Johannesburg - A Klipsruit family have celebrated the birthday of their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who turned 100 on Sunday. They described her as the “pillar of the family” because she is the glue that keeps them together.
Juby Hoosain was born in Zeerust and moved to Joburg at 16. She says her secret to reaching this milestone is good health-care and respect towards others. “I am feeling glad today. I have reached a milestone in my life I never imagined to. Although I can no longer walk and use my hands, I am still joyful to be surrounded by my family and celebrate with them.”
She is a mother to five children, two who have passed away, and has 26 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She says she was raised by a strict father who only allowed her to attend the cinemas. She has never consumed any form of alcohol nor smoked.
She remembers working at a clothing factory in her young days and says her boss thought she was “the star of the team”. When the factory closed down, she resorted to selling alcohol to make a living. Hossain never married and raised her children by herself.
"I was arrested three times for selling alcohol from my home during the apartheid era, as this was not allowed, especially from a woman of colour."
Her daughter, Miriam Kayster, 79, said her mother always made sure they never went to bed hungry and they always had shoes to wear. She added her mother was not only the breadwinner in the house but was also able to feed the children from her extended families.
“The doctors told us many years ago that my mother has a hole in her heart, which is hard to believe because she is still with us and for that we are truly grateful to still have her with us.
"My mother was strict with us and always made sure we did our chores from 6am daily. She grew up Muslim but raised us to believe in Christianity. She also taught us not to steal by warning us that God was watching us, which scared us more. Our home was and still is always filled with family because she raised everyone. Even though some were not family, she still treated them as her own,“said Kayster.
Stories of how Hossain used to discipline her grandchildren when they were naughty with a sjambok filled the room at some stage. A grandchildren, Shane Dalman, said his grandmother would embarrass them in front of their friends by beating them when they were naughty.
He wished to have his grandmother around for another 100 years, with less pain and good health.
The Star