Manenberg residents gathered and prayed together as they paid tribute to community worker Mymoena Adams, 46, who died tragically in an accident last week.
Tears flowed in Tornado Park on Sunday as over 100 residents shared memories of the mother of five who ran a soup kitchen with her husband, Abdul-Karriem, 49, who was also injured in the collision with a cash-in-transit van.
Her heartbroken husband sat quietly in the park and listened as residents shared stories about the friendly woman who was known for making koeksisters each Sunday to raise funds for taxi fare so her children could attend university.
On Sunday Abdul-Karriem spoke for the first time since the horrific accident in which a Fidelity van allegedly jumped a red robot and crashed into his Hyundai Getz.
He said: “Mymoena was my high school sweetheart. We met at Phoenix High School and I was a couple of standards higher than her.
“We were married for 24 years and she was my partner for the matric ball. Every Sunday she made koeksisters to get taxi fare so our children can go to university and school.
“She was very passionate about education. We even survived the [1999] tornado together and only our roof was gone.”
Mymoena and Abdul-Karriem were high school sweethearts. Picture supplied
Abdul-Karriem, who ran the Brothers For Life Soup Kitchen with his wife, says he cannot remember much of the accident but knows that doctors kept the news of Mymoena’s death from him until he was stable.”
“They said there was something with my spleen. They only told me the next day, but I had a feeling. I told my friend to tell me the truth, but I had a feeling she was gone. The saddest part for me is not even being able to attend her janaazah.”
HORROR: The devastating crash scene. Picture: Leon Knipe
He says donors from Dubai heard about Mymoena’s tragic death and donated
R20 000 towards pots of food to be made and handed out in informal settlements to honour her memory.
“Every Wednesday when we got ready for the soup kitchen, she did all the preparations and never once complained. I attended the pickets and marches, but Mymoena was always an angel in the background.
“She did not like to be seen or even when I took pictures for the Facebook page, she always told me not to use pictures of her.”
After prayers, residents shared a meal in the park.
monique.duval@inl.co.za