Fatima Behardien (née Sadan) was the youngest child of Mogammat Sadan and Salaama (Laami) Sadan nee Solomons born on 31 January 1950.  Mogammat Sadan was from Wynberg and Salaama Sadan nee Solomons was from Hout Street in Cape Town. They had nine other children: Abdullah, Abduraghmann, Sa’ayd, Sulieman, Ebrahim, Sedick, Magadie, Fuaad and Kubra(Kubie).

When Fatima was four years old in 1954 when her parents separated, by then three of her older siblings were married. Fatima was five years younger than the next sibling. Salaama had to find a place to live for her seven children and herself. Salaama moved to lower Patterson Street in Newlands on the property of the late Tareen Moos. There were quite a few houses on the lot, located along the riverbank. Tareen Moos was a good-hearted man, who helped many, he wanted to help Salaama and her seven children, so he built a simple building on his property for her. Later he allowed Salaama’s sons to add to the structure using zinc sheets. Two of Tareen Moos’ sons become Imams, one of the sons was Imam Ponnie who was Imam at Kromboom mosque in later years. 

Fatima attended the Methodist Primary in Ottery Road Wynberg, close to Wittebome High, where all Salaama’s older children had attended. Fatima and her brother walked down Protea Road, Claremont to catch a bus to Church street, Wynberg. They would walk under the subway to school. It was very far and difficult in winter but unless they were sick, they had to go to school. All the siblings attended Wittebome High, but Fatima attended Trafalgar High.

Fatima’s father lived on the bottom level of a double-storey in Wolfe street opposite Maynardville in Wynberg. There were times when she didn’t see her father for a week or two and she missed him. Sometimes her dad fetched her from school, or she would walk up to him via Piers or Church street. Fatima would sleep over at her father’s home but by the third day, she would be bored because all her friends were in Newlands. At times, Fatima would be sent to the butchery on the corner of Kildare Road and Main street. She remembers the Khalfe corner shop, Dr Jaffer and on top of Wheelan street was the orthopaedic hospital. Fatima’s mother’s cousin, Galima “Tie Liemie” from East London worked at the hospital doing their sewing.  She lived at the hospital during the week and would have supper at Fatima’s home and on weekends she would go home. 

Another of the houses on the property was rented to an Indian family who had a shop on the corner of Vineyard road, the Mohammads. This was the last house on the riverbank. The Mohammads had five daughters, Rashieda, Zubieda, Yasmeen, Tasneem and Shaakira. This was the family of Fatima’s close friend, Zubie Mohammad. 

Zubie’s mother’s family was from Athlone and had five siblings, four brothers and a sister Rabia. Two of her brothers, Enver, and Issie (Ishmael) back then, worked for JJ promotions, who held shows at the Kismet Bioscope in Athlone.  Another brother was the manager at Athlone Theatre, and this is how Zubie and Fatima would get free admission to the shows.  Fatima doesn’t think there was a show that they didn’t watch. One of the uncles wasn’t strict and allowed them to smoke cigarettes.

Zubie had family from Vryberg who came to stay with them while attending Trafalgar High. Zubie wanted to attend Trafalgar and Fatima wanted to join her, but Fatima attended an Afrikaans medium school which made entry into Trafalgar High difficult. The Moos family assisted with the application.  The wife of Abdullah Moos (Tareen Moos’ son), Fatima Jakoet Moos had attended Trafalgar. She took Fatima to Trafalgar and she was accepted. Fatima attended Trafalgar high until standard 8(current grade 10), back then very few finished Matric, the lucky few who did, became doctors. Fatima and Zubie lost contact when they were forcibly removed from Newlands. Zubie’s family moved to another part of Claremont and eventually to Rylands. The last time they saw each other was at Fatima’s mother’s funeral on 11 June 1997.

Fatima remembers her friends from Newlands, Galima Naaidoo, Umrah, Jurayda Moos, Moyce, Haakie, Aslam Abrahams and his sister Warda, most of whom went to Livingstone High.  Umrah lived with the eldest Moos son and his wife, Aunty Hada on the same property. Aslam Abrahams was a big Beatles fan.  Fatima has fond memories of going to say slamat on a labarang with Jurayda Moos. At age 13, they would leave the house wearing socks and then change to stockings, feeling like grownups but when they returned home at night, they had to take off those stockings. The Moos family was the only home, where they were treated like adults, being served at the table and they loved it.  

Fatima remembers Imam Ali Gierdien, he lived on the corner of Patterson and Main street and was living there already when they moved in. Fatima attended Claremont Main Road Mosque with her friend Umrah but only for big festivities such as Moulood, back then women didn’t go to the mosque as they do today.  

Fatima recalls being on the bus on the way to school passing Newlands swimming baths. She could see the people swimming from the bus, but it was for whites only, which was sad. The non-white swimming baths were behind the Civic centre, the building made from zinc. 

Salaama lived in lower Patterson Street for ten years until 1964, by which time, six of her seven children who were living with her had married and moved off on their own, only Fatima was still with her at age 14 years. In 1964, persons of colour were evicted from Newlands, and they were forced to move. Salaama did not want to move to the place the government designated, Bonteheuwel so they moved to Salaama’s brother for one year in Bo-Kaap while they looked for a place to stay. 

11 York Road, Lower Claremont: Fatima Behardien nee Sadan

In 1966, Salaama and her daughter Fatima moved in with Gabiba Cassiem nee Mustapha and her family at 11 York Street, lower Claremont. Salaama and Fatima lived with Gabiba for six years until 1972 when Fatima married Ebrahim Behardien.

When Fatima moved into York Road with Gabiba, she befriended Gabiba’s sister, Salega (Leggie) Mustapha who lived across the street with her parents at 12 York Road. She only had a few friends in lower Claremont, Leggie, Jainap (Whitey), Naziyah in York street and Second Avenue, Malam Maggot, Wietjie and Rhoda. Claremont aka Ardene gardens was the place they hung out together.

 At 16, Fatima left school and started her dressmaking training.  Fatima left school and went to learn dressmaking in Milnerton from a Jewish woman, Ruth Stern. Travelling to Milnerton was a challenge, Fatima had to travel from Claremont to Cape Town and then catch a bus to Milnerton. Fatima started by being a finisher, the Jewish lady would drape, and pin and Fatima would mark it off and tack after which the garment would go to the cutters. In Milnerton, Fatima met her friend, Nureen, whose Aunt Bahia was married to Tareen Moos’ son. 

Fatima’s next job was working in a bridal shop on Parliament street called Madame Margot. Travelling to Cape Town was easier, it was one straight journey from Claremont. Fatima met Nureen’s cousin, Fay, at Madame Margo. Fatima learnt a lot from both the dressmakers, Nureen, and Fay. Fay in later years became known for pining medoras for weddings. Fatima learnt to bead wedding dresses at Madame Margo where she worked for four years. Just before Fatima’s dad passed away, he went to live with her sister Koobie in First Avenue, Harfield. 

After Fatima got married, she decided to try a new career path and went to Maurice’s typing school to learn typing and shorthand. Fatima’s first job in an office was for a Greek woman at ‘Marie Hepel Business Brokers’ where she met all types of people. Fatima had her first child, Tasneem and soon after Nashreen. Shanaaz was born 4yrs after and her last child, Faheem was born 4.5yrs later. Soon thereafter, Fatima went back to dressmaking which she could do from home.