Oupa ’forced out of his home’
‘HUSTLED’: Oupa Ebrahim Kouter, 78
The Athlone community is outraged at a local couple who they say hustled an elderly man out of his house and forced the oupa to live in an old age home.
Residents have started the #BringBoetaBackHome campaign for Ebrahim Kouter, aka Boeta, who is now living at the Beaconvale Frail Care Centre.
The 78-year-old had been living in his council house in 8th Avenue, Hazendal, for 40 years.
It is alleged that couple Shaakier and Zaheerah Ceaser moved in with him, then admitted him to the mental ward at Groote Schuur Hospital where he was kept for two months.
When he was discharged, they had him admitted to the frail care centre, says his niece Rugaya Williams.
“I lived with Boeta in that house since I was 13 and when I got married, we built a separate entrance which I stayed in until it burned down in March 2018, then I moved out to Hanover Park,” she says.
“While the house was being fixed by the council, the Ceasers moved in with Boeta after they were evicted from their house in 4th Avenue.”
Rugaya moved back after her place was fixed, but says she only stayed for two months as the Ceasers repeatedly accused her of abusing and stealing from Boeta.
“They kept saying that I was abusing Boeta and taking stuff from him ...” she says.
“I even spent a weekend in Philippi’s jail cells and I was in court ... but nothing ever happened from it because I was innocent.
Then they sent Boeta to Groote Schuur to the mental ward and then to the centre in Beacon Valley.
“Boeta treats me and my children like his own and he just wants to come back home with us.”
Via a voice recording sent to the Daily Voice, Boeta said that he does not want the Ceasers to live in his house any longer and wants to come back home.
The #BringBoetaBackHome social media campaign was started by neighbours and friends, headed by Athlone Community Police Forum chairperson Aziza Kannemeyer.
Aziza says they are trying to get government officials to help Boeta and they regularly visit the oupa at the centre “and he is always tearful when he speaks about his desire to return home”.
The Daily Voice went to the house, but the couple was not there.
Several calls to the numbers provided went unanswered.