Fatima Bhyat (Areff) is noted for being one of the first residents of Rustenburg,

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

, settling in 1877. In addition, she is noted for being one of the eldest residents, featured in the local newspaper the ''Rustenburg Herout

at age 100 and died in August 1971 aged 112. At 95 years old, Mrs. Bhayat added her voice against the Group Areas Act of 1950, which proposed to move all Indians out of town. Church Street in Rustenburg was renamed to Fatima Bhayat Stree

in honour of her and the local Indian population in Rustenbug in 1999.

Relationship with Paul Kruger

Fatima Bhyat and husband Suliman always welcomed

Paul Kruger Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger (; 10 October 1825 – 14 July 1904) was a South African politician. He was one of the dominant political and military figures in 19th-century South Africa, and President of the South African Republic (or ...

to their home for meals when he visited Rustenburg. They supported him during the Anglo Boer War by supplying him from their store, and as a token of his appreciation,

rewarded the Bhyat's for their support in gold. Fatima was one of a few women recognised as part of the "South African Indians who's who"

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhayat, Fatima Indian emigrants to South Africa People from Rustenburg South African centenarians Women centenarians