NON-RACIAL STALWART REMEMBERED BY FORMER SPORTS ACTIVISTS

(Former non-racial sports acrtivists at his funeral) NORMAN MIDDLETON - A FREEDOM FIGHT OF NOTE By Subry Govender Former colleagues, comrades and friends of non-racial sports and political leader, Norman Middleton, questioned the failure by the new and democratic South Africa to recognise the enormous contributions made by the anti-apartheid leader during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. They made the observation during his funeral in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday (July 11). Mr Middleton, the former president of the non-racail South African Soccer Federation and the South African Council of Sport (SACOS) and a leader of the Labour Party, died at the age of 94 in Cape Town on July 2. His funeral in his home town was attended by, among others, a number of prominent former leaders of the SASF and SACOS, former political activists, leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party, Mr Mangosuthu Buthelezi; and Mr Yusuf Bhamjee, ANC Mayor of the uMungundlovu District Municipality. Some of the other well-known sports people at the funeral were Mr Moses Ally, manager/owner of the former Maritzburg City Football Club that was a major force in the former SASF Professional League; former professional soccer stars, Mr Super Naidoo and Mr Vincent Pillay; Mr Vic Pillay, who worked with Middleton in the SASF; and Mr Jasper Verdan, former manager of Manning Rangers FC and now an official of the SASF Professional League Legends. (Mr Francis Grantham, former activist, who questioned the lack of recognition of Norman Middleton by the new South Africa) One of the former United Democratic Front (UDF) activists who worked with Mr Middleton, Mr Francis Grantham, told the mourners that the late former anti-apartheid leader played an enormous role as a comrade, revolutionary and statesman but yet his sacrifices had not been recognised in the new South Africa. "Mr Middleton stood up to the might of the apartheid regime in the face of detentions, bannings, persecutions, security police harassment, death threats and denial of a passport," said Mr Grantham. "When he was involved in the struggles he did not look for any rewards or honour. He was only committed to the overthrow of the apartheid regime and to bring about a non-racial and democratic society. "That coffin in which he lays today may hold his mortal body but I tell you it is unable to hold Norman Middleton, the man. If we had to try, we would not find a coffin big enough." Mr Grantham said a number of former struggle heroes had been recognised in the new South Africa and he wanted to know why the former anti-apartheid leader had not been given any recognition whatsoever. "I hope this city will honour him as it has done to our ANC comrades, A S Chetty, Chota Motala, Peter Brown and others," he said. Mr Grantham raised the questions as to whether the sacrifices and contributions made by Mr Middleton and others had been "worth it", whether "we have lost the plot", and 22 years into the new South Africa whether the sports situation had changed for the poor and under-privileged. "Our society is more unequal now under democracy than in the past. Is this what Comrade Middleton sacrificed for?"

(Mr Vincent Pillay, Mr Babs Sithapersadh and other stalwarts of non-racial sport seen after Mr Middleton's funeral)

(Mr Jasper Verdan, president of the SASFPL Legends, at the funeral with friends) Mr Jasper Verdan, former manager of Manning Rangers FC and an official now of the SASFPL Legends, and Mr Vic Pillay, a former official of the SASF, questioned why Mr Middleton had not been recognised for his contributions to non-racial sport. Mr Verdan said despite the fact that Mr Middleton had not been acknowledged in the new South Africa, the SASFPL Legends had bestowed a special award to Mr Middleton in 2010. "Mr Middleton's contributions to non-racial sport and a non-racial society will never be forgotten," he said. Mr Pillay, for his part, said Mr Middleton had not even been given any special mention when South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2010. "As far as we are concerned Mr Middleton's contributions in the struggles against apartheid are beyond comparison," he said. "In addition to all the harrassment and persecution, he was repeatedly denied a passport because he was not prepared to be blackmailed. The apartheid regime wanted him to sign an undertaking that he would harm South African sportsmen and women.

(Mr Norman Middleton's son, Donald, seen with his family after the funeral) "Mr Middleton told them that if he was allowed to travel he would only tell the world about the truth prevailing in South Africa. Mr Middleton was to have attended the FIFA congress in Montreal in Canada to call for the expulsion of the white Football Association of SA(FASA). "Even though he was denied an opportunity to attend the meeting, the white football body was expelled from world football." This signalled the downfall and end of apartheid sport in South Africa.

(Mr Moses Ally, former manager and owner of Maritzburg Football Club, with former colleagues after the funeral) IFP leader Mr Buthelezi, who also addressed the funeral ceremony, paid tribute to Mr Middleton for his sacrifices to the liberation struggle. He also referred to the recognition that has not been accorded to Mr Middleton. "I pray that in the years to come history will not underestimate the value of Mr Norman Middleton's contribution to the freedom in South Africa," he said. He said he and Mr Middleton had shared a vision of South Africans "standing together on the moral high ground to force, through passive resistance, the disintegration of apartheid". "Just as he saw the end of World War 11, having played his part, Mr Middleton saw the end of another battle, the battle for freedom. In that too, he played his part. It was no walk-on piece, but a significant and noteworthy contribution to the history of South Africa." ends - sg/dbn (082 376 9053)