Durban - Founder of the popular Gorima’s Culinary Fusion died on Tuesday after battling Covid-19.
Khatija Mall, 70, was admitted to hospital on December 28 but the family are unsure when and how she contracted the virus.
As per Islamic rites, the funeral was held on Tuesday and she was buried at Browns Avenue Cemetery in Overport.
Mall started Gorima's 42 years ago with a single product – Magi Masala – which she made in the kitchen of her aunt-in-law, Zuleikha Mayat, editor of the Indian Delights cookbook.
Tianne Manilall from Gorima’s marketing division said Magi Masala was probably the world’s first “wet” masala and was developed by Mall with the aim of providing that blend of convenience and flavour for those who didn’t have the time to buy all
their spices separately and provide flavour for those that didn’t know how to make a curry.
“When she approached a buyer to list her product she was advised to first make a name for the product.
“She began selling her product at flea markets and going door-todoor. In 1981, she was joined by her brother, Goolam Moola, to set up a small manufacturing facility of the product. She only got into retail in 1986, opening her first shop at The Workshop in the Durban CBD.
“Today there are 21 retail stores, but her dream was to make Gorima’s globally recognised,” said Manilal.
Mall was married to Junaid Mall, 73, and had two sons, Sinan and Adil.
At her burial, her grand-nephew Hamza said he lost a friend who he could speak to about anything.
Her nephew, Yunus Moola, said she was the kind of person who was fiercely independent, filled with love, energy and game for anything.
“Her door was always open and she always smiled. She was certainly larger than life.”
Yasmin Vawda, Mall’s niece, said: “She was a giver, not a taker. Made sure everyone around her was comfortable and fed before taking care of herself. ‘You want food’ was her most often used phrase.”
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing away of a mother, aunt, wife and most importantly a leader, our...
Posted by Gorima's on Tuesday, January 19, 2021