"We lost a good man," says Rumaanah Jamadar of her father, Istiyak Jamadar, who was well known in Louis Trichardt. "On Sunday evening (8 December), Dad never woke up – he passed away peacefully with a smile on his face."
A greatly saddened Rumaanah shares that she has lost her best friend, her father. He was born on 17 September 1967 in India. "He was a professional football player in India in the early 1990s and then came to South Africa. He was in Cape Town first and later moved to Louis Trichardt [35 years ago]. He met my mother, Gory Aboo, here. They have been married for 30 years. He studied psychology but was a well-known businessman throughout his life in Louis Trichardt. His first business was a cellular store called Mr Cellular, and he later moved on to selling furniture. His store, Mr Bed and Couch, was located in Songozwi Street," shares Rumaanah.
She goes on to say that her father was also known as "the cricket player" in town in 1994/1995, having played for the Louis Trichardt Cricket Club.
"He was a man who never failed to keep a smile on his face and was someone with great patience and happiness. He was a good man who never troubled anyone. He served everyone with a kind heart and loved to make people smile. The whole community is speaking about the wonderful person he was. Together with my brother, Mohammed Rameez, and sister, Raumeen, we will continue his good legacy and strive to be like the father we had. He never failed to make us happy. He did everything for us, and we are very, very grateful and thankful to have had such a beautiful, humble father," says Rumaanah.
The family has requested that everyone who knew him, or remembers him, please keep him in their prayers and ask that God grant him the highest stages of heaven.
Istiyak leaves behind his wife, Gory Aboo, son Mohammed Rameez Jamadar, and daughters Rumaanah and Raumeen.