Robbers strangle victim (78)
2008-11-13
Lise Beyers
LOCAL residents are reeling with shock this week, after the senseless murder of a well-known business icon of the area. The body of Frederick Abrahams (78) was discovered in his Klein Drakenstein Road home by his son, Adré, on Monday morning, barely a week after he had been attacked in his home during an armed robbery. The elderly businessman had been tied up and strangled, before the perpetrators escaped with a large sum of cash from a safe. There was no sign of a forced entrance into the house. Neighbours had seen Abrahams on Saturday installing more burglar guards after the attack on him a week previously. During that robbery, he was also tied up, but the armed robbers left him unscathed, escaping with R10 000 in cash, his cellphone and his Toyota Yaris. The vehicle was later found deserted in Mbekweni. A gardener who had allegedly been living in a room behind Abrahams’s home, could not be traced on Monday morning. Members of the well-known Abrahams family include the previous Drakenstein deputy mayor, Anthea Abrahams, and local forensic pathologist, Dr Deidré Abrahams. The shocked clan converged upon their father’s home on Monday morning, struggling to come to terms with the senseless murder. Abrahams had been a successful businessman and property developer in the area for the past sixty years. As a young man he started to work at a general dealer in Pine Street, Wellington, and soon he took over the reigns of this business, which he converted into the first walk-in general dealer in the area. He expanded to Paarl East, where he started Abrahams Superette (where Essops now stands), which was the first self-service grocery store in Paarl. Later he developed the Charleston Hill shopping centre (since demolished) and Mayfred’s Supermarket, as well as a landmark in the area, Ivanhoe Park. Abrahams addressed the shortage of housing in Paarl East by buying up property which he in turn developed into living units and rented out. And even though his business schedule was hectic, he made time for the community and church. He was a founding member of the Annunciation Church, where he served on the council. In the turbulent 1970’s he co-founded the Boland Traders’ Association, through which he assisted the Struggle. Anthea said that her father had so much commitment and dedication in everything he did. “He had such a passion for his businesses and also made time for hobbies such as pickling olives and gardening. “He more recently kept himself busy cultivating anthuriums, and tried to produce the best in the valley. “We will all miss him dearly.” Abrahams is survived by his children Adré, Deidré, Frederick junior, Anthea, Ivanhoe, his former wife Mary, twelve great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. The funeral service will be held at 09:00 on Saturday morning.
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