SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO - LATEST DEVELOPMENTAL REPORT

By Subry Govender

Now that the country's 5th democratic elections are over and the ruling ANC has been returned to power, we have stepped up our negotiations with the Ministry of Communications, ICASA and Sentech about the efforts by the Minister of Communications, Mr Yunus Carrim, for a frequency to be granted to Southside FM Radio. The Minister gave an assurance in a letter dated January 30 that certain processes had been put in place for a frequency to be granted to us. He said these processes would be completed by ICASA on July 31 2014. Since the receipt of this letter we have been in regular contact with the Minister's office, ICASA, the Department of Communications and Sentech.

In April we held two meetings with Sentech in Durban about the frequency and have been assured that the necessary tests had been completed and that we would be informed of the outcome in due course. Meanwhile, while we were in negotiations with Sentech, we had been informed that another frequency 96,8 had not been used for sometime and that the owners of this frequency are now untraceable. Since this frequency covers most of our target market in and around the greater Durban region, we wrote to the Department of Communications, ICASA and the Minister, requesting that this frequency be granted to us. We have been informed both by DOC and ICASA that the frequency in question was not currently not in use but it had been assigned to some one else. We wrote back saying that the matter should be investigated and if the assignees are not traceable, then ICASA should grant us the 96,8 frequency. We wrote the following letters to the Minister, DOC and ICASA on April 30 2014: (On 2014/04/30 9:51 AM, "Subry Govender" wrote: April 30 2014 Dear Comrade Minister Please find below another letter we have written to ICASA about the meeting we held with Sentech in Durban yesterday and about the 96.8 frequency that is lying idle. We really appreciate your assistance in trying to get Southside a frequency and would be grateful if something could be done about the 96.8 frequency being given to us. According to the Sentech officials, 96.8 frequency will cover most of our target market areas in and around the greater Durban region. All the best for the elections. Thanks and kind regards. Subry 082 376 9053 SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089 - 426) 59 Musgrave Road, Durban P.O. Box 486 Verulam 4340 Tel: 082 376 9053/ 031 - 568 13009 email: subrygovender@gmail.com April 30 2014 Mr Monde Mbanga Manager: Broadcasting Spectrum Engineering and Technology ICASA Johanesburg Dear Mr Mbanga We refer to our letter of April 23 2014 regarding the frequency 96.8 which has not been used for the past six months. We held a meeting with Sentech yesterday, April 29 2014, about the tests they are carrying out in terms of the letter written by the Minister of Communications, Mr Yunus Carrim, regarding a frequency for us. The Sentech officials informed us that they have completed their tests and will finalise their report in the second week of May. During the course of our discussions, it was confirmed that that frequency 96.8 has not been used for sometime and that this frequency covers most of our target market in and around the Durban area. We would be grateful if ICASA could investigate the possibility of granting us this frequency now that it is available. We have been negotiating for a frequency for more than five years and our target market members are becoming disappointed and disillusioned that as South Africans we are not being fairly. Please let us have your acknowledgement and response soonest. Thanks and kind regards. Subry Govender Secretary --------------------- Board of Governors: Mr Balan Gounder (chairperson), Ms Keresha Govender (treasurer), Mrs Sally Padaychie, Ms Thirupuriesundrie Govender (asst secretary), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy chairperson), Mr Denis Naidoo and Mr Subry Govender cc: 1. Mr Dick Sono, Chief Director: Radio Frequency Spectrum 2. Dr S S Mncube, Chairperson ICASA 3. Mr Tinyiko Ngobeni, DOC 4. Ms Siphokazi Shoba, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Communciations. 5. Craig Meyer, DOC 6. Xolisa Mnyute, DOC 7. Nomfundo Godlo, DOC 8. Claude Nadasen, Private Secretary to Minister 9. Patrick Sikhosana, Sentech Regional Manager KZN) Then, on May 9, two days after the elections and after the ANC was returned to power, we communicated once again with ICASA, DOC and the Minister's office about our frequency requirements. Here is the letter of May 9 2014: (SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO (NPO No: 089 - 426) 59 Musgrave Road, Durban P.O. Box 486 Verulam 4340 Tel: 082 376 9053/ 031 - 568 13009 email: subrygovender@gmail.com May 9 2014 Mr B Sethole Acting Manager Broadcasting Spectrum ICASA Johanesburg Dear Mr Sethole Now that the party we voted for, the African National Congress (ANC), has been returned to power, we hope that our five long years of struggles for a frequency for our radio station will be sorted out. We refer to our letters of April 23 and April 30 2014 regarding the frequency 96.8 which has not been used for the past six months. We held a meeting with Sentech on April 29 2014, about the tests they are carrying out in terms of the letter written by the Minister of Communications, Mr Yunus Carrim, regarding a frequency for us. The Sentech officials informed us that they have completed their tests and will finalise their report in the second week of May. During the course of our discussions, it was confirmed that that frequency 96.8 has not been used for sometime and that this frequency covers most of our target market in and around the Durban area. We would be grateful if ICASA could investigate the possibility of granting us this frequency now that it is available. We have been negotiating for a frequency for more than five years and our target market members are becoming disappointed and disillusioned that as South Africans we are not being treated fairly. Now that we as former struggle activists have once again cast our ballots for our liberation movement, we hope that we will be granted our frequency without delay. Please let us have your acknowledgement and response soonest. Thanks and kind regards. Subry Govender Secretary --------------------- Board of Governors: Mr Balan Gounder (chairperson), Ms Keresha Govender (treasurer), Mrs Sally Padaychie, Ms Thirupuriesundrie Govender (asst secretary), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy chairperson), Mr Denis Naidoo and Mr Subry Govender cc: 1. Mr Dick Sono, Chief Director: Radio Frequency Spectrum 2. Dr S S Mncube, Chairperson ICASA 3. Mr Tinyiko Ngobeni, DOC 4. Ms Siphokazi Shoba, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Communciations. 5. Craig Meyer, DOC 6. Xolisa Mnyute, DOC 7. Nomfundo Godlo, DOC 8. Claude Nadasen, Private Secretary to Minister 9. Patrick Sikhosana, Sentech Regional Manager KZN) After sending this letter we received the following responses from ICASA and the Minister's department: (ICASA LETTER: From: B. Sethole Acting Manager Broadcasting Spectrum ICASA Good Day Subry The trial licence given to SABC expires on 31 June 2014, only then can we seek feedback with regard to the test results. These temporary authorization was granted to SABC specifically for making way to Southside. I humbly request that we await the completion of the trial. The frequency is currently unused but it is assigned. Thanks and best regards busang DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNCIATIONS' LETTER: Dick Sono < Dicks@doc.gov.za> Fri, May 9, 2014 at 2:41 PM To: Subry Govender Cc: Tinyiko Ngobeni , Alfred Mmoto , Busang Sethole , Siphokazi Shoba Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original Dear Mr. Govender Your email to the Minister regarding letter written to ICASA and about the 96.8 frequency refers. The DOC has been informed that Mr. Monde Mbanga, Manager: Broadcasting Spectrum Engineering and Technology is no longer an employ of ICASA effective March 2014. Therefore, any correspondence to ICASA should be directed to Mr Busang Sethole copied in the correspondence. The 96.8 frequency in question, according to ICASA is currently not in use however it has been assigned to another Broadcaster. As a result, ICASA cannot assign it to Southside while assigned to another broadcaster. As per the trial, SENCTECH has completed the field measurements and they have been analysing the results thereof. A detailed report of their recommendations will be forwarded to the DOC by latest Monday 12/05. Upon receipt of the report I will advise you on the outcome. It is recommended at this point that we wait for the outcomes of the SENTECH report and we will advise accordingly. Hope you find this in order Regards Dick Sono )

CONCLUSION: -------------------------- We are continuing a relentless struggle to obtain our frequency and sincerely hope that the 96.8 frequency would be granted to us. We have made it clear to the government officials concerned that we cannot be treated with disdain and that everything must be done for us to launch our radio station as soon as possible. We have informed the Government officials that members of our target market are becoming restless because our efforts to launch a radio station is taking too long. We have been struggle for more than five years to obtain a frequency despite repeated assurances that we will be assisted. We sincerely hope that now that the ANC has been returned to power, ICASA, Sentech and the Department of Communications would waste no time in granting us our much delayed frequency. We as South Africans have played an important role in the struggles for freedom and a non-racial and democratic society. We cannot now allow a situation where we are being frustrated in launching a radio station to promote our cultures, languages, traditions and music. Subry Govender Secretary/Initiator ----------------------------------- Board of Governors: Mr Balan Gounder (chairperson), Ms Keresha Govender (treasurer), Mrs Sally Padaychie, Ms Thirupuriesundrie Govender (asst secretary), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy chairperson), Mr Denis Naidoo and Mr Subry Govender

RURAL VOTERS HAVE THEIR SAY

(A section of the KwaCele village in the rural district of Dududu) (By Subry Govender) Millions of South Africans went to the polls on Wednesday, May 7 to cast their ballots in the country's 5th democratic elections. Once again, as in 1994, I covered the elections for my radio station, Radio Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany). This time around I visited a polling booth in a rural district to the south of the coastal city of Durban to report on how rural villagers viewed the elections. This is the print version of my radio report:

(Elderly voters waiting their turn to cast their ballots at the Shonkweni polling booth in the KwaCele village) The polling booth I visited was situated at the Shonkweni Primary School in the village of KwaCele, about 120km to the south of the South African coastal city of Durban. In order to get to the village, I had to travel on a national road(N2), take a turn off at a town called Scottburgh and then drive for about 20km. The road towards the village is tarred but the drive is an hazardous one. The road is full of pot holes and one had to be extra careful in order to avoid unnecessary accidents. But despite the hazardous nature of the road, the regular motorists in taxis, cars, buses, and trucks appeared to be making the best of the situation. They zig-zagged and swerved to avoid the dangerous pot holes.

(Another section of the KwaCele village) On both sides of the road, tens of thousands of houses - of all sizes, shapes, old and modern, neat and newly-painted - dotted the undulating hills and valleys that characterise the KwaCele and several other villages. One massive mansion stood out and on inquiry with local residents later, I was told that the owner had won more than R13-million after playing the Lotto about 10 years ago. When I arrived at the Shonkweni polling station, I found a long queue of people waiting patiently to cast their ballots. I also found two groups of party agents singing and dancing, dishing out their party shirts and other paraphernalia to voters. This was obviously a last minute effort by party agents to convince the voters to make their mark for their parties.

(ANC party agents)

(NFP party agents) The officer in charge of the Shonkweni polling booth, Mr Petros Shinga, told me that the people had come out very early to make the mark. "The people of this village," he said, "are members of a community of more than 500 000 people who reside in the district of Dududu". "Although the area falls under the jurisdiction of a greater municipality, the village is one of several that falls under the tribal authority of nine traditional leaders." Some of the voters who went into the booth to cast their ballots wore ANC T-shirts that were handed to them by party agents at the entrance to the schook grounds. There were also other voters who adorned the T-shirts of the National Freedom Party(NFP), headed by by Ms Zanele Magwaza-Msibi. From my observation it seemed that the ANC dominated this rural area and beside the presence of NFP supporters, there were no other parties like the DA, EFF, COPE or IFP trying to woo the voters.

( Mr Kulekani Miya) Mr Kulekani Miya, 45, was one of the voters who was prepared to talk to about 20 years of freedom and what progress has been made in their area. "We are very, very happy," he said. "There have been lots of improvement. We have got RDP houses, tarred roads, sanitation, water, electricity, clinics, and community halls. Everything has improved now."

(Mrs Kulusile Cele with her teenage son) Mrs Kulusile Cele, a 49-year-old mother who works as a domestic assistant in a nearby urban area, said she voted because she wanted a bright future for the villagers and the children of the area. "Yes, I have voted because I want a better future for my children. I need something, I need improvement in this Mandau, in this area," she said. The voters in this area it seemed are not concerned about the high rate of corruption that has gripped the new Government, especially the allegations against President Jacob Zuma and the Nkandla security upgrades scandal.

(Ms Zanele Nuyuwase) Ms Zanele Nuyuwase, 32, said President Zuma was doing a lot for rural people and she could not understand what all the fuss was about. "I'm very happy because I have seen that everything is going very well. President Zuma is doing very well. I like him, I like him very much. He can continue to be a president. He's doing very well."

(Ms Mbali Mthetho) Another young woman, Ms Mbali Mthetho, 30, said President Zuma was her hero. "I'm feeling so happy because this president cares about us. I don't think all the criticism is true," she said.

(Born frees who want to see rapid changes) There were also a number of young people who were born after the dawn of our freedom on April 27 1994. These so called "born frees" voted for the first time. And they were much more critical of the government than their parents. They told me that many people wore ANC party T-shirts just for show. Sabani Nuyusa, a 19-year-old engineering student, said he was not happy with the manner in which elected representatives used their positions to enrich themselves, their families and friends. "Even in my area," he said, "I would like to see people getting open job opportunities, all that things". "Some students have got high qualifications but they don't get jobs. A lot of people who wear ANC T-shirts really do so for show. When they go into the booths they vote for EFF and other parties. " Twenty-year-old Ayanda Khuzwayo was another young person who wanted to see rapid changes. "I would like to see a lot of changes here since the service delivery is very poor. We don't have street lights and the roads are in a terrible condition," he said. "May be if we vote for another party we will see more changes. I am very upset about the corruption. They only put their cousin brothers, uncles and their families. The people who deserve to get jobs, don't get jobs." Fika Mdluli, 25, who is unemployed, said he believed that politicians must serve the people and not their own interests. This was causing a lot of anger among the young people. "As a young person I'd like to see a bright future for all people and for all young ones like me," he said. "I want everything to be perfect and proper."

The visit to a voting booth in this rural area has highlighted the vast differences between the lives of people in the rural and urban areas. Most of the people here have faith in the ruling ANC and leaders of the calibre of Zuma, but expectations of the new government are also very high. - ends (sg/dbn/sa)

SOUTH AFRICA BELONGS TO ALL WHO LIVE IN IT

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." - Nelson Mandela. ((People standing in long queues on April 27 1994 to vote)) (By Subry Govender) When we were preparing for our first democratic elections in April 1994, there was an air of unbridled excitement, jubiliation and joy among the electorate. I was at that time based in Johannesburg, covering the elections for the Press Trust of India, Radio Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany), Radio Netherlands, Radio France Internationale and several other international foreign radio stations. All the people - African, coloured, Indian-origin and white - stood in long-winding queues to cast their ballots. It was for the first time, after the struggles of the past few decades, one could see that they were looking forward to the advent of the new non-racial and democratic society. The majority voted for the ANC and the former liberation movement swept to power under the leadership of the late Nelson Mandela. There was no concern among the people about their future. The ANC had made it clear that "South Africa belongs to all who live in it" and there would be peace, freedom of association and speech, democracy, reconciliation and security. The ruling party set about trying to "create a better life for all" and bringing an end to the injustices of the past. It began to build RDP houses for the homeless, create and provide jobs, open up the health and education services and generally creating an environment where no citizen was made to feel inferior in the land of his birth. Life generally in all areas of life, the ANC claims, has improved for most people over the past 20 years. In fact the ANC says that "South Africa is a better place today than in 1994" and "we have a better story to tell". But at a time when the country is caught up in the hype and machinations of the fifth democratic elections since 1994, the commitment to overcome decades of deprivation, marginalisation, and inequality has not been easy. While life for millions had been made easier and thousands of former "comrades" and others had become part of the "new elite", the situation of millions had not changed much. Most of the marginalised are still disadvantaged and try to eke out a living on the fringes of society and live in wood and iron informal settlements in and around urban areas. One just has to visit the Effingham/Overport/Asherville/Sydenham/and Reservoir Hills areas of Durban to witness the miserable conditions under which the marginalised live. Unemployment and poverty dogs the most disadvantaged and marginalised. Some of the marginalised have to survive by searching through bins in former white suburbs. This is noticed every Monday when residents put out their waste for collection by the municipality. This kind of environment is replicated in all the cities, towns and urban areas throughout the country. Most of these people (or more than 15 million of them) rely on government grants to sustain themselves and their families. While the marginalised try to improve their lives, opportunist elements have taken advantage of the situation and are enriching themselves through all types of devious methods, bribery and corruption. The area most affected by corruption is at the local government levels where millions or billions are stolen or squandered through corruption. At the same time another element - violent thugs and criminals - have made life difficult for home owners, businesses and others. They raid and plunder homes and businesses, kill without any thought for life, and generally reduce home owners and business people to "prisoners in their own premises" at their will. These vile criminals are not deterred even by the best of rapid response alarm systems, high fences, burglar guards and fierce dogs. In many cases where home owners and business people have been killed, the criminals have not been brought to book. "No arrests have been made" and "the matter is being investigated" are the common responses of the spokespersons for the police. The public health and education services have also degenerated for the poor and those not privileged to have medical aids. The state of these services have deteriorated to such an extent that politicians stay a distance away from public hospitals and ensure that their children attend the best private and Model C schools. The lack of respect for the environment is also visible everywhere you go. Streets and roads have become have become an eyesore with litter and rubbish everywhere. Drivers and passengers in motor cars, buses, taxis and even trains have no qualms about throwing tin cans, lunch boxes and other rubbish into the environment. Concerned people only shake their heads and ask: "What has happened to people? Why have they become so unconcerned about our country?" The degeneration of small towns are there for all to see. What's really shocking is that the new municipalities go all out to ensure that the former white suburbs such as Durban North and Umhlanga Rocks are kept "clean and tidy" but yet don't do much to improve the environment in former African, coloured and Indian townships and residential areas. The filth and litter in these areas is there for all to see. All these are matters of serious concern for all citizens but the main issue affecting most people (except politicians who are protected by security financed by the taxpayer) during the run-up to the country's fifth democratic elections is the violent crime that is plaguing almost all residential and business areas in the length and breadth of South Africa. "Why must we live in a state of siege when we are supposed to be free in our new democracy?", is the common question that I am asked by the people. "South Africa is the greatest place on earth but violent crime and senseless murders during break-ins depresses one", is the genuine expression of the person in the street. "We are free but not free because of the high rate of violent crime." The ruling ANC has given a rosy picture of what it has achieved and what it is going to do through the National Developmental Plan to improve the lives of the marginalised. It has also stated that the situation of crime is not as bad as it used to be during the days of apartheid. The other political parties, such as the IFP, DA, Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF), Cope, Agang and the ACDP, have all made promises to make South Africa a safer place. They have also promised to improve the economic situation of the less privileged and the marginalised. Whether all of them will deliver is another matter altogether? (Refuse to be cowed into silence) What is important for the common voters is that they must make their voices heard and refuse to be swayed by promises and cowed into silence. They must remember that politicians are there to serve the people and not themselves, their families, friends, cronies and the business opportunists. "South Africa belongs to all who live in it", and not just for the privileged, the greedy hogs in political parties, the new elite, tenderpreneurs and others who have become wealthy through dodgy means.

ANC SUSPENDS OFFICIAL FOR CALLING ON INDIAN-ORIGIN PEOPLE TO "GO TO INDIA"

By Subry Govender The ruling ANC in South Africa, which has always promoted the principle of non-racialism and "South Africa belongs to all who live in it", has moved fast to suspend one of its officials, Visvin Reddy, for calling on people of Indian-origin "to go to India". Reddy, who is reportedly the chairperson of an ANC branch in the predominantly Indian residential area of Chatsworth, described Indian-origin people as "whiners" and called on them "to go to India" and then see what a good life they enjoy in South Africa. In a posting on Facebook last Friday, he said: "To you anti ANC commentators wait until May 8 … The ANC will still rule this country. You whiners should leave … Go to India and you will see what a good life we have here. Continue with your garbage and marginalise yourself further. Don’t blame the ANC, blame yourself. You have not yet embraced democracy. Only a foolish Indian in SA will not engage the majority constructively." Reddy made the comment at a time when the ANC and other political parties have been criss-crossing the country to woo voters for the country's fifth democratic elections on Wednesday, May 7. He obviously made the remark after finding that many people of Indian-origin have expressed their disillusionment with the corruption, inefficiency and other malaises that confront the ruling ANC under the presidency of Jacob Zuma. The ANC's secretary general in the KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Sihle Zikalala, said Reddy had been suspended immediately and the due internal processes would deal with the matter. "We are a non-racial party and will not promote such racial talk," said Mr Zikalala. "We do not associate ourselves with any sentiments which seek to divide our members on the basis of race, sex, colour or creed. The ANC is for everyone.” The ANC has a rich history of working with the Indian-origin community from the time it was established in the early 1990s. It has had a strong bond with the now disbandded Natal Indian Congress, which was started by Mahatma Gandhi in 1894, and also with the South African Indian Congress, the Transvaal Indian Congress, the Congress of Democrats (white) and the Coloured Peoples Congress, during the freedom struggle years from the 1940s to the dawn of democracy in 1994. Reddy's "go to India" statement has not only caused a stir but some some opposition political parties are using the faux pas to score political points. The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has been sending out SMs to Indian-origin people and calling on them to vote for it because "the ANC wants Indians to go back to India". The ANC has condemned this as "cheap opportunism". Now that the ANC has taken swift action against Reddy, it will be appropriate to reflect on who is this politician who claims to be a leader within the Indian-origin community. From all accounts it's not a surprise that politicians of the calibre of Visvin Reddy make statements that are not only reactionary in character but also downright offensive. Who is this Visvin Reddy, who has been suspended by the ruling ANC for describing Indian-origin people as "whiners" and calling on the people "to go to India"? What is the background of this politician who is reportedly the chairman of an ANC branch in Chatsworth? At the time of our transition into our new non-racial democracy in 1994, I recall that Visvin Reddy was a pal and colleague of the late Amichand Rajbansi in his Minority Front party. Then after a while there was a fall-out between the two former stooges and Reddy went to the DA. He did not last a week in the day and thereafter ran to the ANC. The ANC had no business to open its doors to reactionary and apartheid opportunists, but sadly this is what had happened. Many former struggle activists such as the late Professor Fatima Meer were vehemently opposed to the ANC giving refuge and being a home to the likes of Visvin Reddy but it seems in politics there's no place for values and principles that we endeared during the struggle years. I don't know what Visvin Reddy's status in the ANC today is but it seems that he's gone overdrive in promoting his chances for higher office. He knows nothing about following the values and principles of the ANC struggles and, therefore, will do anything to promote himself. No member of the ANC worth his salt will sink to such a low level and the gutter to condemn fellow citizens and call on them to "go to India". Visvin Reddy must understand that all citizens are South Africans and they have the democratic right in terms of the freedom we attained in 1994 to express themselves freely and to associate themselves with whomsoever they choose. No one has the right to dictate to fellow South Africans as to which political party they must belong to or support. In the struggles that we had been involved in prior to 1994, we did not see people according to their race or colour or whether they were part of the majority or minority. We only saw people as those who were part of the oppressed and those who were the oppressors. Not black or white. It's only reactionaries of the types of Visvin Reddy who categorise people according to race in our new democratic South Africa. It seems some people of Indian-origin find themselves today in a state of disarray and confusion primarily because we don't anymore have the leaders of the calibre of the Monty Naickers, Yusuf Dadoos, Ismail Meers, Fatima Meers, J N Singhs, and George Singhs. Another reason for the confusion and disarray is that we don't have a progressive organisation like the Natal Indian Congress(NIC), which played a crucial role with the ANC and other progressive forces in bringing about the freedom we enjoy today. It seems certain leaders of the NIC had made a major error or misjudgement in pushing for the disbandment of the NIC early in 1994, just before the first democratic elections on April 27 of that year. Those who chose to disband the NIC did not even take into account the advice of Nelson Mandela that the NIC should remain because it had a role to play in the new South Africa. Although it may have been seen by some of the NIC activists to be a politically correct decision to take at that time, twenty years later many people of Indian-origin find that if the NIC was around today it could play a constructive role and a "guiding force" in the new South Africa. It's because of the lack of a progressive organisation like the NIC that we find elements such as the Visvin Reddys going astray. The ANC has now taken action against Visvin Reddy and the next step should be to show him the door. ends

AN OPPORTUNIST WHO WAS GIVEN REFUGE BY THE ANC

(ANC TO BLAME FOR ALLOWING STOOGES TO JOIN ITS RANKS)

Who is this Visvin Reddy, who has been suspended by the ruling ANC for describing Indian-origin people as "whiners" and calling on the people "to go to India"? What is the background of this politician who is reportedly the chairman of an ANC branch in Chatsworth? At the time of our transition into our new non-racial democracy in 1994, I recall that Visvin Reddy was a pal and colleague of the late Amichand Rajbansi in his Minority Front party. Then after a while there was a fall-out between the two former stooges and Visvin Reddy ran to the ANC. The ANC had no business to open its doors to reactionary and apartheid opportunists, but sadly this is what had happened. Many former struggle activists such as the late Professor Fatima Meer were vehemently opposed to the ANC giving refuge and being a home to the likes of Visvin Reddy but it seems in politics there's no place for values and principles that we endeared during the struggle years. I don't know what Visvin Reddy's status in the ANC today is but it seems that he's gone overdrive in promoting his chances for higher office. He knows nothing about following the values and principles of the ANC struggles and, therefore, will do anything to promote himself. No member of the ANC worth his salt will sink to such a low level and the gutter to condemn fellow citizens and call on them to "go to India". Visvin Reddy must understand that all citizens are South Africans and they have the democratic right in terms of the freedom we attained in 1994 to express themselves freely and to associate themselves with whomsoever they choose. No one has the right to dictate to fellow South Africans as to which political party they must belong to or support. In the struggles that we had been involved in prior to 1994, we did not see people according to their race or colour or whether they were part of the majority or minority. We only saw people as those who were part of the oppressed and those who were the oppressors. Not black or white. It's only reactionaries of the types of Visvin Reddy who categorise people according to race in our new democratic South Africa. It seems some people of Indian-origin find themselves today in a state of disarray and confusion primarily because we don't anymore have the leaders of the calibre of the Monty Naickers, Yusuf Dadoos, Ismail Meers, Fatima Meers, J N Singhs, and George Singhs. Another reason for the confusion and disarray is that we don't have a progressive organisation like the Natal Indian Congress(NIC), which played a crucial role with the ANC and other progressive forces in bringing about the freedom we enjoy today. It seems certain leaders of the NIC had made a major error or misjudgement in pushing for the disbandment of the NIC early in 1994, just before the first democratic elections on April 27 of that year. Those who chose to disband the NIC did not even take into account the advice of Nelson Mandela that the NIC should remain because it had a role to play in the new South Africa. Although it may have been seen by some of the NIC activists to be a politically correct decision to take at that time, twenty years later many people of Indian-origin find that if the NIC was around today it could play a constructive role and a "guiding force" in the new South Africa. It's because of the lack of a progressive organisation like the NIC that we find elements such as the Visvin Reddys going astray. The ANC has now taken action by suspending Visvin Reddy. The next step must be to show him the door.

The ANC's secretary general in the KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Sihle Zikalala, said Reddy had been suspended immediately and the due internal processes would deal with the matter. "We are a non-racial party and will not promote such racial talk," said Mr Zikalala. "We do not associate ourselves with any sentiments which seek to divide our members on the basis of race, sex, colour or creed. The ANC is for everyone.” - ends - sg/dbn

WAS THE DISBANDING OF THE NATAL INDIAN CONGRESS IN THE EARLY 1990s A GRAVE MISJUDGEMENT AND ERROR?

(BY SUBRY GOVENDER) THE CONGRESS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RETAINED AS A "SOCIAL VOICE AND BEACON OF HOPE" (Dr Monty Naicker and Yusuf Dadoo - great Indian-origin leaders of the struggles for freedom) At a time when South Africans are busy preparing for the country's fifth democratic elections since the dawn of freedom 20 years ago, there are many people within the Indian-origin community who find themselves lost, confused, disinterested and generally adopt a "I don't care" attitude. What has led to this sad state of affairs and why is there this apathy? (Nelson Mandela) When Nelson Mandela became the first democratic president in 1994 and during his leadership as head of the ruling ANC and Government over the next five years, many people I have spoken to say they really felt as being full South Africans in a free and non-racist society. But today, 20 years after freedom, they say they really don't feel "comfortable or welcome".

(Mac Maharaj)

(Professor Kader Asmal)

(Dullah Omar)

(Jay Naidoo)

(Roy Padaychie) This, despite the fact that a number of people of Indian-origin, who have paid the price fighting for freedom, have occupied positions in Government over the past 20 years. Those who occupied Cabinet positions included Mac Maharaj, Professor Kader Asmal, Dullah Omar, Jay Naidoo, and Roy Padaychie during the first 15 years of the new South Africa.

(Pravin Gordhan)

(Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim)

(Ebrahim Patel)

(Yunus Carrim)

(Enver Surty) Over the past five years Pravin Gordhan, Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim, Ebrahim Patel, Yunus Carrim and Enver Surty have occupied top government positions. These leaders are now almost certain of being back in the national parliament after the ANC included them in the national list for the forthcoming elections. With former activists like these still around, why should there be this lack of interest and apathy among many people? (WE DON'T HAVE A PROGRESSIVE ORGANISATION) "I think basically we have a situation of despair among many people today because we don't have a progressive and historical organisation like the Natal Indian Congress speaking on behalf of the people and taking up issues of concern," said Mr Jay Singh, who is the founder and official of the 1860 Documentation Centre in Verulam, on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. The NIC, which was established by Mahatma Gandhi in 1894, and later the Transvaal Indian Congress(TIC) and the South African Indian Congress(SAIC) fought for freedom alongside the ANC right up to the first democratic elections in 1994.

(George Singh)

(Ismail Meer)

(Professor Fatima Meer) Leaders of the calbire of Dr Monty Naicker, Dr Yusuf Dadoo, Dr Kesaval Goonum, J N Singh, George Singh, I C Meer and Professor Fatima Meer dominated the struggle scene from the 1940s to the 1960s. Then after the Congress leaders were either banned, house-arrested, detained, jailed or forced into exile, we had activists such as Ahmed Kathrada, Billy Nair, Indres Naidoo, Sunny Singh, Mac Maharaj, in the underground activities of the ANC, which was banned in 1960 along with the Pan African Congress(PAC). (Sunny Singh)

(Ahmed Kathrada)

(Billy Nair)

(Phyllis Naidoo) During the period between 1960 and late 1969, there was very little above ground political activities because of the repression by the then ruling National Party of the Hendrik Verwoerds, B J Vorsters and P W Bothas. In this void emerged students and journalists who became active and took up the struggles under the leadership of the Black Consciousness Movement(BCM), the South African Students Organisation(SASO) and the Union of Black Journalists(UBJ). Some activists of Indian origin who emerged during this period were Saths Cooper, Strini Moodley, and scores of other un-sung heroes and heroines.

(Saths Cooper)

(Strini Moodley) Then in the early 1970s, a number of former banned leaders, re-ignited the struggles of the Congress movement when the Natal Indian Congress was revived at a lively meeting at the old Bolton Hall in the former Grey Street area of Durban. The leaders who were behind this new initiative were Mewa Ramgobin, Dr Dilly Naidoo, Ela Gandhi, George Sewpersadh, M J Naidoo, D K Singh, Jerry Coovadia, Farook Meer, R Ramesar, Paul Devadas David, Thumba Pillay, A H Randeree, Swaminathan Gounden and scores of others. But the apartheid regime stepped up its repression unrelentlessly of the anti-apartheid struggles and its leaders during the period of the early 1970s to the late 1980s. Leaders such as Ramgobin and Sewpersadh were either detained, banned, house-arrested and even faced a new Treason Trial along with Archie Gumede, Mrs Albertina Sisulu, and other activists at the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

(Mewa Ramgobin)

(Ela Gandhi)

(Thumba Pillay)

(Paul Devadas David)

(Jerry Coovadia)

(Paul Devadas David)

(Dr Farouk Meer) In addition to these leaders, who were prominent in the Congress movement, there were others who used the anti-apartheid sporting arena to promote the liberation struggles of the people. They included leaders of the calibre of George Singh, D K Singh, M N Pather, Morgan Naidoo, Shun David, Pat Naidoo, Harold Samuels of Stanger, Krish Mackerdhuj, Krish Govender and Paul Devadas David.

(George Singh)

(Morgan Naidoo)

(Krish Mackerdhuj)

(Krish Govender) Also, at this time, we saw the emergence of youthful Congress leaders such as Pravin Gordhan, Maggie Govender, Yunus Mahomed, and Roy Padaychie who concentrated on mobilising the people at grass-roots levels by taking up social and economic issues. They mobilised the people mainly around rent increases in townships such as Phoenix, Merebank and Chatsworth.

(Yunus Mahomed)

(Yunus Carrim) When the apartheid regime tried to impose the "ya baas" organisation, South African Indian Council(SAIC), on the community in 1978 and again in 1983, the Congress leaders came out in full force to mobilise the masses. They established the Anti-SAIC Committee with veteran struggle stalwarts such as Dr Monty Naicker and Dr Desaval Goonum taking the leading roles in opposing the tri-cameral elections.

(Dr Monty Naicker and other national leaders) Dr Naicker, a former President of the NIC and the SAIC, told a mass meeting in Durban in October 1977 that the apartheid regime's move to impose the Indian Council on the people was aimed at promoting its own salvation, rather than that of the people. (Dr Naicker: "No solution without the inclusion of the African majority) He had said: "Proposals to solve any of South Africa's problems without the African people is bound to end in disaster. It is morally indefensible to exclude the African majority and we do not wish to be a party to the oppression of the majority."

(Dr Kesaval Goonum) ("Indian-origin people will not help to entrench white minority rule") Dr Kesaval Goonam, who was one of the most dynamic women leaders at that time, also pulled no punches in warning the apartheid regime that the Indian people would play no part "in entrenching white domination and black oppression in South Africa". "We cannot achieve true freedom in taking part in cosmetics like the Indian Council. We are South Africans and, therefore, must enjoy full social, political, and economic rights with all South Africans." (Congress true representative of the people) The people saw the NIC as their true representative and rejected the Indian Council concept overwhelmingly and totally. More than 90 percent of the people refused to register as voters and more than 90 percent of those who registered did not cast their ballots. It was clear that at all times, the masses of the people of the people looked to the Natal Indian Congress for leadership and guidance about the future. (United Democratic Front) When the United Democratic Front was launched in Cape Town in 1983, it was again leaders such as Mewa Ramgobin, Billy Nair, Paul Devadas David, Thumba Pillay, Farouk Meer, Jerry Coovsdia and others who played the leading roles alongside leaders of the calibre of Dr Alan Boesak, Trevor Manuel, Archie Gumede, Mosioua Lekota and others. Archbishop Desmond Tutu also played a leading role at this time. (Free Mandela Committee) Paul David, Archie Gumede and the other activists established the "Free Mandela Committee" to broaden the struggles. (The post 94 struggle period) After the unbanning of the ANC, PAC and other organisations and the release of Nelson Mandela in February 1990, the Natal Indian Congress once again rose to the challenge to assist in the negotiations for a new South Africa as an ally of the ANC at the Congress for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa) at Kempton Park in Johannesburg. (Codesa) It was during this period that discussions took place with the ANC as to whether it was necessary for the NIC to still remain as an organisation. While some felt that the anti-apartheid forces within the Indian-origin community should join with the ANC since the ANC was a non-racial and democratic organisation, others felt that there were cultural and historic reasons for the NIC not to be disbanded.

(Dr Farouk Meer) (Natal Indian Congress should remain as an historic organisation) One of those who spoke out against the disbanding of the ANC was Dr Farook Meer, who was the secretary of the NIC at that time. In an interview with this correspondent sometime in April 1991, Dr Meer said that many people in the community felt that the Congress had a role to play in a post-apartheid society. He had said: "Initially some people felt that because the Congress espoused the same policies as the ANC it should fade away from the scene because it will merely be duplicating the work. "However, on after thought, many people are now saying that because of the multi-cultural nature of South African society, the Congress will still have a role to play on behalf of the Indian community. (Not emphasising ethnicity) "We must emphasise that this will not mean we will be emphasising ethnicity. It will merely mean that in reality the Indian community will exist in South Africa and as such they will have problems that will be peculiar to them. "The Congress had proved over the years that it has a very proud track record of promoting the interests of the Indian community as part of the broad democratic movement and, therefore, the people believe it should continue to play that role. "Many stalwart members of the Congress and many influential people in India were also opposed to the idea of disbanding the Congress." (Mandela opposed the disbanding of the NIC) Nelson Mandela, who was elected president of the ANC at this time, also felt that the NIC should not be disbanded and it infact should mobilise the people of Indian-origin as an ally of the ANC. Unfortunately, the views of Mandela and activists like Dr Meer were brushed aside and certain elements within the ANC pushed for the disbanding of the NIC. This was done for obvious reasons. Despite their misgivings, the Indian-origin activists rallied fully behind the ANC during the run-up to the first democratic elections in 1994 and a significant percentage of people of Indian-origin voted for the ANC. But after Mandela left the scene in 1999, many people became disillusioned with developments they felt were not in keeping with the ANC's policy of non-racialism and that "South Africa belongs to all who live in it". Some of the NIC activists who felt let down included people like Dr Kesaval Goonum and George Sewpersadh.

(George Sewpersadh) "Some of the people in government have forgotten the true values and principles of the Congress movement," a very disillusioned Sewpersadh told me only a few months before he passed away in May 2007. The disillusionment reached such a stage that many activists withdrew from the political scene and took a step back. By adopting this stance they unwittingly allowed opportunist political organisations to claim that they spoke on behalf of the people of Indian-origin. The leaders of these organisations were stooges of the previous apartheid regime and now were being accommodated by the ruling ANC.

(Professor Fatima Meer) Professor Fatima Meer, another leader who played a pivotal role in the struggles against apartheid and white minority rule in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, was also disillusioned with the direction that South Africa was taking after the retirement of Mandela from the political stage in 1999. "Congress represented the people" In an interview at her home in Sydenham in 2009, a year before she passed away, Professor Meer expressed her disappointment that the Indian-origin people were leaderless and called for the revival of the Natal Indian Congress once again in 40 years. She said she had even taken up the issue with former President Thabo Mbeki when he took over from Mandela in 1999. She told me: "You see the Indians had a very strong organisation in the Natal Indian Congress and I wrote to Mr Mbeki long, long ago that it had been a tragedy that the ANC had asked the NIC to be disbanded because that was an organisation founded by Gandhi in the last century. "It was an organisation that stood by the ANC always. Now the ANC had made the biggest mistake, I had pointed out to Mr Mbeki, by saying to the Indians you don't need an Indian organisation, you can belong to the ANC. Politically as a political party the ANC was fine and totally acceptable but to organise the Indian people the Indian people needed an organisation." She had said the NIC should be revived: "Yes we should revive the Natal Indian Congress in Natal and then nation-wide, the South African Indian Congress, because this is an organisation with a very rich history. You don't want to miss out on that history. You want to build on that history, so revive the Congress. It is a pity that it was disbanded at all." "A dis-service to Indian-origin people by disbanding the NIC" Professor Meer, who had written several books on indentured labourers and the Indian people in South Africa among more than 40 other socially-inclined books, said by disbanding the NIC, a great dis-service was committed on the Indian-origin people. "This was a mistake the ANC had made. It disbanded the Congress and it took over the tri-cameral leadership. I consider that to be disgraceful and disloyalty to former to former patriots and to former partners in the revolution. "The ANC deluded itself into thinking that the Minority Front party represented the Indian people and that it would have the Indian vote and the Indian support through the Minority Front. That was a mistake made by no less a person than Nelson Mandela and then it was continued thereafter. That is what I pointed out to Mbeki many years ago soon after he took over the leadership?"

(Thumba Pillay) Recently I spoke to a former activist with the NIC, who was an advocate, Thumba Pillay, about this "confusion and lack of interest" being experienced by many people as the tamasha surrounding the next general elections rolls on. (Major mistake to disband the NIC) "You know Subry I fully understand their situation because I also feel that there's no progressive organisation out there speaking about the aspirations of the people. I feel we made a major mistake by disbanding the NIC. We should have retained the NIC as a progressive force representing the people. "But now because many of us are disillusioned with the corruption, the wastage of resources, lack of proper service delivery and the degeneration of education and health, we don't know who to vote for. We feel lost." Mr Pillay said struggle stalwarts should make efforts to revive the NIC not to participate in politics but for the NIC just to be a "voice and guide" on many social, cultural and economic issues. - ends (Subry Govender)