Angler and prankster bows out at 106
“LOVING, caring, honest and an avid angler and prankster” were some attributes of the late Hoosain Cassiem “Abba” Dudukay, who died at 106 years old in Rylands Estate recently.
The accolades were from four of his children – Ismail Dudukay, Hamieda (née Dudukay) Jaffer, Amina Dudukay and Hawa (née Dudukay) Sonday – and granddaughter Aneesa Hoosain, who reminisced about him at Hoosain’s home yesterday.
Dudukay was born in India on July 13, 1910, came with his father to live in Paarl at age 8, and was forcibly removed with his family under apartheid’s Group Areas Act to Rylands Estate in 1966, they said.
He attended St Paul’s School in Rondebosch, later managing a general store in Roodebloem Street, Woodstock, followed by 25 years of working at Duens Bakery in Woodstock. He owned two general stores in Paarl and Woodstock.
He married Latiefa Khatieb and fathered four daughters and two sons. One son, Mohamed Allie Dudukay, and a daughter Sharifa (née Dudukay) Ahmed, have since died. Dudukay has 15 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Describing his humorous side, Amina said: “He used to play a prank on me every April Fool’s Day. He would call me to the room and say ‘look out quickly by the window’. When I did he would laugh and say, ‘there’s nothing, you’re a fool, it’s April Fool’s Day’.”
She said Dudukay woke every day before 3am to recite prayers, have breakfast and take medication for diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol.
One of his hobbies, said Ismail, “was fishing at weekends at Milnerton and Muizenberg, and my sisters and I went with him. His secret for a long life was praying. He was in prayer five times a day. He also enjoyed soapies, 7de Laan and The Bold and the Beautiful.”
A family statement read: “Hadjii Hoosain (Dudukay) died as he lived, with the greatest of calm and peace and in the most holy month of Ramadaan.
‘‘Surely, Allah has favoured him, and we make dua that Allah grants him a high status in Jannatul Firdous Insha Allah Ameen.
‘‘He will be dearly missed by family, friends and the Cape Town community.”
Dudukay was the grandfather of the current owners of the Good Hope Meat Hyper in Albert Road, Salt River.