Local residents in the Laudium/Erasmia area and even beyond, are still reeling in shock after police arrested Taahir Bhoola and charged him for the murder of his father, Younosbhai Bhoola of Cuprene Str, Laudium.
Taahir was arrested, before his father Younosbhai was buried. 79 year old Younos (whose wife is late) lived with his son Taahir and his family. However, it is believed that Taahir’s wife had left the home a week before the death of his father, apparently due to some domestic problem. Younos (brother of Mufti AK Bhoola), is believed to have died on Sunday evening (Sept, 14).
PLEADING FOR HELP
However, the death of Younosbhai was only reported the next day. It was later on Monday morning (Sept 15), when Taahir Bhoola apparently in a panic mode, rushed to his neighbours, Fareed Cassim and Rajen Padayachy of Cuprene Str, apparently pleading for help, stating that his father was lying in bed unconscious. The two neighbors immediately ran to the Bhoola residence, only to be met with a chilling scene—Younosbhai lying motionless on his bed, eyes shut, showing no signs of breathing. It was after that, when family members and later the local CMB burial committee were notified. After the formality of paperwork, etc, was done by the CMB, they then subsequently transported the body of Younosbhai from the Cuprene Str home, to the burial centre in Erasmia, where family members including Taahir, performed the ghusal (bathing). Meanwhile, the time of funeral was posted on social media platforms, including the Laudium Sun’s platforms, announcing 6:45pm on the same Monday evening, for burial at the Laudium Cemetery.
However, while members of the community were making their way to the cemetery, a second announcement was made on the various social media platforms, that the funeral time had been postponed to 9pm, for the same night (Monday). Thinking that the funeral time was changed as perhaps there was a delay in close family members from outside towns arriving, members of the community did not think much about the change of time. But when 9pm passed and there was still no hearse at the cemetery, enquiries were made. It was then discovered that the cancellation of the funeral on Monday, was caused by members of the ghusal team & close family members, who raised the alarm that something was amiss. According to a member of the burial team, it was discovered during the ghusal, that the body of the late Younosbhai had various open wounds, as if he had been badly beaten. After much consultation with family members and the burial committee, it was then that police were called in on Monday night and the body of Younosbhai was taken to the government morgue at around 10pm, for a post mortem, which was done early on Tuesday morning.
HUMBLE & KIND
Younos, who was known by many as a humble & peaceful person, was always seen wearing a white khurta & turban and walking with a stick (as a sunnah). Younus, who was often seen at funerals, greeting and smiling with all he met, was thus only buried on Tuesday (Sept 16) at 4pm. His funeral was previously supposed to have left from his sister’s house on Lotus Str, but finally left directly from the burial centre. According to a family friend, Taahir who had been ‘problematic,’ for some time, was arrested by police after acting ‘strangely’ when questioned.
RESPONSE
Goolam Jalalpor, of Salmon Str, Laudium who was a close friend of the late Younosbhai, shared his shock and disbelief with the Laudium Sun, “I have known Younos for many years. In fact on the very Sunday, (Sept 14), he came to my home in the morning at around 10am and as always sat in his usual chair. He stayed with me until around 4pm that afternoon. We had been in daily contact for years and he seemed perfectly normal that day. He even told me that on Monday morning he planned to attend the TMS Institute and then do some household chores. But that Monday morning, for the first time ever, there was no proverb or saying from him on my phone. Instead, I received the devastating news of his death.”
Goolam said the shock was overwhelming, not only for him, but for his family, who had also spoken to Younosbhai the day before. “When I saw the funeral notice, I was taken aback. First the funeral was set for 6:45pm, then it changed to 9pm. That’s when I began to suspect something was not right. Later I heard whispers that he had been murdered — allegedly. But during the ghusl (the ritual washing), I was told he had a bandage on his hand, which was simply not true. Ten of us were present and everyone can confirm that there was no such bandage on his hand on the Sunday. He was in good health, there was nothing unusual about him at all.”
Goolam added, “The friendship between the Jalalpor and Bhoola families dates back decades, to the days of Lady Selborne. Our families were very close. We even went on holidays together. My late father, Muhammad Jalalpor, used to help solve community problems and through him our ties with the Bhoola family became very strong. That’s why Younos’s death, under such mysterious circumstances, has left us so shaken. Younos was a man devoted to his family. For over 34 years, he worked in Mahikeng as a hardware manager, sending money home faithfully every month, to support his children and his unmarried sisters. He was 79 and he told me he would turn 80 next April. He didn’t smoke, he didn’t swear, he didn’t fight, he was a man of prayer. Whoever killed him must not go free, no matter how clever their lawyer may be. Because if one man can be taken like this, who will be next? We are seeing too many mysterious deaths in Laudium.”
NEIGHBOURS
Fareed Cassim of Cuprene Street, a neighbor of the late Younosbhai Bhoola, told the Laudium Sun, “It was a normal Monday morning, (Sept 15). I was having my coffee when suddenly my neighbour, Taahir Bhoola, son of the late Younosbhai, came rushing to me in a panic. He asked me to come quickly, saying his father was unresponsive and lying in bed. Without hesitation, I went with my wife to their home. When we entered Younosbhai’s room, I saw him lying still in his bed. Sadly, it was clear that he was no longer with us. This was a very sad moment for all of us. We don’t know why or how he died. The matter is now with the police and we can only hope that justice will be served.”
Rajen Padayachy of Cuprene Street, another neighbour of Younosbhai, told the Laudium Sun, “I was called by his son Taahir to come quickly, so I rushed to check on Younos. When I arrived, we found him lying in bed, seemingly unconscious. Later, we learned that he had been declared dead. It was a truly sad moment for all of us. Younosbhai was a genuinely good man. May his soul rest in peace.”
was a genuinely good man.
Taahir Bhoola, who was arrested on Monday evening, appeared in the Atteridgeville Court yesterday (Thursday, Sept 18) on the charge of murder. The case was postponed until next Thursday for a possible bail hearing and the appointment of a lawyer through Legal Aid, as he was not represented.
The Laudium Sun reporters did not spot any family members in court, when Taahir appeared.