The Boeta Whitey Interview

When Koe’sister decided to feature Boeta Whitey Stellenboom , it seemed like a no-brainer to ask his son Fahiem to do the interview.

We’ve come to know and love Boeta Whitey via the Food Fairies (Koe’sister Magazine)* group on Facebook because Fahiem regularly shares the latest news and food stories about his family. His dad features prominently – and we’re here for it! The love between father and son is clear and it is beautiful to witness. It has endeared him to young and old, and built a very loyal fan base for the handsome silver-bearded senior.

* Scroll to the bottom of this page to “About Koe'sister” to find out about the synergy between this group and Koe’sister.

This is what Fahiem shared about his dad: “My father is one of the most beautiful souls I know. Kind, caring, judgement-free and deeply rooted in his relationship with the Almighty. His energy or spirit is clear. He was a doting husband to my mom and a father to us, his family. 

“I am immensely proud to be able to say that my father is a truly, deeply good man and an exemplary human being. This is evident in how well-liked and respected he is by so many people. My siblings and I are privileged and thankful to the Almighty that we are able to share special moments with him. He teaches me how to live and continues to inspire me every day,” he said.

From left: Iftar with Aunty Mina from the spicy chicken-and-corn soup fame and mother of Fayruza Abrahams (right); with Anita Engel, Tyrone Parks, Sandra Prinsloo, Zain Semaar and Fahiem at the Baxter Theatre for Die Moeder; on Signal Hill with tourists. A mom and her two daughters were on holiday in Cape Town for a dance competition. They were only too happy to pose for a photo with Boeta Whitey.

Fahiem Stellenboom: Salaam daddy. 

Ebrahim Stellenboom: Wa alaykum salaam, my buddy (my dad’s pet reference to me).

FS: First things first. You’re 85 years old, with boundless energy, a healthy sense of humour, free of any judgment, game for anything and you’ve become a social media sensation. How do you do it? 

ES: Alhamdulilah (praise be to God), I am grateful that I have my health, my faith 

and my family. I had a beautiful marriage to my wife, until she passed away last year in March. My three children, Fahiem, Waseemah and Uzair, our laatlammetjie blessing, take good care of me, in different ways. Fahiem is responsible for my social calendar and Facebook (laughs). Plus my birthday is on the last day of the year, so it’s always a double party.

I wake up every morning at around 3 'o clock and I make my tahajjud prayers. I pray for my whole family and friends (alive and those who are gone) and call them all by their names. 

I also make my salaah five times a day to say Shukran (thank you), to Allah, for all my blessings.

On weekends the family spends time together, we always have Sunday lunch together. I’m very grateful to Allah for that. Alhamdulilah.

Of course, I also have a busy social life (laughs), and I enjoy it, I like the different things that we do. When my beloved late wife, Jessie, was still with us, she would also enjoy going out. Even in the wheelchair! (chuckles). I miss her very much. She loved going to theatre and to shows. 

I like people and children. Jessie and I knew lots of people and we had many friends. When we were young we used to play cards, dominoes, darts, go camping and have a lot of fun. You know, being around people who make duah for me and I do the same for them, is very important. I can’t help myself when I high five the babies and the young ones in the shopping centre, they are oulik, they play along and their faces light up and they can nogal high five. (chuckles). Their reaction is wonderful and rewarding. 
 
 

FS: How did it all begin for you? Born and grew up in BoKaap, you also spent much of your formative years in District Six, when your family later moved to Bloemhof Flats. Which of the two areas hold your heart the most?
 
 ES: I like going back to BoKaap. It’s a nice and exciting place today, with all the halaal restaurants, tourists and activities. There’s a really nice buzz there these days.

Yes, I was born in what was called ‘the kraal’, on the corner of Longmarket and Chiappini Streets. We lived right behind the Boorhaanol Islam Mosque, the green one, it’s the third oldest mosque in Bo-kaap. It was there when I was born and spent much of my childhood and the mosque is still there today, well maintained and in a good condition, Alhamdulilah.

My memories of growing up here in BoKaap, are clearer because many of the houses and places, like my school (Prestwhich Primary School), where my uncle lived in Rose Street and so forth, they are still there. I have beautiful and lasting memories of BoKaap and, District Six will always be in my heart and I also have wonderful memories of earlier life with our family there. But it has been demolished. That, for me, is really sad.

It’s sad that we were removed from both areas. It really spoilt everything for the people and the community. Whenever you turn into Loader Street, in De Waterkant, I show you the house on the corner, where my sister Jawaahier lived and was removed from because of Apartheid. The little mosque (Burul Mogammadiah Masjied), is also still there. My friends lived in Jarvis Street and we used to play outside in the streets. 

A young Boeta Whitey with his children.

FS: You were the eldest son of nine children, the fifth child with four older sisters, three younger brothers and a younger sister. That’s a big family. What was it like growing up in such a large family?

ES: Yes, we were a big family. Alhamdulilah, I still have one younger brother and a baby sister who are with us.  

My sisters (in order of oldest), Ayra, Jawaahier, Galiema, Fatiema and Mariam and my brothers, Gakkie, Iela and Mitchie. 

My father Achmat, died when he was very young, my mother Motjie Beira was only 36 years old. As the eldest son I had to leave school in Standard 3 and become the breadwinner for the family. While at school I sold newspapers, The Cape Times and The Argus and exchanged bottles for cash. My mother used to do ironing and odd jobs, so did my sisters. We were poor but very happy.

I worked at a shoe shop and later, ended up in import and export, where I stayed ’til I retired. I really enjoyed working in shipping. First as a messenger but I quickly worked my way up to become a shipping clerk and gave my clients the best service that I could. I used to know everything about the harbour, walking from one place to another. It’s different now and hardly recognisable. The days when the big passenger liners used to dock or depart from. I was in shipping until I retired in my 60s, missed it, went back, climbing 100 stairs everyday, because the building didn’t have a lift. I finally retired when I was 70. My late wife, Jessie, also retired at the same time.

FS: Tell us about your father and your mother? 

ES: My Dad, Achmat, was quiet and strict but very loving. My mom, Motjie Beira as she was called, made the best food, baked the best Labarang (Eid) biscuits and made the best koe’sisters. She would dry out the naartjie peels in the oven warmer. For me, a good koe’sister must be dark and syrupy. 

My dad used to ride the cabs in those days, a horse and cart, that took the tourists for rides around the city and BoKaap. My mom passed away (may Allah grant her Jannatul Firdous), at 92 years old. So we seem to live long, Alhamdulilah (chuckles). She used to do ironing for people just to make sure there’s food on the table. 

FS: How did you meet Mommy? How old were you when you got married and set up home in District Six? 

ES: I was 27 when I met your mother, Yasmiena (Jessie) Stellenboom née  Eksteen. She lived in Frere Street, District Six, in a semi-detached house with her Father’s sisters and family. Uncle Toeksie (brother-in-law) who was dating Aunty Farida (Jessie’s older sister) at the time, invited me with him to meet your mother. She wasn’t very convinced at first, but she warmed up and we were together for nearly 60 years, Alhamdulilah. 

One day I went to visit her on a white horse, on a Sunday morning, and while everybody loved it and thought it was so romantic, she was not impressed. She was a tough cookie. (laughs heartily). 

From left: On his wedding day with his bride Yasmiena (Jessie) Stellenboom née  Eksteen; the wedding party.

FS: How did you get the name Boeta Whitey? 

ES: I was known by many names, but my correct name is Ebrahim, not many people know that. After the Prophet Abraham. When I was in shipping, it was Abe or Abraham and to the extended family it’s Amie and Abaa to my grandchildren, some friends called me Pang.

Whitey came about because I was very fair and slim when I was in my early twenties. We all had pet names in those early days. I was also sporty and played rugby for Hamadias. 

Boeta Whitey over the years (click to expand).

FS: Against all odds, you thrived, succeeded and remained grounded and true to yourself. You bought property in Old Belhar and built a home for your family, escaping the decay of District Six? 

ES: Yes, District Six was already like a ghost town – we lived in Francis Street at the bottom of Russell Street. I like it when you drive past our old house in District Six, but it is really so sad to see how heavily barred all the houses are now, to keep the people who live there, safe.

Belhar was a good option for us at the time. We made many friends and there was a wonderful community. 

FS: Your signature penny polony smoortjie is legendary and you are fondly referred to as the penny polony smoortjie king. Your recipe has been published in the coffee table cookbook The Lockdown Recipe Storytelling Book, has been demonstrated on television and you have received great praise from celebrity chef, Ruben Riffel. Tell us how this came about?

ES: I grew up with them, when we used to buy on a Wednesday from Abbasies, at the top of Hanover Street. We used to call them Oulap, or Olap worsies, which meant it cost a penny or one cent. It was cheap dite for us. We had it with atchar in the middle. 

Over the years our family celebrated a lot, whether it’s a birthday, anniversary or even Father’s and Mother’s Day, with brunch, usually at 10 or 11am. 

Everybody made or bought something, from cheeses, cold meats, scrambled eggs, cocktail sausages, chicken strips or nuggets, mushrooms, egg mayonnaise, a mussels or oyster dip, along with a tuna, onion, tomato and mayonnaise spread, good, old-fashioned sardines and your special snoek paté, and freshly baked breads and croissants.

My contribution was always the penny polony – or oulap worsie – smoortjie. It is always very popular with the whole family. And it grew from there on. I still make it today for family. 

From left: with Fahiem during a walk on Muizenberg beach, with fellow Food Fairy (and previous Koe'sister magazine cover personality) Aunty Ivy Kinnear; on his 86th birthday in December 2022.

FS: Please share the recipe and some advice for the perfect smoortjie?

ES: The quality of the worsie in very important. The trick is to use a really nice penny polony and just the right sweet flavouring – it should be on the sweet side, but not overly so. It is best to add sugar slowly until you’re happy with the taste. It must be made with love and mustn’t be rushed. 

I really enjoy how we have tried the pennies from a whole lot of butchers in Cape Town already. But I have my two favourites.

Make Boeta Whitey’s penny polony/oulap worsie smoortjie  by following his recipe.

Tahajjud prayer: Also known as the “night prayer”, is a voluntary prayer and is not one of the five obligatory prayers required of Muslims. It is believed that whosoever performs the prayer regularly, comes closer to Allah, and his or her life is filled with sunshine and peace.”

Make salaah: to pray.

Make duah: to make a request, invocation or supplication to Allah.

Shifaa: cure or remedy.

Jannatul Firdous: the highest level of heaven.

Smoortjie: a kind of relish made with sautéed/braised onions and tomatoes to create a thick tomato sauce with secondary ingredients like chilli, garlic, peppers and sugar to suit respective tastes. It is versatile and a great accompaniment to viennas, fish, chicken or Mac and Cheese. This was once a meal associated with people on a tight budget so this Cape Town favourite meant that it cost a penny or one cent and so called penny polony smoortjie.

Find Boeta Whitey’s penny polony/oulap worsie smoortjie  recipe here.