DESCENDANTS OF INDENTURED LABOURERS PAY RESPECT TO THEIR ELDERS

(Some of the extended Muniamma family members who attended the family gathering.) THE MUNIAMMA EXTENDED FAMILY GATHERING ATTRACTS MORE THAN 120 PEOPLE It was an extended family gathering to be really proud of. More than 120 descendants of indentured ancestors attended a function in Durban on Sunday (January 31) to pay tribute and respect to five elders of the family who are still alive today. The extended family members, who trace their roots to indenture-born Mrs Muniamma Gounder and Mr Coopoosamy Gounder, run into six generations today and number more than 500. They arrived from as far afield as Dundee in the KZN Midlands, Pietermaritzburg, Port Shepstone, and even Johannesburg to show their respects to the five elders.

( Mr Isaac Munsamy Govender, 94, with his youngest sister, Mrs Amoy Moodley, 80 of Chatsworth; another sister, Mrs Savundalay Padaychee, 80, of Dundee; and his sister-in-law, Mrs Soundler Govender, 80, of Chatsworth. Mrs Govender is the widow of Mr Isaac Govender's younger brother, Mr Percy Govender.)

(Mrs Panjalay Naidoo, 80, the eldest grand-child, with some of her younger sisters at the family gathering.) The elders are Mr Isaac Munsamy Govender, 94, who lives in Northdale, Pietermaritzburg; Mrs Savundalay Padaychee, 88, who stays in Dundee; Mrs Amoy Moodley, 80, who lives in Chatsworth; Mrs Soundler Govender, 80, who stays in Chatsworth; and Mrs Panjalay Naidoo, 80, who is the eldest grand-child of the extended family and who lives in Scotborough. Mr Isaac Govender, Mrs Savundalay Padaychee and Mrs Amoy Moodley were part of a large brood of 14 children - born to their first generation parents, Mrs Muniamma and Coopoosamy Govender, who worked as market gardeners in the Dayal Road area of Clairwood. Eleven of the 14 children survived to give birth to the extended family of more than 500 that is today known as the Muniamma extended family. The younger family members, who are today mainly based in Johannesburg and Durban, belong to a Muniamma Family "what's up" group to keep in contact with one another. Some of the younger generation have also migrated to Australia, New Zealand, England and Germany. (Mr Isaac Munsamy Govender, 94, with family members at the gathering. On the extreme right is Mrs Panjalay Naidoo, 80, the eldest grand-child of the Muniamma extended family.) Representatives of the different branches of the extended family also paid tribute to their elders and called for more gatherings to promote unity and pride in their greater family. One of the descendants of the extended family, Mr Subry Govender, who is a veteran journalist, has documented the arrival and early lives of his ancestors and plans to publish the family history book soon He told the family gathering, held at the Japanese Gardens in Durban North, that it was vitally important for every family member to know their roots. "We have a very rich history and it's vitally important that all of us know where we come from," he told his family members. "Our future generations must not only be proud of being South Africans, but they must also know their roots. We must be proud of our cultures, traditions and languages in our new, non-racial and democratic South Africa. "We must cherish the memories of our forefathers and mothers."