HANEF BHAMJEE – ONE OF THE POLITICAL ACTIVISTS WHO PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE AS A LEADER OF THE BRITISH AND WALES ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENTS DURING THE STRUGGLES AGAINST APATRTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA

 

                                 (Haneff Bhamjee)

 

One of the political activists who played a pivotal role as part of the British and Wales anti-apartheid movements to isolate apartheid South Africa during the days of the struggle was Hanef Bhamjee, formerly of Pietermaritzburg.

He passed away a week ago on January 8 in Wales at the age of 86.

Bhamjee has been resident in London and Cardiff in Wales after being forced to leave South Africa in 1965 to continue his studies.

In 2009 he was recognised for his anti-apartheid activities in Britain and other parts of the world when he was bestowed with the Satyagraha Award by the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation in Durban.

I interviewed him in July 2009 when he came down to Durban from Cardiff to attend the Satyagraha ceremony.

He spoke to me about his flight from South Africa at the tender age of 18, his involvement in the British and Wales Anti-Apartheid movements, the joys and celebrations when Nelson Mandela was released in February 1990, his return to South Africa to be part of a film production on his roles in the anti-apartheid movement from any early, and his return in April 1994 to vote in the first democratic elections.

 

FLED TO ENGLAND AT THE AGE OF 18 TO ESCAPE THE SECURITY POLICE

 

Mr Bhamjee told me that he was forced to flee South Africa at the age of 18 after what he described as the “apartheid net” was closing around him.

“I left South Africa in August 1965. The main reason for leaving was that the net was closing in. A lot of people had been arrested. Initially the problem started with the arrest of the first Natal Regional Command of Ebrahim Ismail, Billy Nair and then with the raid at Rivonia. The net was closing in all over the country. The people I knew closely had been arrested for being involved in lesser things than I was.”

Soon after leaving the country in August 1965, Hanef Bhamjee,  became actively involved in the British Anti-Apartheid Movement and the Wales Anti-apartheid Movement.

He spent seven years in London and Birmingham - both being actively involved in promoting the struggles of the democratic forces in South Africa and studying for a sociology degree.

 

WORKED TIRELESSLY AS PART OF THE BRITISH AND WALES ANTI-APARHEID MOVEMENTS

 

After obtaining his degree in 1972, Bhamjee, now aged 25, moved to Cardiff in Wales. He went about building the Wales Anti-apartheid Movement and within a short while built a network of 22 branches throughout Wales.

“We succeeded in our efforts because the various arts councils, writers, film makers, and producers all wanted to break links with South Africa. The Welsh Arts Council, various sports bodies wanted no truck with South Africa.

“The only place we had difficulties was rugby. Eventually most of the unions broke links with South Africa.

“But most importantly we found that the white people in the United Kingdom and elsewhere had made anti-apartheid their struggle. Many of the white men and women by far were more committed to the struggle than many of our own people in exile.”

 

BORN IN RUSTENBURG BUT MOVED TO PIETERMARITZBURG AT AN EARLY AGE WITH HIS PARENTS

Haneff Bhamjee was born in 1936 near the town of Rustenburg to parents who ran a shoe shop. Haneff and his three brothers attended a local school that was designated at that time as a school for African children.

While still a young boy, his parents moved to Pietermaritzburg. It was here that Haneff Bhamjee became socially and politically aware. He joined the Natal Indian Congress and initiated the establishment of the Natal Indian Youth Congress in Pietermaritzburg.

“In 1958 there was a potatoe boycott and I went for a rally at a local cricket ground where we used to play many cricket games. And the potatoe boycott and the tobacco boycott spurred me on to realise that the oppression in this country was almost tantamount to slavery.

“I eventually was told about the Natal Indian Youth Congress and I initiated the establishment of the first branch of the Natal Indian Youth Congress in Pietermaritzburg when I was about 14 or 15. Then came the State of Emergency and very quickly we were plunged into the work of the ANC underground work structures.”

 

WAS INVOLVEMENT IN THE ANTIA-ARTHEID MOVEMENTS FOR 27 YEARS

 

Haneff Bhamjee told me that he continued with his work for the anti-apartheid movement in England and Wales for 27 years. But this work was not without harrassment and intimidation. The South African intelligence forces were busy in Britain as well and on more one occasion made attempts on his life.

“My home was burgled about three times and a lot of documents were taken. We were followed. The tyres of my car outside my house were slashed. I was physically assaulted, I had eight stitches, and I had hate mail dumped in my letter box. The mail was sent with powdered glass or thin razor blades in the back. We were told by the local police and the ANC security department to take whatever security precautions we could.”  

 

SUPPORTERS REJOICED WHEN MANDELA WAS RELEASED IN FEBRUARY 1990

 

He said the anti-apartheid leaders rejoiced with their South African counterparts when in February 1990 the ANC and other organisations were unbanned and Nelson Mandela and other prisoners were released. For Haneff and his British comrades this was one of the most important developments in their lives.

“Almost spontaneously people got out into the streets shouting: ‘Mandela is free, Mandela is Free, Mandela is free’. There were street parties and there was absolute joy all over. The people were rejoicing because the Anti-Apartheid Movement had succeeded in supporting the overthrow of apartheid. People had felt that anti-apartheid movement had become their struggle and that is why they had become overwhelmed by Mandela’s release.”

Mr Bhamjee returned to the country for the first time in more than two decades in 1992 as part of a television crew who were putting together a documentary on his life. He re-connected with former comrades and family members and also voted for the first time in April 1994. He believed that the new ANC government had achieved a great deal since 1994 but he was concerned about some ANC members departing from the true principles of the movement.

 

BHAMJEE WARNED AGAINST CORRUPTION IN THE ANC IN 2009

 

This is what he told me during the interview in July 2009:

“Politically we are liberated but I am concerned about various aspects such as the economic situation and the social situation. I speak as a very committed and firm supporter of the African National Congress and the trouble is that every time I talk to people here or abroad who are South Africans, they raise various issues such as corruption. I think the movement has to act very quickly and fast because it seems corruption has become endemic from top to bottom in our society.”

 

BHAMJEE WARNED AGAINST RACISM IN NEW FORMS

 

The Cardiff-based lawyer, who still considered himself as a South African in 2009, had also expressed his concerns about some people connected to the ANC using the race card in Durban's Early Morning Market issue. He had called on the ANC to take tough action against those who transgressed the ANC's non-racial policies and principles.

He told me: “I think it is the duty of the African National Congress members to take them to task and if necessary to prosecute them. I read the statement about the Mayor and his municipal chief and I think impeachment action should be taken.

“These people are going against the values and principles of the African National Congress.”

When after the release of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the ANC in February 1990 there was no longer any need for the anti-apartheid movement, Mr Bhamjee, did not withdraw into the background.

                  ACTION FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA

 

Bhamjee, who was awarded the OBE by the British Queen in the mid-1990s, and other activists had become more active by transforming the anti-apartheid movement into a new group called, Action for Southern Africa. The aim of this organisation was to campaign for peace, justice, democracy and rights for all people in Southern Africa.

He also became a member of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign; and the Committee Against Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bhamjee,  also on his return to Wales in 2009, become involved in the campaign for the release of the incarcerated Burmese leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and freedom for the people of Burma.

He was committed to the struggles for freedom and justice all over the world until his sad demise a week ago on January 8 (2022). Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com (Jan 17 2022)