COUNCILLOR ASSURES OTTAWA RESIDENTS HE WILL WORK WITH ALL ROLE PLAYERS TO CREATE A LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR RATEPAYERS AND RESIDENTS

COUNCILLOR SIYABONGA By Subry Govender

The residents of Ottawa, near Verulam on the North Coast, are fed up with the continuing degeneration, degradation and destruction of their residential area despite repeated representations to the Ethekwini municipality. They expressed their anger at two meetings held at the Ottawa community hall on Wednesday (March 8) and Thursday, March 16. The residents are concerned about the filth, litter and garbage that engulfs the main road running through the town and in the complexes of businesses on the main road. The residents say the degeneration of their residential area is aggravated by the motor scrap yards, panel beating shops, truck depots, a container depot, a livestock business, destruction of the Ottawa river and huge trucks that rampage through the main road and the residential areas. The councillor for the area, Mr Siyabonga Thango, who attended the second meeting and another councillor, Mr Stanley Moonsamy, who attended both meetings, were told by the residents that they should help the people to restore the residential and environmental quality of the area. The meetings were held under the auspices of the Ottawa Environmental Forum. The facilitator of the Forum, Ms Andisha Maharaj, said as ratepayers and taxpayers, the residents were entitled to a clean and pollution-free environment. She said in terms of the constitution of the new democratic South Africa, residents were entitled to a safe and clean living environment. “The eThekwini municipality has failed miserably to take any action to restore the dignity of our residential area,” she said. “We have in our possession correspondence from eThekwini officials acknowledging that there are major problems with air quality in Ottawa. The main cause of the poor air quality is the foul stench emanating from the Phoenix Waste Water Treatment facility nearby. The ponds which were to have been dredged every 20 years has never been cleaned since its inception in 1982.

(MS ANDISHA MAHARAJ) “Complaints have been lodged with the Mayoral offices since 2002. Another major source of the foul smell is the livestock business which operates from unauthorized re-claimed land on the banks of the Ottawa River. “We are saying enough is enough. We seek relief from this dreadful situation and demand a 50 percent rates reduction,” she said. She emphasised that the deteriorating situation in Ottawa “is a direct violation of our human and constitutional rights”. “All operations such as trucking, container storage, scrap yards, and heavy industries must be immediately moved out of our residential area to industrial locations where they could operate without destroying the environment,” she said. Other residents said representations had been made for the council to provide concrete bins where people who pass through the area could deposit their tin cans, bottles, food bags and other material. They also called for “no litter” signs in IsiZulu and English to be erected on the main and side roads.

Some business owners who attended the second meeting said they provided jobs for people and would want to work with the residents for the regeneration of the area. Both Mr Thango and Mr Moonsamy in response said they would work with all the residents and role players to overcome their concerns and to restore the living environment of the area. “We commit ourselves in consultative and collective partnership with all community structures and ratepayers in resolving matters of concern to build a better community,” said Mr Thango. “We pledge that together we can do more to build better communities.” Mr Thango said as the ward councillor he wanted to create an area committee of five people “which will advise me on issues within the area of Parkgate Phase 1 and 2 and Ottawa”. “I also want to extend my office through a volunteer at the Ottawa Community Hall on a weekly basis.” Mr Thango said they would hold a meeting at the Ottawa Community Hall on Sunday, March 26 to elect the representatives. “I want to commit myself to work with all stake holders within the frame-work of the law that govern all of us. “This will mean that we want to create an environmentally-friendly community and environment for all of us.” Meanwhile, the Environmental Forum is to submit a detailed petition to the office of the Mayor, Zandile Gumede. Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com

ICASA PROPOSES A LIFELINE FOR SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO

(SOUTHSIDE OFFICIALS WITH ICASA CEO, MR PAKEMILE PONGWANA, AND THE GENERAL MANAGER OF LICENCING, MR NORMAN GIDI, AT THE OFFICES OF MR LOGAN NAIDOO IN MUSGRAVE ROAD, DURBAN, WHERE THE MEETING WAS HELD ON FRIDAY, MARCH 10) BY SUBRY GOVENDER The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa(ICASA) is to investigate three alternatives in order to help Southside FM Radio overcome its long, drawn-out struggles to obtain a FM frequency to get off the ground. The alternatives were proposed at a meeting between senior ICASA officials, CEO Mr Pakemile Pongwana, and Dr Norman Gidi, General Manager: Licencing, and Southside officials in Durban on Friday (March 10). The alternatives are: i). ICASA will once again investigate the possibility of Southside being granted Radio 2 000 frequency at the Bluff in Durban. ii). ICASA will initiate negotiations with DSTV for Southside to start broadcasting through one of DSTV’s channels. ICASA would investigate assistance being given to Southside to use DSTV. iii). ICASA would investigate the possibility of Southside starting to broadcast on Medium Wave. In view of the costs involved, Sentech would be asked to waive its fees for at least two years to allow South Africa to launch its radio station.

(MR RICHARD GOVENDER, KZN TAMIL FEDERATION PRESIDENT, MR DEVA POONOOSAMY, AND MR RICHARD NAIDOO, DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON AND SENIOR OFFICIAL OF THE ANDHRAHA MAHA SABHA OF SOUTH AFRICA) The latest meeting between ICASA and Southside was the direct result of a meeting that Southside officials held with the former Premier of KwaZulu-Natal and current Treasurer General of the ruling ANC, Dr Zweli Mkhize, in Durban on February 11. At this meeting, Dr Mkhize had stated that Southside was not only the project of South Africa’s community of South Indian-origin, but also his own project because he was the Premier of KZN when Southside was mooted in 2010. He also said Southside was mooted at a time when he was involved in participating in the celebrations to observe the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indian indentured labourers (slaves) to South Africa. Dr Mkhize told the Southside officials that it was unacceptable that they had to struggle for a frequency for nearly seven years. He then initiated a process for top Ministers and ICASA to intervene in order to assist Southside to launch its radio station.

(MR DENNIS NAIDOO TALKING TO ICASA GENERAL MANAGER OF LICENCING, MR NORMAN GIDI) The meeting with Dr Mkhize and the ICASA officials had been initiated following the intervention by one of Southside’s benefactors, Mr Deva Ponnoosamy, who is based in London. Mr Poonoosamy had arrived in South Africa early in January to visit family members and to attend the 105th anniversary celebrations of the ANC. Mr Poonoosamy was present at the meeting with the ICASA officials last Friday. He joined Mrs Sally Padaychie, chairperson of Southside; Mr Richard Naidoo, deputy president and a senior official of the Andhra Maha Sabha of South Africa; Mr Richard Govender, committee member, president of the KwaZulu-Natal Tamil Federation and senior official of the SA Tamil Federation; Deputy Treasurer, Mr Denis Naidoo; and secretary, Mr Marimuthu Subramoney.

(SOUTHSIDE CHAIRPERSON, MRS SALLY PADAYCHIE, WITH ICASA CEO, MR PAKEMILE PONGWANA)

(MR SWAMINATHAN GOUNDEN)

Two senior officials - Mr Balan Govender, deputy president, and Mr Swaminathan Gounden, were unable to attend due to prior commitments. Both Mr Pongwana and Dr Gidi told Southside officials at the meeting on Friday that ICASA had over the past seven years did everything in its power to help it to launch but this was thwarted by the lack of an FM frequency. “We have supported Southside from inception and our officials, including the late former chairperson, Dr Stephen Ncube, had attempted to provide Southside with a frequency,” said Dr Gidi. “The former chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, Mr Eric Kholwane, had held several meetings with Southside and had even convened a meeting of all role players to help Southside. “We even tried to get the SABC to release the Radio 2 000 frequency at the Bluff but the investigations indicated that this would affect the transmission to Radio 2 000 listeners. There were also attempts to get Durban Youth Radio to share its frequency with Southside but this had not been successful because DYR have their own licence,” he said. Mr Pongwana said the latest proposals were further attempts to help Southside to get off the ground. “We will do everything on our part to help Southside with the new proposals,” he said. Mr Pongwana said an ICASA official would be appointed to liaise with Southside about the three proposals. He said although there should be no time line, the proposals put forward should be ironed out within a period of two months. “Let’s be positive that a solution will be found soon.” Mrs Padaychie and the other Southside officials informed the ICASA officials that the South Indian-origin community had been given the run-around for far too long and that a solution should be found soonest. “Southside commits itself to playing a progressive role in our new, non-racial and democratic order and for the promotion of a peaceful, productive and cohesive society,” said Mrs Padaychie. “One of the progressive roles would be the teaching of IsiZulu among our listeners in KZN,” she said. Soutside FM Radio was initiated in 2010 at a time when people of Indian-origin in South Africa were commemorating the arrival of indentured labourers in 1860. Despite being granted a broadcast licence in September 2011, Southside had been thwarted by the lack of an FM frequency. Southside’s prospective listeners are situated in and around Durban, North Coast, South Coast, Pietermaritzburg, northern KZN towns such as Ladysmith, Estcourt, Newcastle and Dundee; Pretoria-Johannesburg region; Cape Town; and Port Elizabeth-East London. Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com

OTTAWA RESIDENTS UP IN ARMS OVER THE DEGENERATION AND DESTRUCTION OF THEIR RESIDENTIAL AREA

BY SUBRY GOVENDER The residents of Ottawa, near Verulam on the North Coast, are fed up with the continuing degeneration, degradation and destruction of their residential area despite repeated representations to the Ethekwini municipality. They expressed their anger at a public meeting held at the Ottawa community hall on Wednesday (March 8) evening. The residents are concerned about the filth, litter and garbage that engulfs the main road running through the town and in the complexes of businesses on the main road.

A long-time resident and civic activist, Mr Charles Govender, told the meeting that the degeneration of their residential area was aggravated by the motor scrap yards, panel beating shops, truck depots, and huge trucks that have rampaged the main road and the residential areas. “We have repeatedly taken up our concerns about the destruction of the residential environment with the municipality but there appears to be ‘we don’t care attitude’ ”, said Mr Govender.

Another resident, Dr Atom Dilraj, said a few residents had recently held talks with the Environmental Health officials of the municipality about the deteriorating state of affairs in Ottawa. “The municipal officials agreed with us that heavy industries such as trucking yards, panel beating shops, scrap yards, and the livestock business should not operate in our residential area,” he said. “The officials informed us that they will interact with other departments about our concerns. They have informed us that they have asked for concrete bins to be erected on the old main road. “However, we want to emphasise that we are pretty fed up with the trucks and huge vehicles that flout all regulations and drive through the residential roads, especially Munn-Riverview Roads, Maharaj Road and Kissoon Road and now along Sunker Road. It is noted that municipal officials appear to be dragging their heels in taking corrective measures against transgressors. This is noticed by new scrap yards starting up and operating in Maharaj Road,” he said.

The facilitator of the Ottawa Environment Forum, Ms Andisha Maharaj, told the meeting that as ratepayers and taxpayers, the residents were entitled to a clean and pollution-free environment. She said in terms of the constitution of the new democratic South Africa, residents were entitled to a safe and clean living environment. “The eThekwini municipality has failed miserably to take any action to restore the dignity of our residential area,” she said. “We have in our possession correspondence from eThekwini officials acknowledging that there are major problems with air quality in Ottawa. The main cause of the poor air quality is the foul stench emanating from the Phoenix Waste Water Treatment facility nearby. The ponds which were to have been dredged every 20 years has never been cleaned since its inception in 1982. “Complaints have been lodged with the Mayoral offices since 2002. Another major source of the foul smell is the livestock business which operates from unauthorized re-claimed land on the banks of the Ottawa River. “We are saying enough is enough. We seek relief from this dreadful situation and demand a 50 percent rates reduction,” she said. She emphasised that the deteriorating situation in Ottawa “is a direct violation of our human and constitutional rights”. “All operations such as trucking, container storage, scrap yards, and heavy industries must be immediately moved out of our residential area to industrial locations where they could operate without destroying the environment,” she said.

The residents also expressed their concerns that they had invited the councillor for the area to attend the meeting, but the councillor concerned failed to attend without any explanation. The residents decided that they would submit a detailed petition to the Mayor, Ms Zandile Gumede, about their concerns and demand a reduction in their rates because of the degeneration, degradation and destruction that have engulfed their residential area. Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com

TAMIL FEDERATION OF KZN INAUGURAL GOLF TOURNAMENT ON SUNDAY, APRIL 23 AT UMDONI GOLF CLUB

TAMIL FEDERATION GOLF DAY The Tamil Federation of KwaZulu-Natal, an affiliate of the SA Tamil Federation, will hold its first fund-raising golf day on Sunday, April 23 at the Umdoni Golf Club on the South Coast. The federation has appealed to benefactors to help the fund-raising initiative by choosing four sponsorship initiatives. They are: R1 000 for a hole; R500 for a green; four identical prizes; and cash donation in lieu of prizes. The cost for golfers is R1 000 per four ball and the format is four ball alliance with two scores to count. The tee-off time is 8:30am and it’s a shot- gun start. The fee includes green fees, dinner and prizes. Players intending to use golf carts should telephone Veni at Umdoni Golf Club on 039 – 975 1614. Sponsors and golfers intending to participate in the tournament are asked to contact Mr Bobby Naidoo on 081 891 5136 or email: sales@batesgm.co.za; and Mr Morgan Govindsami on 083 775 9285 or email: morgang@telkomsa.net.

NEW DIVINE HEAD OF BAPS INTERNATIONAL AND 20 SADHUS TO VISIT SOUTH AFRICA LATER THIS MONTH

By Subry Govender The divine head of the Indian international spiritual organisation, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, Param Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj, and a group of 20 sadhus will visit South Africa to interact with local devotees from March 24 to 29. Swami Maharaj has visited South Africa on three occasions previously as the disciple of the former head of the BAPS movement, Param Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj, who passed on last year at the age of 95. He is the sixth spiritual successor of the BAPS movement. Swami Maharaj, who first graduated as a sadhu within the BAPS movement in 1961, has been described by the late Pramukh Swami Maharaj as "a geneuine spiritual luminary through whom God touches the lives of innumerable aspirants, and makes their lives divine". The spokesperson for BAPS South Africa, Hari Patel, said the new spiritual head and the 20 sadhus would interact with devotees, members of the public and deliver lectures at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Lenasia, Johannesburg on March 24, 26, 27 and 28. He said the visiting luminaries would also participate in a special Vedic ceremony and laying of the foundation stone of the organisation's Mandir cultural complex in Northriding, north of Johannesburg. "The Mandir and Haveli is envisioned to be a symbol of Hindu pride and glory in South Africa, dedicated to the memory of the great visionary leader of BAPS, Param Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj,” he said. "A 17-acre site located in North Riding has been selected for the construction of the Haveli which will stand as an architectural wonder in Johannesburg. The Haveli will celebrate Hindu values and inspire moral and spiritual upliftment for generations to come.” Mr Patel said both the lectures and the foundation opening ceremony were open to all members of the public. "We humbly request one and all to participate in the Shila Pujan, which is an auspicious occasion to be witnessed for the first time on our soil," he said. Mr Patel said South Africa was truly privileged and fortunate “to gain the divine visit of His Holiness this year since His schedule is ever so tight”. “He continues to inspire millions towards a morally right, God-centric life without addiction, violence and crime by establishing numerous cultural centers, hospitals and educational facilities around the globe.” Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com

DR ZWELI MKHIZE ASSURES SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO IS ALSO HIS PROJECT

DR MKHIZE HOLDS MEETING WITH SOUTHSIDE ON FEBRUARY 11 2017

On Saturday, February 11, former KwaZulu-Natal Premier, current Treasurer General and senior leader of the ruling ANC, Dr Zweli Mkhize, held talks with Board members of Southside FM Radio about the radio station’s struggles to obtain a frequency. The meeting was held at the Coastlands Hotel in Durban. Southside Board members present at the meeting were Mrs Sally Padaychie, chairperson and widow of the late Minister of Communications, Mr Roy Padaychie; Mr Richard Naidoo, deputy president and senior official of the Andhra Maha Sabha of SA; Mr Richard Govender, committee member and president of the KwaZulu-Natal Tamil Federation and senior official of the South African Tamil Federation; Mr Swaminathan Gounden, committee member and veteran struggle stalwart; Mr Maynard Govender; and Mr Subry Govender, secretary and veteran struggle journalist. During the course of the meeting, Dr Mkhize told those present that he considered Southside FM Radio as one his own projects as he had supported the initiative since he was the Premier of the KwaZulu-Natal province. He had thrown his weight fully behind the initiative because it was mooted at a time in 2010 when local South Africans of Indian-origin had observed the 150th anniversary of the arrival of indentured labourers in the former Natal Colony in 1860. He emphasised he always saw the initiative as an important move in the new non-racial and democratic South Africa because of the principles not only to promote cultural and social co-operation and interaction between the different communities, but also to be a progressive force in the new South Africa. He also said that he considered the radio station’s policy to promote the learning of IsiZulu as an important step towards social cohesion. He, therefore, was shocked and amazed that more than six years down the line, Southside has not yet been granted a frequency. He was of the view that Southside should have started broadcasting a long time ago. When told that Southside’s Board, supporters, donors and prospective listeners considered the failure to grant a frequency to be a case of “marginalisation” of a significant and large cultural community in South Africa, Dr Mkhize immediately contacted the relevant role players to inquire about Southside’s position. Dr Mkhize was given an assurance by those in charge and the senior officials concerned that the matter would be attended to as a matter of urgency. During his conversations with the relevant role players, Dr Mkhize re-iterated that Southside was one his own projects and he urged the officials to interact with Southside officials and to reach a settlement without delay. He also emphasised to the senior officials that Southside was founded on the principle to promote the social, cultural and economic development of the new, non-racial and democratic South Africa.

SOME OF THE OTTAWA BOYS OF THE LATE 1960s

(RUSTY MAHARAJ, MOHAN, STEVEN, ADAM AND SAM. THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN IN THE LATE 1960s ON THE GROUND WHERE THE GLOBES SHOPPING CENTRE IS NOW SITUATED. THEY ARE SEATED ON A CAR OWNED BY MOHAN)

OTTAWA BRANCH OF THE SA RED CROSS SOCIETY IN THE MID-1950S

IN THE 1950s and 1960s we had a branch of the SA Red Cross Society in Ottawa. I was still in primary school at the Jhugroo Primary School when I joined and learned a great deal from the senior members. They were from (left to right): Mr Barley, this gentleman used to stay as a tenant in the yard of George Singh's father in school road, Chotoo, Mr Dicky Maharaj, this gentleman used to own the shop at the corner of the main road and Kissoon Road, Mr Padaychee (who was a representative of the Red Cross Head Office in Durban), Subry Govender the writer, and Mr Moses. THE MEMBERS ARE SEEN HERE ENJOYING A DAY AT THE BEACH AWAY FROM THE WORK OF THE RED CROSS.

BLUEBELLS HOUSE SPORTS TEAM AT THE JHUGROO PRIMARY SCHOOL IN OTTAWA IN THE MID-1950s

BLUEBELLS HOUSE SPORTS TEAM OF THE JHUGROO PRIMARY SCHOOL IN OTTAWA IN THE MID-1950s. THE SCHOOL AT THAT TIME WAS SITUATED WHERE THE GLOBE'S SHOPPING CENTRE IS NOW IN OPERATION. IN THIS PICTURE ARE TEACHERS - MR GOBINDER, MR HIRAMAN, MR MOON SUBRAYEN AND MR MAHARAJ. SOME OF THE BOYS IN THE PHOTO ARE KALIMUTHU, ISMAIL DHOOMA, VALIATHAM. THE WRITER IS IN THE FRONT. SOME OF GIRLS ARE ANGELA, PRITHIMA MAHARAJ, JANAKI, AND MISS NAICKER. I AM SORRY I CANNOT RECALL THE NAMES OF THE OTHER GIRLS.

PRIMARY SCHOOL CLASS AT THE JHUGROO PRIMARY SCHOOL IN OTTAWA IN THE MID-1950s

THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF A PRIMARY CLASS PHOTO WHILE ATTENDING THE JHUGROO PRIMARY SCHOOL IN OTTAWA IN THE MID-1950s. AT THAT TIME THE SCHOOL WAS SITUATED WHERE THE GLOBE'S SHOPPING CENTRE IS NOW IN PLACE. THE SCHOOL WAS BUILT OF WOOD AND IRON AND BOASTED FOUR CLASS ROOMS, A PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE AND A SCHOOL GROUND. THERE WAS ALSO SEPARATE MEETING PLACE FOR THE SCHOOL GIRLS. IN THIS PHOTOGRAPHS ARE THE PRINCIPAL MR NAIDOO, TEACHER MS I D MAHARAJ (WHO IS NOW MRS RAJOO), AND A NUMBER OF CLASS MATES WHO I REMEMBER FONDLY. SOME OF THE BOYS I RECOGINISE ARE MUSTAPHA, WHOSE FAMILY HOME IS STILL IN MUNN ROAD, OTTAWA; ANTHONY, WHO WITH HIS FAMILY USED TO STAY IN AN AREA AT THAT TIME KNOWN AS UPLANDS; AND MOGA, WHO USED TO STAY NEAR THE PARTHABS IN SCHOOL ROAD. ANY OF THE GIRLS AND BOYS WHO RECOGNISE THEMSELVES IN THIS PICTURE SHOULD CONTACT ME ON: subrygovender@gmail.com

ISIPINGO PRIMARY SCHOOL CLASS IN THE EARLY 1950s

THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF MY PRIMARY CLASS AT THE ISIPINGO PRIMARY SCHOOL IN TH EARLY 1950S. I CANNOT RECALL THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OR THE TEACHER IN THE PHOTO. AS FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS, I AM JUST WONDERING WHETHER ANY ONE COULD RECOGNISE THEMSELVES. IF ANY ONE CAN RECOLLECT THE EARLY DAYS IN THE ISIPINGO PRIMARY SCHOOL, PLEASE CONTACT ME ON: subrygovender@gmail.com.

OTTAWA RESIDENTS TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING AT THE COMMUNITY HALL ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 8 TO PROTEST AGAINST THE DEGENERATION OF THEIR RESIDENTIAL AREA

The residents of Ottawa, near Verulam on the North Coast, are fed up with the continuing degeneration of their residential area despite repeated representations to the Ethekwini municipality. In order to speed up the regeneration of the residential area, the residents will hold a public meeting at the Ottawa Community Hall on Wednesday, March 8 at 6pm. The contact person for the meeting is Ms Andisha Maharaj of the Ottawa Environmental Forum. The residents are concerned about the filth, litter and garbage that engulfs the main road running through the town and in the complex of a busy shopping centre on the main road.

The degeneration, degradation and destruction of this historical village are aggravated by the motor scrap yards, panel beating shops, truck depots, and huge trucks that engulf the main road and the residential areas. The trucks and huge vehicles flout all regulations and drive through the residential roads, especially Munn-Riverview roads, Maharaj Road and Kissoon Road. The illegal trucking businesses, panel-beating shops and motor scrap yards operate in the residential areas in clear disregard of all regulations and by-laws. The residents and ratepayers have repeatedly brought this degeneration and destruction to the attention of the Ethekwini municipality over the past few years. Despite pleas, the municipality has done very little to stop the degeneration. This disregard is demonstrated by the failure of the authorities to take action against a huge tanker warehouse built at the far end of Riverview Road in full indifference of all the local by-laws and regulations.

There are also a number of trucks parked in several residences and on one plot in Riverview Road. These trucks are driven at regular intervals on the residential roads and they lead to the destruction of the tarred roads and electricity poles. The filth and litter is aggravated by the failure of all concerned to clean up the main roads and around business centres on the main road. What a tragedy! They contribute nothing to the upliftment and care of the environment in which they operate. The municipality also has done nothing about the destruction of the Ohlange River near the Ottawa bridge. Truckers and others dump sand and rubbish into this river without any concern for the environment. There’s also one shark who has dumped sand onto the river near the bridge, reclaimed a part of river and built a huge building on the site. He runs an animal business there. This river at one time provided clean water and all kinds of fish for the residents. Now all this has been destroyed. The residents in a meeting with municipal officials recently have asked for concrete bins to be placed on the main road. This request we have been informed has been submitted to the department concerned. But no positive development has taken place yet.

OUR RICH HISTORY - RADIO DOCUMENTARY ON THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF STRUGGLE STALWART ISMAIL "I C" MEER

(PHOTO TAKEN FROM HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY - ISMAIL MEER THE FORTUNATE MAN) Another giant of the struggles against apartheid and white minority rule was Ismail “I C” Meer, who suffered bannings, house arrests and restrictions for more than 40 years. During this period from the 1950s to 1990, Meer was banned for more than 40 years from either publishing any material or being quoted. He died on the first of May 2 000 at the age of 82 after serving the South African Indian Congress, the Natal and Transvaal Indian congresses, the Communist Party of South Africa and the African National Congress. In this radio documentary Subry Govender recalls the life of an activist described as one of the most dedicated Indian-origin freedom fighters. This documentary was recorded at the end of August 2008 at a time when there was a debate about the lack of a progressive orgainsation to cater for the needs of the people of Indian-origin. This debate was sparked by no less a person than his wife, Professor Fatima Meer, who in an interview with this correspondent in 2008 called for the revival of the disbanded Natal Indian Congress and the South African Indian Congress.

GEORGE SEWPERSADH - ONE OF THE STRUGGLE HEROES WHO CONTRIBUTED ENORMOUSLY TO THE FREEDOM WE ENJOY TODAY

(GEORGE SEWPERSADH BEING CARRIED SHOULDER HIGHER BY SUPPORTERS AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM DETENTION DURING THE DARK OLD DAYS OF APARTHEID) INTRO: In our ongoing series on struggle heroes and heroines, veteran journalist, Subry Govender, in this contribution writes about George Chandradeo Sewpersadh. An unassuming political stalwart, Sewpersadh was, among other credentials, president of the Natal Indian Congress(NIC) in the 1970s and 1980s.

(GEORGE SEWPERSADH IN HIS UNIQUE DRESS CODE SEEN OUTSIDE AT ONE OF THE PROTEST MEETINGS) In the 1970s and 1980s when repression by the former apartheid regime was at its height, it was leaders of the calibre of Chandradeo George Sewpersadh who kept the fires burning for the new non-racial democracy that we enjoy today. Sewpersadh, who passed on at the age of 71 on May 18 2007, was one of the hundreds of selfless activists to pave the way for leaders of the ANC to take power in 1994. Born into a working class family in Cato Manor, Durban, on October 7 1936, Sewpersadh became actively involved in the anti-apartheid struggles while still in his teens. Influenced by India’s freedom leaders, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlall Nehru, Sewpersadh joined the Natal Indian Congress at the age of 20 at a time when political pioneers of the calibre of Dr Monty Naicker, Dr Yusuf Dadoo, Dr Kesaval Goonum, J N Singh, and I C Meer were dominant as leaders within the Indian-origin community. George Sewpersadh came to the fore as an activist in the 1970s when the repressive actions and laws of the apartheid regime totally suppressed all extra-parliamentary political activities in the 1960s. The regime outlawed the ANC, PAC, and Communist Party and arrested, detained and banned leaders of the calibre of Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada, Dr Monty Naicker, Ismail Meer, and J N Singh. For some reason or the other the Natal Indian Congress escaped the sword. But for all intents and purposes it became non-functional with all its leaders either being banned, arrested, detained or forced into exile. It was during this period in 1971 that George Sewpersadh emerged as an activist who was to play a leading role in the anti-apartheid struggles. When Mewa Ramgobin, who initiated the revival of the Natal Indian Congress in 1971, was banned and house-arrested just before the NIC was to be relaunched, Sewpersadh had to step in to take-over the reigns of the NIC. He was elected along with Prof Jerry Coovadia, Paul David, Ela Gandhi and Dr Dilly Naidoo.

(SEWPERSADH WITH OTHER LEADERS WHO OCCUPIED THE BRITISH CONSULATE IN DURBAN. THEY ARE M J NAIDOO, MEWA RAMGOBIN, PAUL DEVADAS DAVID, ARCHIE HUMEDE AND BILLY NAIR) It was during this period that this correspondent came to know Sewpersadh not only as a human rights lawyer based in Verulam on the North Coast, but also as a committed and progressive leader in the political and social spheres. I knew him as a person who went the extra mile to assist the families of detainees and those in prison. He also made himself available to defend activists charged for their political activities. He had a unique dress code and always stood out at public meetings with his coat half open, shirt on the outside and his tie loosened. I recall that he was a staunch supporter and promoter of the ideals and principles of the Freedom Charter, which was drawn up by the Congress Alliance in Johannesburg in 1955. The Congress Alliance was made up of the ANC, South African Indian Congress, Coloured Peoples’ Congress, Congress of Democrats, which represented anti-apartheid white activists, and the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU). Like other activists of that era, Sewpersadh also suffered at the hands of the former apartheid regime. He was first banned for five years from 1973 to 1978 and then again from 1980 to 1983. He was also detained under the former regime’s terrorism laws and charged with High Treason in 1984 along with 15 other activists. The others charged were Mewa Ramgobin, who died a few months ago on October 17 2016, Paul Devadas David, the late M J Naidoo, the late Archie Gumede, Essop Jassat, Aubrey Mokoena, Curtis Nkondo, late Mrs Albertina Sisulu, Frank Chikane, Ebrahim Saloojee, Prof Ismail Mahomed, Thozamile Gqweta, Sisa Njikelana, Sam Kikine and Isaac Ngcobo. Prior to the High Treason charges, Sewpersadh and his colleagues focused the attention of the world on the situation in South Africa in September 1983 when they took refuge at the British Consulate in Durban. At that time the British Consulate was situated at the corner of Field and Smith Streets in central Durban. (Field and Smith streets have now been re-named Joe Slovo Street and Anton Lembede Street.) Sewpersadh and his comrades (Ramgobin, David, M J Naidoo, Gumede and Billy Nair) spent more than a month at the British Consulate in Durban. It was one of the most crucial periods in South Africa as with their action they had once again highlighted to the world the injustices perpetrated against the black majority by the former apartheid regime. Despite all the bannings, detentions, harassment and intimidation, Sewpersadh never succumbed to the antics of agents of the racist regime. He committed himself to the struggles as president of the Natal Indian Congress, vice-president of the United Democratic Front, a member of the Release Mandela Committee, a member of the Chatsworth Housing Action Committee, a member of the Phoenix Rent Action Committee, a member of the Durban Housing Action Committee(DHAC) and a member of the Mahatma Gandhi Trust. Sewpersadh took a back seat in the early 1990s. He told me in numerous interviews that it was now time for the ANC to lead the way. In my interviews I found him to be a modest individual who did not seek fame, wealth or position. He came across as a person who wanted others to come to the fore because he believed that he had done his job along with other activists to create the climate for a new crop of leaders to emerge in the new South Africa. “I am of the view that there is no need for the old activists to vie for positions in the new South Africa,” he used to emphasise in discussions with me. “We must be more concerned about the socially-deprived and the poor.” A few months before he passed on in 2007, George Sewpersadh telephoned me and said he wanted to speak to me about the current political and social in South Afrrica. When I arrived at his office in Verulam, he said: “Subry jump into my car. We will drive to the beach at Umdloti and chat there.” He spoke about the struggles to create the new South Africa and in no uncertain terms pointed out that he was disillusioned with the actions of some of the people in the new Government. He was concerned that the new ruling elite had not kept to the values and principles promoted by the Mandelas, Sisulus, Tambos, Monty Naickers, Yusuf Dadoos and Mbekis.

(SEWPERSADH WITH DR AUBREY MOKOAPE, ONE OF THE TREASON TRIALISTS) “Many of us sacrificed our lives for the democracy we enjoy today. But it seems some of the people in the new government have become more reckless than our former oppressors. They have forgotten the values and principles that we had committed ourselves during the height of the struggles,” he had said. When we departed, he told me: “Subry, we have made our contributions and it is now up to the new generation to ensure that the true values and principles of the new South Africa are promoted and protected.” Whatever he did was in the interests of the marginalised, a fast disappearing principle in the new South Africa where consumption and greed for wealth appears to the norm. George Sewpersadh left his mark as a humble and self-less human being, qualities that many in positions of power today should try to emulate. Although he became disillusioned during the last days of his life, he has not been forgotten in the new South Africa. One of the streets in Verulam where he practised as a lawyer all his active life, has been re-named “George Sewpersadh Street”. Ends – Feb 15 2017 (subrygovender@gmail.com)