Fatima Bhyat

Who is Fatima Bhyat?

Fatima Bhyat is noted for being one of the first residents of Rustenburg, South Africa, settling in in 1877. In addition, she is noted for being one of the eldest residents, featured in the local newspaper the Rustenburg Herout at age 100 and lived to 107. At 95 years old, Mrs. Bhayat added her voice against the Group Areas Act of 1950, which proposed to move all Indians out of town. Church Street in Rustenburg was renamed to Fatima Bhayat Street in honour of her and the local Indian population in Rustenbug in 1999.