HIGH MORTALITY RATE AMONGST COLOURED PEOPLE

THE ESTABLISHMENT AND CONSOLIDATION OF ISLAM AT THE CAPE FROM THE EARLY 18 TH CENTURY TILL THE EARLY 20 TH

1.3 SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION

1.3.1 FIRST WORLD WAR'S IMPACT ON ECONOMY

1.3.2.1 HIGH MORTALITY RATE AMONGST COLOURED PEOPLE

The epidemic attacked all sections of communities in Cape Town, though the Africans and coloureds were the greatest sufferers. Ijajj (male who had performed pilgrimage) Samdon Gamieldien recorded in a diary the number of Muslims who died during the epidemic (see Annexure 1).

According to Maria, a herb dealer on the Grand Parade, in the 25 years during which she had been selling herbs,the demand was almost equal to that during the 1918 epidemic when the death rate in Cape Town reached 600 aday." This could be attributed to the poor socio-economic conditions of the oppressed, which will be discussed later.

photo:Cape Standard

Maria, the well-known herb seller on the Grand Parade. She sold many herbs

during the 1918 Spanish Epidemic.

Hundreds of sufferers, including Muslims, were found lying on beaches, and on pieces of waste ground in various parts of the city. These patients were transferred by Municipal Ambulances to Rentzski's Farm, which was converted into a temporary isolation camp. A nurse who went to a house discovered not fewer than four dead and the rest of the occupants ill. At one stage, there were 300 hundred dead all over the Cape and the mortuary had to close because it could not cope with the preparation of cadavers. A notice appeared in the daily newspapers instructing people where the deceased had to be taken. Woodstock beach was one of the known areas for the reception of bodies and where preparations and arrangements were made for burial

ceremonies,"

In District Six, Councillor DrAbdurahman knew of many cases where people had been lying fordays unattended and even without milk or water to drink, as well as many dead bodies which were lying for hours on the pavements, uncovered. This

was visible from all parts of the city. Doctors were paid seven pounds a day to treat people in their respective areas; in addition,part-time doctors were appointed at a rate of three pounds aday, attending to those who could not pay medical fees.⁵²

The researcher interviewed the following elderly people concerning the Spanish Epidemic. Mrs Kulsoem (Kulthum) Arendse who lived in District Six, Cape Town, before she was forced to move toSurrey Estate,as a result of the Group Areas Act, said:

"I was very fortunate not to have been infected with the influenza.

However, 1can recollect how

my

family was given milk every day. At

number

13

Stone Street; where 1 lived, was a fountain . 1 remember

running up and down to the fountain, and wetting a cloth for the

purpose of cooling off

my

relatives and friends who had high

temperatures. Our Christian neighbours who died were carted to

Maitland cemetery and buried in trenches, whereas Muslims who died

had aproper Islamic burial, such as performing ghusl (bath) and $alah

(prayer), before the burial.

^"53

Ptloto: M.IJ. EbraJ.tIm

Mrs Kulsoem Arendse who had the opportunity of assisting those who were affectedbythe 1918

Spanish Influenza

Mrs Zanab (Zaynab) Jensen, better known in the Cape as

Hajjah

Zanab Kiyam, daughter of the lateImsm Kiamdien (Kiyam aI-DIn) DuToit, originally of Paarl, had this to say:

"Iwas eleven years old at the time of the epidemic. My brother, Salie ($alihJ,

and Iwere never infected by the disease, hence we were in a position to assist

the rest of the family who were ill A one-horse cart; known as the "Scotch

cart", delivered soup to our doorstep from the City Council. However, we did

not eat the soup as it was prepared

by

Christians. We virtually survived on

lemons, which were scarce at that time, and we also drank large quantities of

water. Only a few Muslims who died in Paarl were buried in the Muslim

cemetery, whereas, the Christians, according to information

my

family received,

were taken away and buried in trenches".

54

Mr Ismail (Isma'll) Jensen, husband of Hsjjah Zanab, who was reared in Loader Street, central Cape Town, continued with the topic of the epidemic, where his wife left off:

"I agree with my wife that lemons comforted us to a large extent as we could not eat soup that was prepared by Christians. People who handled the two- horse coal cart used to trequent the area, enquiring whether there were any deceased. Despite, the large amount of Muslims who died in central town, we never declared the deceased to the relevant authorities. They were shrouded, washed, prayed upon and thereafter immediately buried by our Imams. In reality many people were unable to give their loved ones a decent burial, as there was ashortage ofcoffins".

ss

Aminah Jappie, better known as Auntie Minnie, who taught at

Shaykh

Joseph (Yusuf) Primary School in District Six for many years, was seven years old during the time of the epidemic, said:

"My brother, Aclzmat (Abmad), died during the period ofthe epidemic.

But;

the

most frightening experience for me as a child, was the darkness and stillness of

the night while being among the many infected with influenza and the

deceased, and also, listening to the footsteps ofhorses and the sound of wagon

wheels on the cobblestones of District Six, collecting the deceased. When

darkness appeared, itseemed as ifthe world stood still. It is an experience that I

will never forget".

56

photo:M.H.Ebrahim

Mr&Mrs LJensen

photo: M.H. Ebrahim

MrsAminah Jappie

As

the epidemic subsided during November 1918, the authorities gradually took stock of the enormous outbreak that occurred, and considered how best to handle the urgent problem, and the results left behind in its wake. The most urgent of all matters was the question of caring for the widows and orphans that the epidemic had created.

As

for toddlers whose parents were sick or had died, four creches were established under the protection of the Child Life Protection Society, which eventually cared for approximately 600 to 700 children. Many whites were cared for by their relatives, as these institutions were not able tocope with all the children."