'He loved life' - son of OR Tambo assault victim Zalman Orlianski
Image: Supplied by the Orlianski family
“He was my world. I felt his love every day.”
This is how Dr Isa Orlianski‚ the daughter of the 71-year-old man who died after a fight with an Uber driver at OR Tambo International Airport‚ described her father.
Zalman Orlianski was left critically injured following a fight with an Uber driver over a parking spot at the Johannesburg airport last weekend. He died on Sunday evening.
The driver is due to appear in court on Monday.
Uber SA confirmed last week that the man who was caught on CCTV camera beating Orlianski was one of their drivers. His access to the app was immediately suspended.
“If there was a problem or a celebration‚ he could never get there quick enough‚” Isa said about her father. “His presence‚ his energy‚ his infectious laugh - you could feel it as he entered the room. He fell in love with my mom the moment he met her and he loved her wholeheartedly.”
Family spokesperson and Isa’s husband Daniel Witz described Orlianski as a “dedicated” husband and loving father.
Orlianski and his wife Inna had been married for 34 years and had three children: Isa‚ Jonathan and Zvi.
“Mr Orlianski’s entire reason for being was his family. He had incredible values and morals - a man of integrity‚ a loyal friend and the most hard-working‚ determined businessman‚ loyal to his customers‚” said Witz.
“He taught us about perseverance‚ forgiveness‚ leadership‚ hard work and‚ most of all‚ he taught us about putting family first.
“He had the most amazing laugh and he taught us that making people laugh - something we will never be able to do as well as him - is as important as anything else.”
Orlianski was a successful businessman. He was qualified as an electronic engineer and had also obtained an MBA.
“The hard work ethic that my father demonstrated every day‚ he instilled in me. I can only continue to honour him by facing any challenge‚” said his son Jonathan.
“The most precious value in Judaism is life‚ and he loved life. He taught me to water ski‚ he took me shark cage diving‚ paragliding and scuba diving.”
"This is incredibly sad news‚" a spokesperson for Uber SA said on Monday. “Our hearts go out to the family. We will continue to stay in touch with them to offer our support.
"We trust that law enforcement and the judicial system will do their best to ensure that justice prevails. We stand ready to help police with any additional information needed for their investigation."
Orlianski will be buried on Tuesday at Johannesburg's West Park Jewish Cemetery.