DURBAN ACTIVISTS TO HOLD DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF CITY HALL STEPS ON NOVEMBER 2 IN SUPPORT OF FINANCE MINISTER PRAVIN GORDHAN

(DR JERRY COOVADIA ADDRESSING THE MEETING. WITH HIM ARE JUDGE THUMBA PILLAY, DR FAROUK MEER, DR DILLY NAIDOO, AND MS CORAL VINSEN) BY SUBRY GOVENDER About 300 people, mainly former anti-apartheid activists, have decided at a meeting in Durban on Sunday to hold a massive demonstration on November 2 in support of Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan. The struggle veterans gathered at the historic David Landau Community Centre in the suburb of Asherville to lend their support to the beleaguered Gordhan, who the National Prosecution Authority head, Shaun Abrahams, has charged with fraud and theft. Gordhan has dismissed the charges as part of a political ploy to malign him and force him out of office because of his fight against corruption. Gordhan has, however, stated that he would remain in office and continue to fight in the interests of the country. Those who attended the Durban meeting, which was convened by proponents of the Activists Citizens Movement, fully supported the resolution to hold the demonstration on the steps of the City Hall on November 2.

(MS ELA GANDHI, MR VIRGIL BONHOMME, MR SWAMINATHAN GOUNDEN, MR BEN MADOKWE, MS WARARA KAKAZA AND DR FAROUK MEER) Some representatives would also travel to Pretoria to lend the support of the Durban activists to Gordhan. The campaign slogans will be: “Hands of PG (Pravin Gordhan) and “Hands off Treasury”. The struggle activists also decided that the campaign should also be escalated internationally and former Nobel Peace Prize winners should also be enlisted.

(VISITOR FROM INDIA ADDRESSING THE MEETING) One visitor from India told the meeting that he would launch a campaign in India. “It’s a tragedy that I hail from the same state where the Guptas come from. You can be assured I won’t be campaigning for the Guptas,” he said. Some of the struggle veterans who attended the meeting in support of Minister Gordhan were Mr Virgil Bonhomme, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Ms Ela Gandhi, Judge Thumba Pillay, Dr Jerry Coovadia, Dr Farouk Meer, Dr Dilly Naidoo, and Ms Coral Vinsen. Mr Siva Naidoo, Ms Warara Kakaza, Mr Ben Madokwe, Ms Eunice David, and Mr Yusuf Vawda represented the Activists Citizens Movement. Some of the other activists present were Mr Coastal Govender, Mr Pops Rampersad, Mr Gary Govindsamy, Mr Krish govender, Mr Derek Naidoo, Mr Deven Pillay, and Mr Raj Badal. Judge Pillay told the meeting that institutions such as the NPA were being used to fight personal battles. “I believe the charges against Pravin will fail before they get off the ground. I believe the charges will be withdrawn. I am convinced of Pravin’s innocence,” he said. Similar sentiments were expressed by Dr Coovadia. He called on those in power to build state institutions, the people and the country. “But it seems these people are tearing them down.”

(MR BEN MADOKWE ADDRESSING THE MEETING. MS WARARA KAKAZA IS SEATED)

(MR COASTAL GOVENDER - ONE OF THE FORMER ACTIVISTS AT THE MEETING)

(MS ELA GANDHI SIGNING HER PLEDGE IN SUPPORT OF MINISTER GORDHAN) One of the co-chairpersons of the Durban meeting, Ms Warara Kakaza, told the people that they were not against anyone. “We want to save our country,” she said. “We don’t want to be selfish and not save the country for generations to come. We are here to say that we love this country so much and this country has so much potential that we can give to the future generations. We must save the country not only for the future generations of South Africa but the whole world.” Another proponent of the Activists Citizens Movement, Yusuf Vawda, said the charges against Gordhan, Ivan Pillay and Oupa Magashula were groundless. “What is happening against our three comrades is a national crisis. The charges are groundless. We must do everything in our power to show our solidarity for Pravin and Ivan and Oupa,” he said.