I lost a very good friend of mine on the 5th of  January 2021, the most caring, kind and generous soul. 

Ighsaan started in White House in 1984. He then moved over to Birt House as a day boy but also became an honourable member of Top House during his time at Birt House which is testimony to Ighsaan large circle of friends. 

 I met Ighsaan Akoojee in 1984 when he came to Bishops and I moved up from the prep. We instantly got on as we were seen as townies living in the City Bowl area.
 
 I met Ighsaan's father Goolam, who sadly passed away a week after Ighsaan and his mother Gadija, who were always Mr and Mrs Akoojee to me and sister Nazreen around the same time in our new boy year.
 
 It was always so cool visiting the Akoojee's with Ighsaan's Mother offering us biscuits and tea and whatever we wanted and then there were the awesome Breyanis at Eid! Ighsaan's parents were so interested in what was going on in every aspect of our lives.
 
 Ighsaan went on to study at the University of the Western Cape and his life took on a whole new dimension with new friends, experiences and an environment in which he flourished. He met his beautiful wife Aaishah who he loved and adored and they had three amazing Sons of whom he was very very proud. The four of them did everything together and I know that he lived his passion for  sport through them, going to games, watching and supporting them in all that they did.
 
 As I write this letter, I am feeling all the emotions of growing up with a friend and his family who are very dear to me and recognising the richness of what I experienced.
 
 Mrs Akoojee, Aaishah, Zaahid, Shuaib, Jiyaad and Naz, rest assured that Ighsaan was not only a devout Muslim but was admired, respected and loved by people all around the world and when the sad news broke the number of calls and messages that were received from all overbore testimony to that fact.
 
 Your son, husband, father and brother was an exceptional human being and although I never got to spend as much time with him when I moved overseas he was always in my prayers and in my thoughts. As numerous friends of ours said: "Not spending enough time with Ighsaan was our loss"
 
 You Ighsaan and your Dad are now at peace together - till later when we meet my friend.
 
 Ma’ a salama Ighsaan  مع السلامة