Muhammad Baadi with the VOC staff at an outside broadcast in 2003VOC
“It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen Baadi. I took him as my own son and he called me his Maamu. I fell in love with this amazing street child since the day I saw him. Today I have no clue of his whereabouts. I miss him dearly and long to be reunited…” These were the heartfelt words of a teary eyed 77 year old pensioner from Heathfield as she sits gripping to her dress in search of 17 year old Abdul Baadi Dollie.
Longing to be reunited with the boy, Fariedah Lukie said she still remembers the boy’s face since taking him off the streets seven years ago. The elderly woman met Abdul Baadi in Woodstock in 2003 when he had been selling incense sticks door to door. She soon realised that he was the soul supporter for his family at the tender age of only ten years old.
“One day he came to my door and knocked. I asked him to sit down and we had a conversation. After speaking I thought to myself what an intelligent little boy he is, and felt quite sorry for him knowing that the only income was that of the incense sticks he was selling. I invited him to visit me again, and with the permission of his mother, he came to visit me and stayed with me throughout the school holidays,” she said. “Soon after enjoying the visits and sleep overs during the holidays, it was decided that he would move in with my husband and I. He had his own room and loved playing in it...I gave him everything a mother would want to give her child.”
Lukie said a radio programme was conducted on the little boy’s life at the time and various community members came forward to support him. “The Voice of the Cape invited him to speak about his life. Many people thought he was a brave child being the sole supporter of his family at a young age,” said Lukie. “The programme was a success and many people came to know about him. I was concerned about him as there are so many children on the streets like Baadi,” said the teary eyed care giver. “There are many more who need support and a loving touch from elder people.”
“The sad part about this little boy’s life was that he never really saw his father. There would be times at night, where he would come to sit next to me and say that he never knew what it is like to be part of a family until he moved in with us.” Lukie said although the boy lived a happy life with her, her husband at the time never accepted him, leaving her no choice but to hand over the boy to new foster parents a few months later. The boy later moved to Delft with Ruwaidah Dollie and her three sons.
Lukie said the last time she visited the boy at the Delft home, he was not happy. “He was very emotional and I could see he was not happy being in his new home. I took him out to get extra clothing on the same day and spent some time with him,” she said. “When I phoned him a few weeks later, I discovered that Ruwaidah had left the home due to her son’s extreme addiction on drugs. It had become uncontrollable for her and I learned that her sons would beat Baadi up when his grant money would be discussed.”
She said the boy had become used to the abuse over the years and feared it might have changed his personality. It’s been a very long time since I’ve spoken to him and people said that he had left Ruwaidah’s home and gone back to his mother in Blikkiesdorp,” said Lukie. “I have asked a couple of people to take me to the area to look for him, but no one seemed to help me. I need to go out to see if he is okay and that he is being fed.”
“There are a lot of disadvantaged people in the area and good children like Baadi living amongst them,” she said. “I want to take a few clothing and food items to the area and at the same time search for this boy.” She said that the last time she communicated with his mother was when he lived with her. His mother, Wedaad and stepfather Yaseen, were both on tik at the time.
"I make duah that he does not engage in that environment as well,” she said. “I only hope the best for him and I wish I could see him again to remind him about Allah swt. The things he did when he was younger made me believe that he was a very special child, and therefore I continuously make du’a that someone will take him to a better place Inshallah.”
Lukie said she knew him as a very loving and respectful child who always wanted to learn more. "He loved watching movies and one specific movie he liked was ‘Pearl Harbour’. He enjoyed as cream as well and just couldn’t get enough of it." She has many memories with the boy, many of which she will never forget. She urged the community to help her find the boy as soon as possible.
“It is difficult for me to go out to Blikkiesdorp at this age and especially knowing that I am on my own. I am sitting with a bag full of clothing and food to take to him. If anyone can tell me where he is then please come forward,” she said. “I long for this child who I have once cared for in my home. I treated him as my own son and he is still a son in my eyes. I truly miss him and still dearly love him.”
If you know of the whereabouts of Abdul Baadi Dollie or would like to help the concerned woman search for him, please contact Fariedah Lukie on 0217126711 or 0741823968. VOC (Aishah Cassiem)
Longing to be reunited with the boy, Fariedah Lukie said she still remembers the boy’s face since taking him off the streets seven years ago. The elderly woman met Abdul Baadi in Woodstock in 2003 when he had been selling incense sticks door to door. She soon realised that he was the soul supporter for his family at the tender age of only ten years old.
“One day he came to my door and knocked. I asked him to sit down and we had a conversation. After speaking I thought to myself what an intelligent little boy he is, and felt quite sorry for him knowing that the only income was that of the incense sticks he was selling. I invited him to visit me again, and with the permission of his mother, he came to visit me and stayed with me throughout the school holidays,” she said. “Soon after enjoying the visits and sleep overs during the holidays, it was decided that he would move in with my husband and I. He had his own room and loved playing in it...I gave him everything a mother would want to give her child.”
Lukie said a radio programme was conducted on the little boy’s life at the time and various community members came forward to support him. “The Voice of the Cape invited him to speak about his life. Many people thought he was a brave child being the sole supporter of his family at a young age,” said Lukie. “The programme was a success and many people came to know about him. I was concerned about him as there are so many children on the streets like Baadi,” said the teary eyed care giver. “There are many more who need support and a loving touch from elder people.”
“The sad part about this little boy’s life was that he never really saw his father. There would be times at night, where he would come to sit next to me and say that he never knew what it is like to be part of a family until he moved in with us.” Lukie said although the boy lived a happy life with her, her husband at the time never accepted him, leaving her no choice but to hand over the boy to new foster parents a few months later. The boy later moved to Delft with Ruwaidah Dollie and her three sons.
Hardships
“He stayed with Ruwaidah and her sons at the time and she received a grant for him. Unfortunately, things started going back to normal for Baadi, as the life he lived there was not easy for him anymore,” said Lukie. “There would be many days that he would miss out on school work at Rahmaniyah Primary because of no transport fees. I know that he loved the school very much and it was sad to hear that he was losing out on a great education.”Lukie said the last time she visited the boy at the Delft home, he was not happy. “He was very emotional and I could see he was not happy being in his new home. I took him out to get extra clothing on the same day and spent some time with him,” she said. “When I phoned him a few weeks later, I discovered that Ruwaidah had left the home due to her son’s extreme addiction on drugs. It had become uncontrollable for her and I learned that her sons would beat Baadi up when his grant money would be discussed.”
She said the boy had become used to the abuse over the years and feared it might have changed his personality. It’s been a very long time since I’ve spoken to him and people said that he had left Ruwaidah’s home and gone back to his mother in Blikkiesdorp,” said Lukie. “I have asked a couple of people to take me to the area to look for him, but no one seemed to help me. I need to go out to see if he is okay and that he is being fed.”
“There are a lot of disadvantaged people in the area and good children like Baadi living amongst them,” she said. “I want to take a few clothing and food items to the area and at the same time search for this boy.” She said that the last time she communicated with his mother was when he lived with her. His mother, Wedaad and stepfather Yaseen, were both on tik at the time.
"I make duah that he does not engage in that environment as well,” she said. “I only hope the best for him and I wish I could see him again to remind him about Allah swt. The things he did when he was younger made me believe that he was a very special child, and therefore I continuously make du’a that someone will take him to a better place Inshallah.”
Memories
“He asked me one day ‘Maamu if I plant dhanya, will I get rich?' I just sat there laughing looking in his angelic face,” said Lukie, thinking back. “I remember my husband calling me one night. Although he was not fond of Baadi, he insisted that I come quick. When I got to the room I just started bursting into tears as I watched Baadie making salaah on the bed.”Lukie said she knew him as a very loving and respectful child who always wanted to learn more. "He loved watching movies and one specific movie he liked was ‘Pearl Harbour’. He enjoyed as cream as well and just couldn’t get enough of it." She has many memories with the boy, many of which she will never forget. She urged the community to help her find the boy as soon as possible.
“It is difficult for me to go out to Blikkiesdorp at this age and especially knowing that I am on my own. I am sitting with a bag full of clothing and food to take to him. If anyone can tell me where he is then please come forward,” she said. “I long for this child who I have once cared for in my home. I treated him as my own son and he is still a son in my eyes. I truly miss him and still dearly love him.”
If you know of the whereabouts of Abdul Baadi Dollie or would like to help the concerned woman search for him, please contact Fariedah Lukie on 0217126711 or 0741823968. VOC (Aishah Cassiem)
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