Popular cookbook author Fatima Sydow passes away at 50

South Africans are mourning the death of beloved chef and author Fatima Sydow.   

Her family announced her passing in a heartbreaking Facebook post shared on Tuesday.

"It is with deep sadness that we, the Sydow Family, announce the passing of our beloved sister, Fatima Sydow," the post read.

"Fatima, known for her exceptional culinary skills, infectious enthusiasm, and warm personality, passed away peacefully earlier today at Vincent Pallotti Hospital in Cape Town, after battling soft tissue sarcoma since 2020. She was surrounded by her immediate family." 

Fatima spoke openly about her stage four cancer diagnosis on social media. 

"For the past three years I have undergone various treatments and operations to fight this disease, this has taken a toll on me in every aspect. After a long fight, I cannot work anymore," she wrote in August. 

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According to Mayo Clinic, "soft tissue sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the body's soft tissues. Soft tissues include muscle, fat, blood vessels, nerves, tendons and linings of the joints". 

Fatima's chemotherapy treatment stopped working in July. Despite the devastating news, she vowed to live life the best way possible. 

"My character and nature will go on and live each day to the fullest and to the best of my ability. I am waiting for the cold weather to go away so I can go sit in the garden and watch the birds with my binoculars.... One of my favorite things to do... I am definitely just going to take it one day at a time... Spend as much time with my family and rest..." she wrote in July. 

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The Sydow family revealed that Fatima, who grew up in the Cape Flats, began her cooking journey at an early age.  

"Her culinary odyssey commenced at the tender age of 9, standing alongside her mother, peeling potatoes, and cutting onions. Inspired by her mother's ability to perform culinary miracles with few ingredients, creating dishes that generously fed many hungry stomachs, Fatima found the spark that would ignite her own culinary journey," they wrote in a statement. 

The family has urged people to remember Fatima by spending more time with loved ones. 

"In her memory, we encourage everyone to celebrate her life by sharing a meal with loved ones and cherishing the moments spent together."

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Fatima's funeral will take place on Wednesday, December 20.

Main image credit: Instagram/@fatima_sydow_cooks