Community mourns well-known resident

Kerry Bird

SECUNDA -Well-known resident Fatima Salajee (80) died on January 15.
She passed away in the Trichardt Medi Clinic Hospital after her health deteriorated rapidly due to underlying health conditions.
Salajee leaves behind her children, Imraan Salajee, Jemila Salajee, Yasmin Hajat, son-in-law Haroon Hajat, daughter-in-law Shereen Salajee, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
She was born in Actonville, Benoni on March 5, 1941, and was the eldest of 10 siblings (five brothers and five sisters).
She married Aboobaker Ahmed Salajee on June 9, 1963, as an arranged marriage.
Their marriage would see them have four children, Imraan, Jemila and Yasmin and a daughter Shenaaz who died as an infant.
The couple began their business, Abies Family Centre, in Evander in 1987.
The Abies Family Centre was a general dealer and eventually diversified into high-quality clothes and apparel in 1996.
Aboobaker Salajee handed over the family business to daughter Jemila who continued to run the business with her mother till 2010.
He died on March 29, 2008, at the age of 66 of a heart attack.
Faima Salajee was fluent in English, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and Gujarati.
“As a young girl, my mum was active in her father’s business in Actonville and the client base was mostly Zulu and Sesotho. That is how mum learnt to speak the languages,” said Imraan Salajee.
He said that in business circles, his mum was fondly referred to as Gogo or Mummy and by her siblings and friends she was called Bai (big sister).
In the early 80 and mid-’90s, the Salajees ran a feeding scheme for pensioners in eMbalenhle.
“Mum and Dad had endured very difficult times before beginning their business and they never forgot where they started,” said Imraan.
After the death of her husband, Fatima Salajee remained in their home at Kinross with her daughter Jemila.
They later relocated to Secunda to be closer to the rest of the family.
Jemila continued to take special care of her mother over the years and they continued to live together till her last days.
“We want to thank the medical team of Mediclinic Highveld for taking special care of my mum during her short illness, as well as all the doctors and nurses that took my mom like their own during her stay at the clinic before her passing.
“Also a big thank to all our family and friends for their love and support during this challenging time,” said Imraan.
He also thanked the N17 Muslim Burial Committee volunteers for their efficient assistance in arranging the burial.
Fatima Salajee’s funeral was held on Saturday, January 15 at the Kinross Cemetery.