Muthukrishna George Naidoo

Tribute to Dad… My earliest memory of Dad would be Malcolm, and I am waiting excitedly for what goodies he had brought us after work and then the made-up bedtime stories he would tell us whilst we both slept on either side of his arm. I remember the special Christmas gifts that he would hide inside shoe boxes until Christmas. I remember days at the beach, Friday night trips to Verulam, Durban Newtons, weekends with family, Sundays to Sunday School and Church, and Sundays after church when Malcolm would kick dads’ seat until he stopped at the Union Street Café and got him his sweets and other treats. I benefited from his tantrums. I remember movies at the Cactus Drive-Inn, Saturdays when he would get Malcolm and I milkshakes and pies, trips to Nkwaleni. Yep, there were always card games and fishing, though not my real interest, more Malcolms. Our common time was always horror or Bollywood movies together and the love of dogs. I remember the painstaking time he had taken to find Brownie when she was missing for weeks only to return with trap on her leg. He always ensured I had a dog, which led to have the Chow Chows eventually. He loved his dogs dearly. I oddly remember his disappointment when I burnt that large tree in Tedders with a made-up Airwolf, though never reprimanded. Through these younger years, in Tedders and then to Brackenham, I know I was the odd one out, the one that didn’t really fit the usual box, though Dad was very accepting and supportive. I learnt from him entreprenuel skills, as my first job was selling fish when we had moved to Brackenham. He allowed me to make a decent profit from those sales too. In Tedders we would assist clean up vehicles he would purchase for resell. He taught us about hard work, dedication, commitment, and trustworthiness in doing business through all of these. Malcolm chose the business route inspired by Dad, and I chose to study which he was fully supportive of and was very proud of each of these growths in my career journey. He was also so excited about my new role, which starts in February 2025. I am also so glad we got to spend around 3 weeks with Dad in CPT recently. Jari, Nev and I had enjoyed every moment and experience with him, whether it was watching his favourite Youtube shows, or just having a chat reminiscing about his old days, talking about his business ideas with the plants we have, or his unique meal orders for the days, his dreams, his travels, his family and friends, his gems of wisdom – these are days we will treasure forever. I am also so glad that I got to speak to him daily, just to check up on how they are doing – 6pm calls catching up will never be the same. To Mum, thank you for being there for Dad through the great times and bad ones, through heartache and sorrow and through every joyful celebration and moment. Thank you for especially being there for him during this period after the stroke. You were his 24/7 everything, his Pris, ensuring that he had everything he wanted, every meal ordered (sandwhich neatly cut into 4 slices), ensuring the best of healthcare (physio, specialist, homeopath, dentist) ensuring that he was always immaculately dressed, ensuring that he is able to go for outings (Israel trip, Durban, CPT, Botswana), and not forgetting his Weekly Thunee Games at the Senior Club. Thank you for creating these new exciting memories for and with him. Dad loved you dearly and appreciated all you are and all you have done for him through 49 years of marriage. You are his pillar of strength, his motivational coach, his prayer warrior, his private chef, his absolute soul mate, his caregiver (past 3 years), his financial controller, his property manager, his dear wife, his Pris. Dad loved his siblings, his late parents and my mums siblings. He spoke in detail about the fond memories he had of all of them. To his remaining sisters, his sister in laws and brother in laws, his nephews and nieces and their kids, I thank you for all the love and support you had to both my parents especially with us being so far. He treasured every call, every visit and every opportunity you had to meet and just talk or a meal shared together, and definitely his favourite would also be thunee games. To his friends and family at Senior Citizens, you gave him purpose again, thank you so much for all the love, support and care you have given to both my parents, but especially his thunee table team members. He shared weekly of his wins and also those disappointing losses. To his friends, his neighbours, the Brackenham and Richards Bay Community, thank you for all of you that made the time to be with him, to call him, to visit him. He treasured this time ! I appreciate you. To the church community, he spoke off fondly regarding ministers that visited the home, Pst Shalin and Pst Jenny for their love and support during the time at church and their special trip to Israel together. Dad, you fought an amazing fight through all of these recent health issues. You left a legacy that will be felt through generations, current and to come. You left your mark in our hearts, and nothing could erase that. We will treasure the years God has given us with you with the assurance that we will meet again for an eternity. Rest well, perfect Dad. I will miss you dearly. Much love, your son, Fabian