twitter. The steady stream of eulogizing tweets, soon got the name of the young leader trending in South Africa.
Talia was President of the MSA Union, an umbrella body representing Muslim students nationwide. No stranger to University of Witwatersrand(Wits) students, Talia served as Vice president of the Wits SRC, in addition to earning degrees in accounting and science.
He was also renowned for the spirited battle he fought against a personal disability and had campaigned throughout his life for common dignities and better opportunities to be afforded to those with physical disabilities.
In 2013, he was named one of the Mail & Guardian’s Young South African’s for efforts toward realising his “goal of invigorating young people and proving that they are all capable of attaining their goals if they maintain their passion and determination.â€
Diagnosed at an early age with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Talia had been wheelchair-bound since he was 10. Whilst studying at Wits, one of his lungs collapsed and he had spent 42 days in intensive care. During his long stay at campus, he made valued contributions to a number of bodies on campus and in the Muslim community, with the aim of creating a world in which all our differences are understood and able to find expression. As a member of the Disabled Students Movement Talia organised the first disability awareness concert in the Muslim community, in 2009. He had represented student interests on the Higher Education Disability Service Association for several years. He was also the head of mentorship at Redineo, an organisation that steers the educational development of underprivileged children.
In an interview with Cii Radio, Talia located his passion as residing in education, and spoke of a mission to broaden the role of the MSA to both prior and beyond campus.
“We have indeed lost a giant of our movement, Comrade Yusuf Talia’s legacy lives on,†wrote Tasneem Essop of the WITS SRC this morning. Former SRC President Muhammad Cajee spoke of Talia’s “superb leadership and character†remaining an inspiration to him. And Moulana Ebrahim Bham of the Jamiatul Ulama South Africa praised Talia for rising beyond his physical challenge to become an inspiration. “May Allah SWT elevate him,†he said.
Talia’s funeral will leave from 21 Surbiton Avenue, Auckland Park at 21:00 for the Newclare cemetery where Janazah Salaah and burial will be performed.
May Allah SWT grant him the highest stages in Jannah, and afford peace to his loved ones.
www.ciibroadcasting.com/2014/09/22/outpouring-of-tributes...
