The Western Province Cricket Association has paid tribute to legendary ice-cream seller Moegamat ‘Boeta’ Cassiem who sadly passed away on Thursday after a long illness. Photo: Backpagepix
RIP | Boeta Cassiem: Newlands’ legendary ice-cream seller dies
It’s a sad day for sporting fans not only in the Western Cape but around the country at the news that legendary Newlands ice-cream seller Mogamat “Boeta” Cassiem has died.
The Western Province Cricket Association has paid tribute to legendary ice-cream seller Moegamat ‘Boeta’ Cassiem who sadly passed away on Thursday after a long illness. Photo: Backpagepix
It’s a sad day for sporting fans not only in the Western Cape but around the country at the news that legendary Newlands ice-cream seller Mogamat “Boeta” Cassiem has died.
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Cassiem sold ice-cream at Cape Town’s world-famous rugby and cricket stadiums in Newlands for the last 55 years.
In May of this year he was honoured for his years of service at the Newlands grounds.
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Cassiem, who had been diagnosed with end-stage kidney and renal failure, said at the time that he was excited about being honoured.
Tribute messages poured in and there were touching speeches from ex-players as well as a private lunch for his family arranged by the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA).
Those in attendance included JP Duminy, Ashwell Prince and Eric Simons.
Boeta Cassiem was presented with a plaque from WP Cricket which will go up on the famous Oaks grass embankment to commemorate him for generations to come.
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The charismatic entrepreneur says his hearty greetings – including “sucker to make you wakker” and “lolly to keep you jolly” as well as “keep the change” – are what has kept his business going over the years.
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Boeta Cassiem had experienced a tough last 12 months.
He lost his earnings due to the cancellation of live sporting events thanks for the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last year the general public helped raise money for his cataract operation.
Boeta Cassiem’s son Mogammad Cassiem confirmed his father’s death on CapeTalk on Thursday morning.
“It was sad to see my dad go. Everyone in Cape Town loved his jolly and happy vibe. It was heartsore to see my father just lying there. I feel more at ease that my father is not in pain,” Mogammad Cassiem said.
“When he had his eye operation and we saw the amount of support for him from the Capetonians and internationally, and it made us realise how precious my father was to Cape Town… It was amazing to see how many people’s lives he touched.
“Even though my father was sick, he spoke about the Cape Town Sevens coming up in December and he was looking forward to that. But that was my father, his heart belongs on the field because that was what he was part of.”
