Gamiedoen Emeran

Gaamiedoen was born and grew up in Hudson street. He loved cricket and walking. He was a great and avid reader. He attended the St John’s Church school, situated by the St John’s Church in lower Long street near waterkant street.

My father’s grandmother was a Dutch lady – she called my father “ My seun”  - this became “Swoon”.

My father got a good education from a missionary church. He was a secretary  for so many organizations – as he was one of the few people who could write.  Gasant is like my father, he was the secretary of 8 different organizations. (Goosain)

He was a tailor, par excellence!

When he got married, his mother was still alive. His bruidskamer was at No 5 Bryant Street, Cape Town.

My father went on Hadj while still in his late teens. He had a girlfriend, Liemie Salie. When my father left for Hadj he asked his best friend Bakar Johnson to look after her, she married  the friend during my father’s absence on Hadj. (Goosain)

My father was a very good tailor. You could show him something out of a book and he could do it for you, but unfortunately he did a lot of “kannallah” work. I had to deliver for my father. Instead of paying they would give a shirt. What can we do with a shirt ? It was struggling time – we needed money to buy bread! (Achmat)

My father was the originator of the triple bunk! The submarines had double bunks not triple bunks! Hollywood owned a furniture shop, he came to collect money owed and he saw the triple bunks and lo and behold 3 months later there were triple bunks in his show room. (Goosain) 

One day I saw my father sitting at top of Pentz street looking worried. We got a plot cheap to build house for the twins but we had only a short time. So I asked my friends who were not working to help out. I had to lend money to pay them because I had to give them something. We didn’t have money for scaffolding so we used pine tree or I would help to hold them up. I was always very nice to everyone so if I asked someone to come and help me they would come. I asked my friend to help, but he had just gotten married the day before and had to go around with his wife to thank the family so I offered to drive him because we had a car. I was so involved in the building of the house, when Shihaam  got sick, she had fits from fever, I couldn’t go with to take her to hospital because the wedding was in 3 or 2 months and I was worried, trying to finish the house. (Achmat)

 My father educated us and told us many stories of the war.

1.       The role of JC Smuts (looked upon as a traitor by the Afrikaners)

2.       The role of General Dan Pienaar (he tried to get the military to arm the coloured soldiers)

3.       The role of Emam Harris ( Getting coloured males to enrol for war duties in the volunteer hall, the old/present drill hall)

4.       My aunty’s husband was killed in the war – the letter she received from the war office

5.       The treatment of the coloured soldiers after the war
( (Goosain)

    I can remember when my father made my first suit for Eid, my mother was so excited  she helped to cut my hair. (Fuad)

Fatima (Toemie) Emeran 1932 - 2006

Born in Cape Town 1932. Died 30 May 2006

The 4^th child of Gamiedoen and Zubeida.

“Fatima – was called Toemie since forever. She also worked.  She was more involved with my other uncles children,  Ammie from Walestreet, because his kids were the same age as her. “ Goosain

Toemie worked at a clothing factory but later she stayed at home at with her kids.

She married Rashaad White, a driver from Kimberley on 16 December 1962.

Ricky cycled to Cape Town from Kimberley in  July. It was in the heart of winter and in order to stay warm he would sleep among the sheep on the farms that he cycled past. He made his own version of Energade by adding water to a tin of apricot jam. When he arrived in Cape Town, he did lots of odd jobs. He befriended some Muslim teenagers living in Bokaap and became a boarder in one of their homes. He became interested in Islam and 2 years later he embraced Islam and changed his name to Rashaad.

Their “bruidskamer” was in Dorp Street when they got married then moved to a room in Buitengracht Street eventually when Sauiem was a year they moved to a house in Longmarket Street. 

Rashaad and Toemie had 4 children : Sauiem, Zubeida, Zulfa and Warda.

She gave birth locally at Saint Monica’s home.

Sauiem was born in Ramadaan and Bayah (Toemie’s father) chose the name, Zubeida was named after Toemie’s mother.

As a mother she was very loving and had a close relationship with her children.

The family enjoyed beach outings to Klippetjiesbaai and they would regularly take road trips to Saldanha, Kimberley and PE during the school holidays to visit family.  Padkos was a spread, like a Labarang. They would drive thru the night. Rashaad would flatten the back seats to make beds. They would stop along the side of the road at concrete tables and chairs for meals, admiring stunning sunsets and sunrises in the Karoo as they travelled. Besides playing a word game called Boggle, the car was filled with music by Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.

The Mubaraks lived at 8 Dahlia Avenue, Square Hill Park, Kimberley. An amazing woman, who had had 9 kids and still had space for the White family and their guests, as Toemie would regularly invite people with to Kimberley.

One year Goosain and his family travelled with them. They were involved in a bad car accident. Their kombi was a right off.  Taurik (youngest son) was hospitalised because he had some glass on his face, near his eye. He still has the scar.

Aunty Leggie Kahaar would often come with too. She would stay with her family or inlaws. She had married someone from Kimberley, but unfortunately they were involved in car accident enroute to Kimberley and her husband, daughter and a son died.

Toemie was a wonderful cook and her Malay dishes were special. Her roasted leg of lamb was tops! She made the best rolls, baked bread, ginger biscuits and not forgetting her guava juice fresh from her guava tree. There were always lovely smells coming from the kitchen as she was always cooking or baking. Her home was always busy as there would be visitors popping in and out.

“Mommy never followed a recipe. Made do with whatever she had. If she had a lot potatoes, add it. Next week, if she had a lot butternut, replace the potatoes en gooi soma butternut in.” ( Zulfa)

Toemie & Rashaad left for Hajj around June 1977 and returned January 1978. They went by boat which added to their experience. Years later they would still speak about the experience of travelling by boat. Toemie was pregnant with Warda at the time. They stayed with Boeta Dullah and Fatgiyah (Aunty Sida's sister) and all her sisters in-law. Toemie had the best time as  their hosts opened up their hearts and home to her. She helped with daily chores and occasionally cooked “kaapse kos” (as the Arabs called it). They had a wonderful trip and  we're able to go to Palestine, Demascus and Jordan.

“Dad bought a new tv. It was a black and white little thing, bought on the 2 Feb 1978, the day Warda was born. Children weren't allowed in at StMonica's hospital, so my mommy showed us Warda from the window and we showed her our new kwaaiii tv! ” (Zulfa)

Toemie and Rashaad were very conservative and didn’t follow fashion trends.  They enjoyed reading the newspaper. Rashaad liked playing cards, klavajas and loved playing sports especially club rugby.

“We were not wealthy but my parents worked wisely with money.  “ - Warda

“Growing up I always thought we were poor. Looking back now, we actually weren't. So I think this question is all about perception.” - Zulfa

The home was always bustling. In those days people would gladly take in anyone who needed a place to stay. Toemie and Rashaad’s home was a place of mercy and kindness and everyone was welcome.

Sadullah Khan stayed with the family when he was around 9 years old.  He was learning hifdh by Sheikh Abadi across the road. The Whites knew his family from Vryburg. They had many boarders: there was a student from PE, Sedick. Sedick was Aunty Hilda’s (Rashaad’s cousin’s wife) neighbour. Junaid was a divorcee who embraced Islam in his 40s. He married Yumnah. Due to their close relationship with Toemie and her family, he was fondly referred to as Boeta Junaid and became part of the greater family. There was another Junaid : On one of their visits to Kimberley they met Jack who instantly connected with Sauiem. Jack insisted on coming to Cape Town with the family. Sauiem was a toddler so Jack was a helper/friend for Sauiem. He became Toemie’s right hand man helping to raise Sauiem. Years later he embraced Islam and got married. He was referred to as Jack Junaid.Top of Form

Having chickens roaming around homes in the BoKaap was a common sight, and it was no different at this residence in Longmarket street.

“ The chickens were kept for eggs but when my daddy lussed (desired), he would slaughter one. Only him and Boeta Junaid ate it. We never did. My daddy wasn't a lover of chicken and never ate store bought chickens. After my mommys passing on, I would buy his slaughtered chicken from a farm in Ottery.” Zulfa

Lena and Willy lived with the family as well. They were common law husband and wife that helped out around the White household. Willy was a driver for a spares shop in Buitengracht street around the corner from Harry's. The couple would meet on Fridays after work at the corner bottle store and get totally drunk. No matter how drunk Lena was on a Friday night, she was able to walk up Longmarket street, staggering but she would always make it to the top. Willy was a perfectionist, he would take an entire Saturday afternoon while the family went to Saldanha and clean the stove. When he was done, it would shine and look like a brand spanking new one. It wouldn't close properly and Toemie would put a broomstick in front of it while baking her rolls.

Toemie had a very easy going nature and would just go with the flow. When her daughter got married, she allowed her to do whatever she wanted and let her sisters see to the catering.

Toemie loved being a mama and completely spoilt Zubair and Tahir (Zubeida’s sons) as well as Sauiem's  children completely rotten. Zubair was the eldest grandchild and  was like her own child.  She raised him from 4 months old,  making all decisions about his well being as a child. She was very involved in his life.  When she was in her old age, Zubair was granted the opportunity of looking after her.

With later grandkids, she was older, more tired and ill. She was able to do a little bit of babysitting but due to diabetes her eyesight was deteriorating.

Quotes:

 “niks voor of na sy tyd nie”

“Kinders is nie stout nie. Stout is dagga roek en wyn drink.”

Fuad Emeran 1943

I was born 6 August 1943 at our house in Sachs Street, BoKaap. I was the 2^nd youngest son of Gamiedoen & Zubeida Emeran.

My earliest memory is from age 5: I remember going next door to Sisi and playing with her children :  Lungi, Sipho and Velile.

I played lots of games outside like hide and seek, cricket and soccer.  I also had a wooden cart, that was my favourite toy, which my dad made.

During WW2, I remember my mother sending me to the army trucks to collect our food packs.

My parents were very understanding and I had a good relationship with them.

Dad’s parents had  passed away already, so I mostly saw my mom’s family.

My mom enjoyed making sosati and she would bake cakes for our birthdays.

We had a very busy household, with lots of people popping in. We rented two sections of the house. I shared a room with my brothers. We would have the usual sibling squabbles. I was good child, but I often teased my sisters.

I attended Schotcheskloof Primary school then St Paul’s Primary School. I walked to school.

When teachers would have a staff meeting, I would play hide and seek with my friends and stay away! I would sometimes play the organ at church for hymn singing. A lady from the church, Mrs Hendricks taught me. I always played the note G, so I was given the nickname “G”.

I attended Trafalgar High School and studied English, Afrikaans, Maths, Woodwork, Biology and Chemistry. In stardard 6 & 7, I got the highest marks in Mathematics.

I was very good at running, both long distance and sprinting. At school I played cricket and soccer as well. I was very social and played a lot of cricket. I played for the Victorians cricket club.

I enjoyed hiking in the mountains. I went mostly with friends. We would either hike up Table mountain or Lions Head. I would watch movies at the Alabama Movie house. My favourite was Tarzan. I enjoyed reading murder/crime books. I liked JamesHadley Chase novels.

Fashion trends of my era were hippie styles, lots of denim bell bottoms and large hats.

I left school in standard 8 and started apprentice in carpentry, I had to work to help provide for my family.  My first job was as a cabinet maker/joiner – I got paid R7,50 a week.

The first car I bought was a Ford which I bought at age 22/23.

I worked on a cargo boat on sea as a carpenter. As a result I  travelled all over the world : Europe, Asia, North and South America. I also visited my sister, Nabeweya in London. While in London, I met our neighbor Timmie Boraan, she was a teacher.

London was my favourite city. I enjoyed the wax museum and seeing Buckingham palace.

I found Japan the most interesting place I travelled to. I bought a tv there and brought it home. We were the first to own a tv.

While travelling I hardly ate meat, mostly vegetarian meals as there wasn’t much halaal in Europe. The food in India was nice but very strong. I met lots of people while travelling and saw all walks of life.

Later I worked in Saudi Arabia for 4 years as well as in Kuwait. I worked as a handy man and did some carpentry work.

I was against the Government’s Apartheid policy, so I enjoyed working overseas and being away from it all.

I was 36 when I met Amina Allom. (25 May 1950 - 25 October 2004)

Soraya, who was married to my friend Hiemie, noticed Amina on the train every day. Amina would always be reciting surahs on the train. I had just returned from Saudi and Soraya thought we would be a good fit, so she arranged a blind date. I was attracted to her personality and good nature.

I got married at age 38 and we lived in a separate entrance at Nabeweyah’s house at21 Premier Road, Walmer Estate. Amina & I liked going to movies and Aneesah’s take aways.

We made ends meet, some good months and some a struggle, but we were always happy and grateful for our lives.

Children :

Jihada  (stillborn) - 23 December 1984
Zubaydah – 17 May 1985

Sadiq & Kamaal (Kamaal was stillborn) –  2 March 1987

Achmat Emeran 1931

Achmat Emeran

I was born on 21 April 1931. 

The third eldest child of Gamiedoen Emeran & Zubeida Joseph.

 Rashad and Sukayna came before me.

We lived in Hudson street then Loader street then Leeuwen street. We had a lot of stuff because we were a lot of children. From there we went to Worcester Road (to the Soekers) in Walmer Estate. We all stayed in one room. We did everything in that room. It was a fairly big room, that time the rooms were big. Saadick was the baby. Rashad and Sukayna stayed with my mother’s family (the Josephs), they stayed in a big house there in Pepperstreet. When we moved from Worcester street  to Sachs street, we didn’t have a car or lorry to take all the stuff,  so we had to take the stuff our self. I carried the headboard from District 6 to BoKaap! We didn’t walk together, everyone was carrying something. We had to go back and forth, even though there was alot of us, 2 or 3 times.

We didn’t have toys – it was bad times, we needed money for food.

I went to school when we lived in Walmer Estate – to Rahmaniyeh . No one else went to school – only me.  I only did primary school. At the end of primary school the principal came.

The school term ended and I was playing cricket in the street.  I saw the principal at our house in Sachs street. The principal’s sister worked at a place called Light master and they wanted a boy to help so they came to ask my father. I knew my father needed money and so I accepted. I had to write letters to send to the shops that owed money. I was an office boy so I didn’t do a trade. My father needed us to work to help him because no one was working that time. I got R29 a month. That was a lot of money. That helped my father pay off debt. It was hard times. I worked there for 5 years.  When I worked at Light master, opposite they sold toys. Those people were very fond of me, I would buy toys and give to Noejfa (eldest child of Rashad).

My parents decided I must go for a trade. I didn’t know what trade, so I tried tailoring. I went to family in District 6, they did tailoring. I had to deliver the completed jobs to Darling street , so I didn’t have a trade.

Minnie had a friend, Elizabeth and her husband gave me a job at Bonwit/Truworths, it wasn’t a trade but it was in the clothing line, I was running the cutting room.

Recently I met one of the workers in Gatesville. He wanted to introduce me to his wife because when he worked even if he was ill he wanted to come work because of me. I always took it the workers came first, the boss came second.  I was popular at work.

We were affected during the war. The lights had to go off. We had blackouts. There was electricity, but they put it off and men had to walk with torches. When we went to buy food, there was an army lorry and we had to queue for rice, sugar, potatoes.

I was called vissie, actually Rashad was called vissie, but we had the same eyes (Rashad, Fuad and I) because of our eyes, our eyelids are too long. Back then everyone had a nickname, if you had a nickname you were known.

I played cricket and rugby for the  Zawia team.

Everyone called me Goeie  Achmat because everything they asked I would give to them.

I was the 3^rd eldest, but I was doing most of the worrying for the family, I was always involved.

I taught Nabeweya how to drive. I took her up Longmarket street. I don’t know why I did that, but she started to panic!

Minnie jumped out of the car when I took her up there…...

Minnie (Amina , 83)

I met Minnie when I came from the Zawia!

 The rugby team finished playing, we stood on the corner of Jordaan and Pepper streets,  by the shop talking nonsense about the rugby  of course. I was a good rugby player. Minnie was visiting some family of hers and she came passed and I said “salaam alaikum  kan ek nie saam loop nie?”  She didn’t say anything  but smiled and I think she meant “ Ja, kom”. She went to Church street to visit family. I didn’t go into the house because I wasn’t a pretty polly and she was a beautiful girl. I didn’t want to go in, because they might reject me. She stayed there quite a time and I didn’t want to lose her so I waited. From there we went through the (Company) Gardens because she lived across the (Company) Gardens.  I used to come to the house and her mother allowed me to take her out. I had a car you see, if you have a car you can go.  Gem, Avalon, palace, international bioscope is where we would go. One day we went to the Gem. I sat but the guy said he was keeping seats for his friends. They called a guy and when he saw it was me he let me sit. Samson and Delia !! That was the show !! (can’t remember an hour ago, but you can remember Samson and Delila from 100 yrs ago ! said Minnie)

When we got married she was a beautiful bride. We got married in 1957. I brought Niefie Sadan to her and they took over the wedding. They made 2 dresses and headgear.

A guy from Rhodesia lived downstairs (house in Sachs street) because we needed to rent as my father needed money. But we fixed it up so that Minnie and I could live there. I had to do a lot to make it nice for her. She lived in Plein Street and they had horses and carriages used for the opening of Parliament.

So on our wedding day, we had a carriage with 6 horses and everyone came out to see . The horses had feathers in their manes.  We went all the way up to Buitengracht street and then got into cars.

   Her dress was like a mermaid style !!

   I wasn’t a pretty polly!!  

Our wedding was in our house and it was just family and friends. The cake was bought by the confectioners. Our wedding photos were taken in Greenmarket Square. We got  married on mi’raj… so the wedding was short.

We have 6 Kids : Shamieg, Shihaam, Adnaan, Shanaaz, Adiela, Tasneem

We would go on holiday over Easter to Faure, Kramat. The children would get special clothes, mocassins, jerseys, caps, torch. We would go through on a Friday.

Once, I got the factory van  and we did a surprise trip to Mossel Bay !!

My children weren’t naughty, they all like their father … Goeie Achmat!!

They all work, all help me. When Shamieg and Shihaam  started working they started paying for stuff for the children like their Eid clothes. I would get sample dresses from the factory and give to Shihaam and then it would be passed on to all the other girls.

I took Minnie to a lot of places. I took her to Makkah !! In 1994 we went for Hajj. We went on Umrah with Adnaan, Minnie’s sister, Minnie’s other sister.

 There’s money now, no more stress. You struggle but  then it changes.

Rashad Emeran 1927 - 1979

Rashad
Born 9 March 1927
Died 17 October 1979

The eldest of 14 children of Haj Gamiedoen and Hajja Bayrah Emeran (nee Joseph). Educated at the Prestwich Street Primary school.

Married Latiefa Davids. Had one son and 3 daughters : Rifaat, Noejfa, Nazlie and Fouza.

He was taught tailoring by Sulaiman Williams (father of Dr Fagmie Wiliams) and worked for the famous Dryburgh Tailor in Adderley street.

Throughout his life he made blazers for the local Christmas choirs as well as the Eid suits and costumes for family and friends.

He was also a keen sportsman playing cricket as a fast bowler for the Warwickshire Cricket club (one of the oldest) in the company of cricketers such as Boeta Boebie Buffkins, Maaila Kahaar, Hoosain Waggie, Dol Freeman and Eric Petersen. He was a member of the Buffaloes Rugby Club in the time of Emaam Maanie Bassier, Railoen Isaacs and Assie Dollie. He, like most men of his milieu, was also a member of the “Hollandse Team” namely the Leeuwendales Malay choir.

Not only was he involved with sporting activities but played an active role in the religious activities of the community. He was a stalwart in the Mowbray “Koeber” Board and an active executive member of the Nurul Islam (Buitengrachtstreet) mosque committee at the time of his demise. Later in life he, together with Mr Pitt and Boeta Toellie Nordien opened a clothing factory.

Besides the above activities, the one that gave him the most joy and the one that he eagerly looked forward to was being a member of Boeta Achmat (Ponnie) Moos Quranic recitation group. Here he brushed up his recitation and learnt the rules of Tajweed. He was the one who transported the members residing in the BoKaap to the various Thursday night venues in his well-known “Green Valiant”.

He actively encouraged all who came in contact with him to not only recite the Quran, but to also recite it correctly, to understand what they were reciting and to apply it to their daily lives.

(received from Goosain Emeran – source and author unknown)

Boeta  belonged to a jamaah from Claremont, that was very interested in reciting  at funerals, thikrs, 7 nights,40 nights and moulood. He was considered to be a very good tailor, but I think he  was the most talented of all my brothers as he was very artistic.  The Alhambra bioscope -  the ceiling was like the Sistine chapel, painted with all kinds of angels and what not. The sides were also painted from half way up. He was one of the painters,  he had to paint part of the ceiling – lying on his back on scaffolding,  it was a special kind of oil paint and this fell into his eye and that is why his one eye was always red. He gave that up and became a tailor.  He was talented as an artist, he could draw well. (Goosain)

His wife Latiefa

Eldest daughter Noejfa