‘Moot legend’ remembered
The original owner of Oppiplaas restaurant died of natural causes.
Moot residents are mourning the death of a well-known face and owner of a restaurant in the area.
Daniël Richards (54), the original owner of Oppiplaas restaurant, died on 29 January of natural causes.
He was popularly known as Danie.
His funeral service was held last Wednesday, at the Dutch Reformed Church Villieria in 24th Avenue.
He was thereafter laid to rest at the Zandfontein cemetery.
“Our family and staff from Oppiplaas attended the service,” said his daughter, Melanie (24).
She said there were several elements that stood out for her during the service.
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“At the service, so many more people showed up than we originally thought would,” she said.
“We estimated that about 100 people attended the service.”
She said about 10 people flew in from Cape Town to attend the service.
Melanie said what also stood out to her were the Oppiplaas staff members who sang at the gravesite.
“They sang so beautifully. It really had a huge impact on our family,” she said.
She thanked Oppiplaas for the refreshments provided for the service.
“They put so much effort into the day,” she said.
Melanie described her father as a loving person.
“He was the type of man who, if he saw someone in need, would go out of his way to help,” she said.
“My dad was a foundation for so many people. He was the heart of his family.”
She said her father had three children, herself, Etienne (20) and Juné (19).
“He always found a way to bring people together,” she said.
“Danie was also a ‘team player’,” Melanie said.
“He was part of the rugby team during his high school days at Hoërskool Oos-Moot,” she said.
“My dad was also recently, part of the winning bowling team. He was a friend of the Moot and a legend to many,” she said.
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“Most people who knew my father were through Oppiplaas restaurant. He was the original owner and also the ‘face of the brand’.
“He cared so much about the people of the Moot. He went out of his way for his clients and friends.”
Melanie said: “The Oppiplaas slogan is: ‘Where guests become friends’. My father certainly stood by it. Everyone felt like my dad’s friend when they were with him.”
Several residents of the Moot were hit hard by Danie’s death.
“If there was a crisis, you could always push on Danie’s button,” resident Ilze Croukamp said.
“I know of a case where he went to buy a boy a brand new mattress that the child did not have. He also gave food to the underprivileged.”
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