Eldorado Park’s Mogamat Gabriel celebrates 93 years of life
Born in Fordsburg in 1933, Mogamat Sallie Benjamin Gabriel has witnessed Eldorado Park grow and change while building a life centred on family, faith, sport and community.
Eldorado Park senior citizen Mogamat Sallie Benjamin Gabriel celebrated his 93rd birthday with family and community members at the Green Masjid in Ext 2 on September 12.
Born in Fordsburg on September 10, 1933, Gabriel is one of Eldorado Park’s oldest residents, having moved to the area with his family from Vrededorp, also known as Fietas, shortly before the television era.
According to his daughter Suleila Montgomery, when the family moved to Eldorado Park there were no shopping centres or mosques.
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“There was no Freedom Park or Slovo Park – just wide open spaces and a high school that was at least 3km from us to walk to and another 3km back,” said Montgomery.
Gabriel witnessed the community’s growth, including the establishment of mosques in Ext 1 and Ext 2 and the little mosque opposite Pop Centre.
Local taxis were also not a common sight, except for Rose Taxis.
His 93 years have been marked by faith, family, independence, adventure, sport and music.
Gabriel married his beloved Juleigha Hassen, who was 19 when they married. They shared 57 years of marriage before her passing in 2016. Together they raised three children: Suleila, Zain and Rahima.
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While being a carpenter by profession, Gabriel was also a sportsperson, playing soccer, rugby, and judo and enjoying cycling and motorcycling. He loved music and used to play the accordion, harmonica, and saxophone.
However, his favourite sport is fishing.
Throughout Gabriel’s life, faith has been an important part. Gabriel studied at the Naseria Moslem School in Vrededorp and has been part of Dhikr Jamaahs since his childhood days. At the age of 93, Gabriel is still very active with Mughibi Dhikr Jamaah.
Montgomery described Gabriel as highly independent and full of tales, stating that his life resembles that of an older Johannesburg.
Gabriel celebrated his 93rd birthday amid memories of a lifetime filled with Deen, family, and adventures.
