As one door closes, another opens

IT WAS Father's Day a few years ago when former US president Barack Obama wrote about every father's most fundamental duty in life. Show your children, by example, the kind of people you want them to become.

This brought to mind two people you should all be familiar with by now. One was my late friend, author and reconteur Aziz Hassim, my kindred spirit and clearly one of the most unforgettable and inspirational characters in my career. If truth be told, when I first bumped into him in Durban's old Casbah some decades ago, I had no inkling he had an interest in writing. He was just a regular guy who'd come up life the hard way, first selling newspapers at street corners, filling several lowly paid jobs before working as an accountant.

What endeared him to me was his love affair with the iconic Casbah complex - its sights, its smells, the irresistible charms of this bustling grid of noisey streets and arcades. As many of you may recall, he went on to epitomise his love for the Casbah through his three highly successful books, notably his debut novel, The Lotus People, and later, Revenge of Kali and The Agony of Valliamma.

Aziz was a recognised man of words, not only through his books but because he was such a talented story-teller. Some of my most treasured memories are of those long, unwinding lunches at the Britannia where a group of writers and journalists would meet regularly to wine irresponsibly, dine decadently and talk indeterminately until we'd resolved all the problems of the world, and sometimes beyond.

A man of simple means and tastes, he was at ease in the company of high flying business tycoons, prominent Struggle politicians as well as some of the city's most notorious gangsters of the day. He was an everyday leader - a leader for all seasons.

His death in 2013 left a huge void in my life. But as the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens. So, instead of looking long and regretfully on the closed door, let's be proud and thankful for the ones that open for us. And that door of inspiration has come through none other than Aziz's daughter, Adila Hassim, now a renowned lawyer who represented South Africa so proudly in the Gaza genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), delivering a scathing indictment of Israel's actions in the besieged city.

At one stage during the May 2024 ICJ hearing, Hassim grew visibly emotional in court, tearing up as she recounted the deaths of thousands of children and the suffering of Palestinian civilians. She is now gaining prominence for her astute leadership as evidence leader in the proceedings of the Madlanga Commission where commentators have singled her out among those who "bring gravitas and intellectual chops" into this widely-covered inquiry into police corruption.

I can almost sense the proud smile on Aziz's face as he watches the hearings from his TV lounge up in the sky. Punching his fist into the air, he would be screaming out: "You go, girl."

Please, Sir, can I have some more?

In homes across the country, parents are struggling to cut down on costs to keep the home fires burning. I can just imagine mom setting up new rules at home: "No more fancy desserts for dinner, just Marie biscuits and black tea."

Dad: "I'm sorry but I'm forced to cut everyone's allowances by 50%."

Son: "That's not fair. First it was Diwali crackers, now its allowances. What's next?"

Daughter: "And I suppose I'll be looking like Plain Jane for my matric dance next week?" 

Everyone's feeling the pinch, but if we're complaining about sky-rocketing costs in our households, spare a thought for our domestic workers, most of whom continue to earn much lower than the minimum wage, leaving them unable to put basic food on the table for their families. Their problems are compounded by their inability to save for the future, general job insecurity and limited access to benefits like medical aid. Whatever your standing in life, the price of bread does not change. 

Last stop

With the Madlanga Commission running at full throttle, politicians now realise it's no longer a matter of what or who you know. It's safer to deny you know anyone at all. So, for the record, I wish to state unequivocally that I have never officially met a man going by the name of Cyril Ramaphosa. Any claim that the said Mr Ramaphosa had ever bumped into me while walking past my Overport home in Durban may render him liable to possible charges of trespassing.

Dennis Pather is a retired newspaper editor, author and columnist. Email him at [email protected]

From newsroom gofer to award-winning editor, join South African media legend Dennis Pather on a fascinating trip down memory lane in his captivating memoir, Copy Boy. This heart-warming journey takes you inside the newsroom, filled with laughter, hard-earned wisdom, and the power of family. As a special offer, readers of POST can now get a copy of Copy Boy, for just R100. WhatsApp 078 593 0585 for delivery details o 083 452 2831 for direct collection.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. 

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