With temperatures plummeting and harsh cold facing many South African communities, Zunaid Moti – entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of Moti Cares – is once again committed to bringing warmth and dignity to those who need it most. Building on the success of last year’s 20,000-blanket distribution, in continuation of what has become a heartfelt annual tradition, Moti is launching the 2025 Moti Cares Winter Blanket Drive, with the goal of delivering another 20,000 blankets to vulnerable communities.
From June until the end of winter, numerous blanket handovers will reach under-resourced neighbourhoods, shelters, hospitals, and organisations across the country. This year’s drive features three major highlight events for Youth Day (14 June), Mandela Day (18 July), and Women’s Day (9 August) – targeting communities most affected by winter hardship, with thousands of lives set to benefit.
Zunaid Moti and his family will be personally attending these three key events, participating in the handovers, and connecting directly with the communities receiving support. In addition to these scheduled appearances, Moti will also make spontaneous visits to several other nominated handovers, as a show of appreciation to the public for their engagement and to personally thank his followers who have helped drive the initiative forward.
Moti Cares, a philanthropic initiative established by Moti, is focused on creating lasting, real-world impact through humanitarian efforts. While the foundation supports a wide range of causes throughout the year, the Winter Blanket Drive has become one of its most impactful interventions, bringing hope and relief during the country’s coldest months.
“Winter can be brutal for so many South Africans,” says Moti. “This drive is about providing warmth to those in need, and about showing people they’re not alone, and that someone cares. With something as simple and essential as a blanket, we’re not just covering people, we’re comforting them too.”
Members of the public can nominate their charity or community of choice by submitting their stories on Zunaid Moti’s official social media pages. All nominations will be carefully vetted by Moti’s team to ensure the donations go to trusted, impactful organisations doing meaningful work.
“We want the public to be part of this movement, as local leaders often know exactly where these blankets need to go – which elderly residents are isolated, or families are struggling,” Moti explains. “Plus, there are so many unsung heroes in local communities. By opening up this process to others, we get to shine a light on those quietly and consistently doing the work on the ground and can help them expand their reach.”
As with all Moti Cares initiatives, this year’s blanket drive exemplifies the power of unity, compassion, and action, reflecting Moti’s mission to extend real and immediate support to people in need.
For more information about the 2025 Winter Blanket Drive, to submit a nomination, or to simply see it unfolding, visit Zunaid Moti’s official social media pages.