JACOB ZUMA – THE WILY POLITICIAN WITH NINE LIVES – SURVIVES ONCE AGAIN DURING THE RULING ANC’S NEC MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 27 AND 28 2016

The decision of the ruling ANC in South Africa not to ditch Jacob Zuma as President of the country has raised questions about whether this would be in the interests of the party and the country. Zuma survived a motion of no confidence at an extended meeting of the National Executive Council of the party at a venue outside Pretoria on Monday night. Giving details of the conference on Tuesday – the ANC secretary general – Gwede Mantashe – confirmed the motion against Zuma. He – however – stated that there was no vote against Zuma and the NEC had decided to work for unity within the organisatioon. Subry Govender filed this report for Radio Deutsche Welle on Tuesday, November 29 2016….. .

GRIFFITH MXENGE - ANTI-APARTHEID ACTIVIST LEADER WHO WAS BRUTALLY KILLED BY APARTHEID AGENTS ON NOVEMBER 19 1981. THIS RADIO FEATURE IS BEING RE-PRODUCED AS PART OF SUBRY GOVENDER'S RICH HISTORY SERIES

One of the anti-apartheid activists and leaders who paid the ultimate price for our freedom was Griffith Mxenge. A lawyer by profession – Mxenge – was brutally killed by apartheid agents on November 19 1981 at a time when he was playing a crucial role in promoting the release of Nelson Mandela and other leaders. Only 39-years-old at the time of his murder, he was married to another activist, Victoria Mxenge. Victoria Mxenge was also brutally murdered on August 1 1985 at her home in Umlazi, Durban. Subry Govender compiled this radio feature on Griffith Mxenge on June 5 2008 at a time when a controversy had arisen over the re-naming of the Mangosuthu Highway in Umlazi after Griffith Mxenge. This radio feature is being loaded onto the internet as part of Subry Govender’s “Rich History” series… .

MS SUMBOORNAM PILLAY (SAM MOODLEY) - BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS ACTIVIST PART OF OUR RICH HISTORY

MS SUMBOORNAM PILLAY (AKA SAM MOODLEY) - TALKS ABOUT HER LIFE IN AN INTERVIEW WITH SUBRY GOVENDER IN 2009. In the late 1960s and 1970s – the philosophy of black consciousness had caught the imagination of hundreds of young activists in the struggles for freedom and human rights in South Africa. One of those who became involved was Sumboornam Pillay – who later became known as Sam Moodley after marrying another activist, Strinivasan Moodley. In this radio feature produced on July 23 2009 – Subry Govender highlighted the life of this former Dundee High School girl who became a formidable force in the Black Consciousness Movement. This radio feature had been uploaded onto the internet on November 21 2016 at a time when Sam Moodley celebrates her birthday.

MAURITIUS - THE INDIAN OCEAN ISLAND COUNTRY WHERE INDIAN CULTURE IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE

BY SUBRY GOVENDER THE INDIAN OCEAN ISLAND COUNTRY OF MAURITIUS IS ANOTHER COUNTRY WHERE INDIANS WERE TAKEN THERE AS INDENTURED LABOURERS BY THE BRITISH TO WORK ON THE SUGAR PLANTATIONS. MAURITIUS IS ONE OF SEVERAL COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD WHERE FORMER INDENTURED LABOURERS HAD TRAVELLED FROM ALL PARTS OF INDIA TO SEEK A NEW FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES. THE OTHER COUNTRIES INCLUDE FIJI, MALAYSIA, SEYCHELLES, REUNION, SOUTH AFRICA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, GUYANA, AND SURINAME. DURING THE PRAVASI BHARATHI CONFERENCE IN CHENNAI IN JANUARY 2009, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF TALKING TO JOURNALISTS FROM MOST OF THESE COUNTRIES ABOUT THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THEIR COUNTRIES. ONE OF THE PEOPLE I SPOKE TO WAS VETERAN JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR, ANAND MALOO, WHOSE GREAT-GRAND-PARENTS WERE TAKEN TO MAURITIUS NEARLY 200 YEARS AGO AS CANE CUTTERS. THIS IS THE RADIO FEATURE I PRODUCED ON MAURITIUS AFTER SPEAKING TO MR MALOO.

JULIUS MALEMA'S LAND GRAB STATEMENTS HAVE SPURRED FARM WORKERS AND OTHERS TO CLAIM PERMANENCY AND SECURITY OF LAND THEY HAVE LIVED IN FOR DECADES ON END

RADIO FEATURE ON THE NEED FOR STABILITY ON FARMING LAND IN SOUTH AFRICA

(MISS LISA MBELE AND HER NEIGHBOUR, MR THULISA KHUZWAYO) The latest statements by the radical opposition leader – Julius Malema – and his fellow Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) that people should invade and occupy unoccupied land in South Africa has raised disquiet among land owners and farmers. But at the same time some communities have not only been spurred on to move onto vacant land but others have also staged protests to claim permanency of the land they have lived in for more than 30 years. Subry Govender filed this RADIO FEATURE for Radio Deutsche Welle’s Africalink Programme……. .

(MR RAMESH SIVASUNKER)

(MR YAGA GOVENDER, CHAIRPERSON OF THE SUGAR ASSOCIATION)

"THERE SHOULD PERMANENCY AND DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL RESIDENTS AND FARMERS IN INANDA AND ELSEWHERE IN SOUTH AFRICA"

“WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO LIVE IN PEACE AND HARMONY WITH ALL RESIDENTS AND PEOPLE.” By Subry Govender

“We want permanency and stability in our lives.” This is the plea of disadvantaged families living on farm land in Upper Inanda, near the town of Verulam, north of Durban in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. They took part in protests on the main tarred road in the area on Monday and Tuesday, Nov 14 and 15 (2016), to highlight their social and economic plight 23 years into the new non-racial and democratic South Africa. They shouted slogans and carried racial placards during the protests held in the aftermath of statements by Julius Malema and his fellow leaders of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) that people should invade and take occupation of vacant land.

I visited the Tea Estate and other areas of Inanda after the protests and spoke to the residents concerned. About 40 families have been living in these areas since the mid-1980s when most of the farming families of Indian-origin started to move out because of the climate of fear that emerged following acts of intimidation, attacks, robberies, burglaries and high-jackings.

The situation once again started to degenerate in the early 1990s and more families of Indian-origin began to move out. Most of the farmers leased their land to other farmers. They also allowed their workers and poor African families to stay in the houses that they had vacated. The Indian-origin families first moved to the Inanda region since the early 1900s after their forefathers and mothers had completed their indentures (slavery) on the sugar estates in and near the towns of Verulam and Tongaat. It was one of the most productive vegetable and sugar farming areas with more than 300 families or between four to five thousand Indian-origin families residing here in peace and harmony with their fellow African residents. Now there are only about 30 Indian-origin families and about 10 Indian-origin farmers in the area.

(Mr Thulisa Khuzwayo) “WE HAVE LIVED WITH INDIAN FAMILIES AND THE PEOPLE FOR DECADES WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS.” One of the residents in the Tea Estate area who took occupation in the mid-1980s is Mr Thulisa Khuzwayo. He lives with his wife and children in a house formerly occupied by an Indian-origin family. When I introduced myself and informed him about the reasons for my visit, he readily agreed to talk to me. The family hospitality was something that I will treasure. His wife, noticing that I was taking notes and also conducting a radio interview, came out of the house with chairs for us to sit on so that we could continue our discussions in comfort and ease. “We have lived with Indian families for years without any problems and now we want to continue to live in harmony,” he said. “But what is of concern to us is that we have lived in this place for more than 30 years and we have no permanency for the land we are living in. We want the authorities to provide us with the necessary papers so that we could build a better future for us. “WE WANT LAND OWNERSHIP”

“I am concerned that 23 years into the new South Africa, the government is moving very slowly to provide us with security.” “We want to have ownership of the land we are living on,” he said. As far as he was concerned, land ownership was distorted, even in the new South Africa. “The way I see it is that Mandela went to prison, fighting. When Mandela came out, taking over the country, he was supposed to have taken over the land first.” Mr Khuzwayo said it seemed they were still being ignored in the new democratic South Africa. “So now who is still gaining?”, he asked. “We need land. If you don’t have a place to stay, if you don’t have a house, how can you live life? We live in democracy, we always say we live in democracy, I don’t understand that because at this point in time, I don’t have a paper for the place I am staying in.”

(Ms Lisa Mbele with Mr Thulisa Khuzwayo) A young girl, Ms Lisa Mbele, talking on behalf of her family and the other families in the area, told me they lived in a state of uncertainity without being given ownership of the land. “My father has been staying here for so long,” she said. “WE WANT PAPERS FOR SECURITY AND ADVANCEMENT” “It’s been long now and we only want ownership of this land. We must be treated equally. Now that I am standing here, I must be given the papers to allow me to do everything that I want to do in the property I am in, because you can’t do anything if you don’t have the papers.” Ms Mbele, Mr Khuswayo and other members of their community expressed the hope that the authorities will “wake up” and give them security and stability in their lives like all other South Africans. After obtaining the views and opinions of the residents here, I also drove on the corrugated and dirt roads to speak to some of the farmers who are still continuing with sugar cane and vegetable farming.

(MR RAMESH SIVASUNKER) I met Mr Ramesh Sivasunker who was born and grew up in the Inanda area. He showed me the house near the Wild Memorial School where his grand-father settled in the 1930s. His father was born there as well along with several other brothers and sisters. Mr Sivasunker moved out of Inanda with his family to the nearby town of Verulam in the mid- 1980s. His workers now occupy their house in Inanda. “When I grew up here I could walk four to five kilometres to the nearest shop and return home without any problems,” he said. “We lived with all people here and we grew up as one large community. We did not have any problems. “We moved out in the 1980s but we continued with our farming. I come here every day to continue with farming. However, since Malema has made his land invasion speeches, some of the people have turned against us. “It seems these people want to take over our land. The attitude of our workers and our black neighbours have changed in the recent times. Before that we lived in harmony, like families as well. There was understanding and there was no such thing as fear.

(THE HOUSE IN THE DISTANCE WHERE MR RAMESH SIVASUNKER USED TO STAY PRIOR TO THE LATE 1980s) “I PUT IN A LOT OF WORK TO ENSURE THAT MY FARM IS A GOING CONCERN” “After Mandela became our president we all were very happy and proud of our new country. But now I did not know it will come to this stage from people around us and beyond us. By Malema making these statements it has brought a lot of fear and we don’t have any mind to work as well. We cannot put our full potential in farming. It’s not an easy job, you have to stay on the farm every day. “I put in a lot of effort to ensure that my farm is working and producing.” “THE FUTURE IS OF CONCERN” Mr Sivasunker said he was worried about the future. “I am not concerned about my future but what about the younger generation. Their future is at stake. If this climate of fear continues then they cannot choose farming as a profession.” SEKELA FARM After speaking to Mr Sivasunker, I drove further north to speak to Mr Brett Williams of Sekela Estate. His family have been involved in the area since the 1930s mainly in sugar cane and banana farming. They provide employment, accommodation, electricity and water for about 125 workers. “We run a very successful farm here and keep in close contact with other farmers. We also have a very good relationship with the local leader and the people,” he said. UNDERSTANDS THE CALLS FOR LAND RE-DISTRIBUTION BUT THIS MUST BE DONE IN AN ORDERLY MANNER

(ONE OF THE WORKERS WHO WAS ATTACKED BY PROTESTING RESIDENTS) He told me they understood the calls for land re-distribution. But, he said, incendiary statements by Malema and his fellow leaders, violent acts and intimidation should not become the order of the day. Due processes should be followed. “I went down to assist my neighbours, again it was aggression, burning of tyres, blocking of roads. I don’t feel there’s a need for this. Aggression is not what anybody wants. We just hope we can resolve this in a peaceful manner and go down the correct channels because what’s happening now is wrong. I mean pulling out a man’s irrigation pipes, burning them in his roads, surrounding their houses so that their children and wives can’t get in or out or can’t leave.”

MALEMA’S STATEMENTS NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COUNTRY He said Malema’s statements were not in the best interests of the country. “We all like to think that we have learnt from our past mistakes. However, bringing up skin colour and race constantly is upsetting. We like to look forward, not back. We want to work together. Statements like these always creates tension which the majority does not want. “The majority of us have a confident view and statements like that don’t worry us too much.”

(MR YAGA GOVENDER, CHAIRPERSON OF THE CANEGROWERS ASSOCIATION AND A HUMANITARIAN AND PHILANTHROPIST) I also spoke to Mr Yaga Govender, a dynamic young businessman who is also chairperson of the Canegrowers’ Association. His forefathers and mothers had also settled in Inanda in the early 1900s. He told me that after the protests by the residents of Tea Estate, he had worked tirelessly along with the local chief, police and other leaders for sanity to prevail. He was of the view that certain criminal elements were using the latest outbursts by Malema for their own personal benefits. “We have agreed to do everything in our power to improve the social environment in the area,” he said.

A PHILANTHROPIST WHO BELIEVES LAND RE-DISTRIBUTION MUST BE IN AN ORDERLY AND PROCEDURAL MANNER Mr Govender, who is also a humanitarian and philanthropist, said he understood the need for land re-distribution but believed that this must be done in an orderly and procedural manner. “There must be very procedural ways in which land is transferred back to growers who need the lands and in terms of bringing about equalisation in so far as land ownership in the country is concerned,” he said. CHAOS AND MAYHEM SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED He said without procedural methods, there would only be chaos and mayhem. “People who make inciting statements like Malema will only aggravate the situation because right now the security forces and the government cannot control illegal land invasions. The government has no mechanism to control or provide support to farmers whose land come under attack. “We don’t want to see mayhem and instability in our new South Africa,” he said. The South African Government has strongly condemned the incendiary statements by Malema and his fellow leaders. One just hopes that measures will be put in place not only to bring about security and stability for all people but also there’s land re-distribution and permanency and development for farm workers and others who have been living on farm land for decades on end. Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com November 18 2016

RACISM HAUNTS SOUTH AFRICA - THIS TIME ON WEDNESDAY, NOV 16 2016 - 23 YEARS INTO THE NEW DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY

Racism has once again made the headlines in South Africa – 23 years into the new democratic South Africa. Two white farmers appeared in court today (Wednesday) in the town of Middleburg – north of Pretoria – after they had threatened to burn alive a black man in a coffin. They accused him of being a robber. The case has been adjourned to January next year and the two white farmers have chosen to remain in custody until their next court appearance. Subry Govender filed this report for the Afrikalink programme of Radio Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany)...

YUNUS ISMAIL MAHOMED – ANOTHER STRUGGLE ACTIVIST WHO PLAYED HIS PART FOR JUSTICE AND FREEDOM

Another struggle activist who made enormous contributions in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s for freedom and justice in South Africa is Yunus Ismail Mahomed, who passed away at the age of 58 on January 6 2008. This radio feature in tribute to Yunus Mahomed was compiled by Subry Govender.

(YUNUS MAHOMED WITH FELLOW COMRADES ZAC YACOOB, PRAVIN GORDHAN, AND THUMBA PILLAY) Yunus Mahomed, who was born in Johannesburg on January 6 1950, was an activist of principle who promoted the full values and traditions of the freedom struggle. He worked with leaders of the calibre of Archie Gumede, Griffith Mxene, Pravin Gordhan, Rev Xundu, Professor Jerry Coovadia, Thumba Pillay, Paul David, the late Mewa Ramgobin, and hundreds of other activists.

THE LIFE OF PADDY KEARNEY IN THE STRUGGLES FOR JUSTICE IN SOUTH AFRICA

A RADIO FEATURE ON PADDY KEARNEY BY SUBRY GOVENDER COMPILED IN SEPTEMBER 2009

(PADDY KEARNEY IN THE BACK ROW WITH MEMBERS OF THE ACTIVE CITIZENS MOVEMENT) One of the anti-apartheid activists who made a major contribution in the struggles for justice and freedom in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s is 74-year-old Paddy Kearney. As Director of the Diakonia Council of Churches, he worked very closely with leaders of the calibre of Archbishop Denis Hurley, Beyers Naude, Griffith Mxenge, Bishop Reuben Philip, Natal Indian Congress leader M J Naidoo and UDF leader Archie Gumede. He was involved in the Release Mandela Campaign, Detainees Support Committee, Natal Indian Congress, United Democratic Front and other anti-apartheid organisations. This radio feature was a special tribute to Paddy Kearney in 2009. He is now involved with the Active Citizens Movement.

A RADIO FEATURE ON THE LIFE OF STRUGGLE ACTIVIST SIVANANDAN SIVA NAIDOO OF TONGAAT, NORTH OF DURBAN, IN SOUTH AFRICA

RADIO FEATURE PRODUCED IN 2009 BY SUBRY GOVENDER

(SIVA NAIDOO SEEN IN THE BACK ALONG WITH OTHER ACTIVISTS PROMOTING THE NEW ACTIVE CITIZENS MOVEMENT) One of the activists who became involved in the struggles since 1976 against white minority rule and domination is Sivanandan Siva Naidoo of Tongaat, north of Durban, in South Africa. A descendant of indentured sugar cane labourers, Siva Naidoo has been involved in the former Natal Indian Congress, United Democratic Front, and community and civic organisations. After the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990 and unbanning of the ANC and other organisations, Siva Naidoo became involved with the ANC. In 2009, fifteen years after the advent of our new non-racial democracy, I had the opportunity of interviewing Siva Naidoo at his Tongaat home about his life and efforts at that time to establish a non-racial forum to work with the ruling ANC. Today, 22 years into our new democracy, Siva Naidoo is now involved with the Active Citizens Movement.

Billy Nair – a struggle stalwart who did not leave behind millions or billions in his bank but a rich legacy of selfless struggles for freedom

THIS IS THE THIRD RADIO FEATURE IN HIS HONOUR AFTER HIS PASSING ON OCTOBER 23 2008 In this radio feature, Billy Nair gives a history lesson to students and others about what the freedom struggles were about.

One of the freedom fighters and struggle stalwarts who sacrificed his life for the removal of the apartheid regime in South Africa was Billy Nair, who was imprisoned on Robben Island for nearly 20 years. Nair was part of the Natal Indian Congress, South African Communist Party, the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), the Africans National Congress (ANC) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) after his release from prison in the early 1980s. Born in the district of Sydenham in the South African coastal city of Durban on November 27 1929, Nair was the son of parents who had come from the Cochin district of Kerala in south India.

He was also part of the group of freedom fighters who sought refuge at the British Consulate in Durban in the mid-1980s at the time of intense protests against the apartheid regime’s attempts to co-opt Indian-origin and coloured people into the so-called tri-cameral (racial) parliament. The other freedom fighters who joined Billy Nair were Paul Devadas David; Mewa Ramgobin, who passed away recently on October 17 (2016) at the age of 84; and the late M J Naidoo; Archie Gumede, and George Sewpersadh.

After Nair left the British Consulate, he continued to work with the UDF to promote the freedom struggle without any concerns for his life. He addressed community meetings and students all over the country about the need to replace the apartheid regime as soon as possible. He realised this dream when Nelson Mandela was released and the ANC and other organisations were unbanned in February 1990.

He campaigned vigorously for the ANC and after 1994 served as an MP in the national parliament. He died at his home in La Mercy on October 23 2008. The then President, Kgalema Motlanthe, and the ANC leader, Jacob Zuma, paid glowing tributes to Nair at an official funeral in Durban a week later.

Billy Nair – a struggle stalwart who left behind a legacy of selfless contribution for freedom

THIS IS THE SECOND RADIO FEATURE IN HIS HONOUR AFTER HIS PASSING ON OCTOBER 23 2008 In this feature, Billy Nair talks about his continued torture at the hands of the apartheid regime – after after being incarcerated on Robben Island for 20 years. He was released in February 1984.

One of the freedom fighters and struggle stalwarts who sacrificed his life for the removal of the apartheid regime in South Africa was Billy Nair, who was imprisoned on Robben Island for nearly 20 years. Nair was part of the Natal Indian Congress, South African Communist Party, the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), the Africans National Congress (ANC) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) after his release from prison in the early 1980s. Born in the district of Sydenham in the South African coastal city of Durban on November 27 1929, Nair was the son of parents who had come from the Cochin district of Kerala in south India. He was also part of the group of freedom fighters who sought refuge at the British Consulate in Durban in the mid-1980s at the time of intense protests against the apartheid regime’s attempts to co-opt Indian-origin and coloured people into the so-called tri-cameral (racial) parliament. The other freedom fighters who joined Billy Nair were Paul Devadas David; Mewa Ramgobin, who passed away recently on October 17 (2016) at the age of 84; and the late M J Naidoo; Archie Gumede, and George Sewpersadh. After Nair left the British Consulate, he continued to work with the UDF to promote the freedom struggle without any concerns for his life. He addressed community meetings and students all over the country about the need to replace the apartheid regime as soon as possible. He realised this dream when Nelson Mandela was released and the ANC and other organisations were unbanned in February 1990. He campaigned vigorously for the ANC and after 1994 served as an MP in the national parliament. He died at his home in La Mercy on October 23 2008. The then President, Kgalema Motlanthe, and the ANC leader, Jacob Zuma, paid glowing tributes to Nair at an official funeral in Durban a week later.

Billy Nair – a struggle stalwart who sacrificed his life for the freedom of the people in South Africa for nearly 60 years

One of the freedom fighters and struggle stalwarts who sacrificed his life for the removal of the apartheid regime in South Africa was Billy Nair, who was imprisoned on Robben Island for nearly 20 years. Nair was part of the Natal Indian Congress, South African Communist Party, the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), the Africans National Congress (ANC) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) after his release from prison in the early 1980s. Born in the district of Sydenham in the South African coastal city of Durban on November 27 1929, Nair was the son of parents who had come from the Cochin district of Kerala in south India. He was also part of the group of freedom fighters who sought refuge at the British Consulate in Durban in the mid-1980s at the time of intense protests against the apartheid regime’s attempts to co-opt Indian-origin and coloured people into the so-called tri-cameral (racial) parliament. The other freedom fighters who joined Billy Nair were Paul Devadas David; Mewa Ramgobin, who passed away recently on October 17 (2016) at the age of 84; and the late M J Naidoo; Archie Gumede, and George Sewpersadh. After Nair left the British Consulate, he continued to work with the UDF to promote the freedom struggle without any concerns for his life. He addressed community meetings and students all over the country about the need to replace the apartheid regime as soon as possible. He realised this dream when Nelson Mandela was released and the ANC and other organisations were unbanned in February 1990. He campaigned vigorously for the ANC and after 1994 served as an MP in the national parliament. He died at his home in La Mercy on October 23 2008. The then President, Kgalema Motlanthe, and the ANC leader, Jacob Zuma, paid glowing tributes to Nair at an official funeral in Durban a week later. Subry Govender, who interacted and interviewed Billy Nair on several occasions, compiled this special radio feature as a tribute to Billy Nair after his funeral…… .

South Africans are dumfounded at the election of Donald Trump as the next President of the United States of America

INTRO: The election of multi-billionaire – Donald Trump – as the new President of the United States of America has sent shock waves in South Africa – a country he described as “broken and crime-ridden” during the run-up to the elections. But the Government says it will work with Trump to promote the already strong relations between the two countries and between Africa and America. Subry Govender filed this report……. .

Paul Devadas David - ONE OF THE STRUGGLE ACTIVISTS WHO PAID THE PRICE FOR A NON-RACIAL AND DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA

IN SEPTEMBER 2009 PAUL DAVID TOLD SUBRY GOVENDER THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A NON-RACIAL FORUM TO WORK WITH THE RULING AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS(ANC)

(PAUL DAVID (LEFT) ATTENDING THE NATIONAL PROTEST RALLY IN DURBAN ON WEDNESDAY NOVEMVER 2 2016 ORGANISED BY THE ACTIVE CITIZENS MOVEMENT) BY SUBRY GOVENDER One of the leaders who spoke at the funeral service of Mewa Ramgobin at the Verulam Civic Centre, north of Durban, in South Africa on Sunday, Oct 23 2016, was another struggle stalwart, 76-year-old Paul Devadas David.

(PAUL DAVID AT THE FUNERAL OF MEWA RAMGOBIN AT THE VERULAM CIVIC CENTRE, NORTH OF DURBAN, IN SOUTH AFRICA ON SUNDAY, OCT 23 2016) David with Ramgobin was among the six freedom activists who sought refuge at the British Consulate in central Durban after being hunted by the then apartheid security police. The other leaders were the late Archie Gumede, M J Naidoo, George Sewpersadh and Billy Nair. David was also among the 15 activists with Ramgobin who were charged with High Treason in 1985. The others were Isaac Duze Ngcobo, Archie Gumede, Curtis Nkondo, Sisa Njikelana, Aubrey Mokoena, Sam Kikine, M J Naidoo, Albertina Sisulu, Essop Jassat, Cassim Salojee, George Sewpersadh, Frank Chikane and Thozamile Gqweta. Born on August 26 1940 in Pietermaritzburg into a devout Catholic family, David’s grand-parents came from a little village in Tamil Nadu in South India to the then Natal Colony as indentured labourers. His father Simon David was a school teacher and principal and as such was a strict disciplinarian. He instilled the values of respect for elders and commitment to education to David and his three other sons and three daughters. One of his David’s sisters, Phyllis Naidoo, was also a struggle stalwart who was called to rest on February 13 2013. Paul David came under the influence of Phyllis and his brother-in-law, M D Naidoo, while still at high school and became the secretary of the Natal Indian Youth Congress in 1959. He became actively involved in the political struggles when he joined Mewa Ramgobin and other activists in the revival of the Natal Indian Congress in the early 1970s and was elected the vice-president of the NIC in 1979. He was also involved with the Release Mandela Committee and was elected its secretary in 1983 and in 1984 became fully involved with the United Democratic Front(UDF). In addition to his political involvement at all levels, Paul David also became involved in anti-apartheid work at community levels in ratepayers’ organisations in Verulam, Stanger and Durban. He was also involved in non-racial sport in organisations such as the Southern Natal Soccer Board, South African Soccer Federation, Natal Cricket Board, Natal Council of Sport, South African Council of Sport and at local levels in Verulam and Stanger. In 2009, 15 years after the advent of our non-racial and democratic South Africa I had the opportunity of talking to Paul David about his thoughts about the new South Africa at his offices in KwaDukuza (formerly Stanger), north of Durban. He was blunt in his views that there was a need for a non-racial forum to help the ruling ANC in furthering the social, political and economic development of the new South Africa. His views and thoughts expressed then are very relevant today when the ANC faces serious and deep divisions within its ranks over the lack of proper leadership and the hunger among some people who have joined the ruling party to enrich themselves through fraud and corruption. This is the radio feature that I had compiled after speaking to Paul David seven years ago in September 2009.

National Protests in South Africa on Wednesday, (Nov 2 2016) brings back memories of the struggles of the 1970s/1980s and early 1990s.

A wave of protests were organised in several cities in South Africa on Wednesday (Nov 2 2016) to highlight the rot of corruption and state capture and the lack of integral leadership by President Jacob Zuma. The main protests took place in Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town. The protests took place on a day when Zuma withdrew his application in the Pretoria High Court to interdict the release of the State Capture report by the former Public Protector – Thuli Madonsela. Subry Govender compiled this radio feature for Radio Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany) Africalink programme…

https://sites.google.com/site/subryaudio/soundarchives/National%20protests%20Pkge%20Nov%202%202016_mixdown%20%282%29.mp3?attredirects=0&d=1