"Don't marginalise yourselves in the new South Africa" - Roy Padaychie

By Subry Govender "As a community that obviously sometimes regard itself as a minority community in the situation in South Africa we must not allow ourselves to be marginalised. It is in the interests of this community that we become part and parcel of the mainstream of political development in the new South Africa." These were the wise and noble words of the late Minister Roy Padaychie in an interview with this correspondent four years ago in Durban. Mr Padaychie, who was the Minister of Communications at that time, was supporting the initiative of a number of former political activists and leaders who were discussing the possibility of the establishment of a Forum or Lobby Group to tackle socio-economic issues affecting the poor and the under-privileged. As a former political activist himself for more than 28 years, I wanted to get his views on the initiative. Despite his busy schedule, the Minister readily allocated some time for the interview during one of his assignments in Durban. "Beneath all these discussions," he said, "there are many many people who have emerged genuinely concerned about the future of this community and concerned about many of the problems affecting this community, particularly those who come from the indentured part of the community who have found it extremely difficult to cope with the transition and some of the social and economic problems affecting this community." He added: "The most important thing is that we must establish regular contact between the ANC leadership at all levels, the provincial structures, the leadership in various communities, and all those members who see themselves more keen to participate in this forum and address the problems wherever they are." He was of the view that South Africans of Indian origin must guard against marginalising or isolating themselves from the mainstream of South African politics and life. "This view has been supported by various leaders of the community and even the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlall Nehru, who said that Indians in South Africa were South Africans first and foremost and they become fully involve in the socio-economic-political life of the country." Padaychie said the sacrifices of the forefathers of indentured labourers should not be overlooked. "The new generation must take advantage of the opportunities created in the new South Africa. Our forefathers who emigrated from India to come here had a vision that they were laying roots, they were planting seeds in the soil of Africa so that generations that came after them could have a better life in this part of the world, in this continent. "And in a very interesting way I think we constitute the chosen generation of the successive layers of Indian people since 1860. We have come to actualise the freedom envisaged by our forefathers. They edged their bets, they took their courage and sailed across the seas as indentured labourers so that they could sow the seeds and lay the foundations for future generations. "We are the lucky generation, we are growing in the freedom that they had envisaged." As a descendant of indentured labourers, Mr Padaychie, who passed away on Friday, May 4 in the Ethiopean capital of Addis Ababa while on government duty, also experienced the oppression of the former white regime. In the late 1970s, Padaychie, his parents, brothers and sisters were forced to move to Chatsworth from Clairwood after they were affected by the notorious Group Areas Act. (The Group Areas Act was introduced by the former National Party Government to separate the residential areas of whites, coloured people, Africans and Indians.) It was in Chatsworth that Padaychie became involved in the revival of the Natal Indian Congress, and later in organisations such as the Chatsworth Housing Action Committee, the United Democratic Front, the Release Mandela Committee, the Anti-South African Indian Council Committee and finally the ANC. After his schooling, he studied at the University of Durban-Westville where he joined activists like Pravin Gordhan, Zac Yacoob, Yunus Mahomed and others, to confront the apartheid state. Despite his involvement in student politics, he managed to complete his Bachelor of Science degree and later, after finding work at the Shell Company, he was granted a scholarship to study for his Masters at the University of London. Here he further heightened his anti-apartheid struggles and worked closely with leaders of the calibre of Dr Yusuf Dadoo, Aziz Pahad, Frene Ginwala, Oliver Tambo, the president of the ANC at that time, and many others. After his return he continued with his anti-apartheid work, especially in Chatsworth, and established a non-government organisation to foster early childhood education. After the ANC was unbanned in 1990 and Nelson Mandela was released from prison, Padaychie joined other activists in promoting the ANC and establishing branches all over the place. He was inducted into the new non-racial Government when he was appointed Deputy Minister of Communications in 2004 by former President Thabo Mbeki. He was later appointed Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration in 2009 by President Jacob Zuma. In 2010 he was appointed Minister of Communications and in 2011 he was appointed to the position of Minister of Public Service and Administration. In paying tribute to Minister Padaychie at his official funeral service at the Sahara Kingsmead Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, May 9, President Zuma said the Minister was not only a dedicated and committed comrade but also a very hard-working Minister. "He was concerned about the well-being of the people and went the extra mile to ensure that the lives of the people were improved," said President Zuma. "He has left a legacy and I hope others will follow in his footsteps." President Zuma was the main speaker at the funeral service. The others included Bishop Reuben Philip, leader of the Anglican Church in KwaZulu-Natal; Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Nkosana Dlamini Zuma; Padaychie's daughter, Mrs Trevana Moodley; Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan; KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Zweli Mkhize; and World Tamil leader, Suren Surendiran. There was also a speaker from Kenya, who represented the African Peer Review. The master of ceremonies was Minister Trevor Manuel, who read out messages of tribute from many organisations, governments and leaders. After the official ceremony, Minister Padaychie's body was driven in a convoy to the Claire Estate Crematorium, where his last rites took place. Minister Padaychie has been described as a "true son of the soil" and at this hour of grief, our solidarity is with Mrs Sally Padaychie, children and other family members. Hambe Kahle Comrade Roy.