MUNIAMMA FAMILY GATHERING AND FAMILY HISTORY BOOK LAUNCH DATE

Many family members, their children, sons and daughters-in-law, and grand-children enjoyed a fun-filled day at the Japanese Garden in Durban North on Boxing Day (Dec 26 2017).

The family members turned up despite other commitments and the rush of the festive season. Those who attended included family members from Port Shepstone, Isipingo, Chatsworth, Phoenix, Verulam and Johannesburg. They were Yogi and Soobry, and son Neeran and his wife, Avril; Rani and Knox, son Mervyn and his wife and daughter; and Veni and Nanda, daughter, son Nelosh and Previn and his wife. Cousin Baby and sister-in-law, Baby, and grand-daughter of Isipingo; nephew Jackson Naidoo, his wife, two teenage sons and daughter of Phoenix; Maliga, her husband, Poobal, son Clive and his wife from Johannesburg; Dolly Reddy of Phoenix; Nomzamo Zondi, Mafu and Senati of Verulam; and Sadha and Thyna of Umdloti.Karnagie and Leshan Reddy; Neil, Pre and their son. A number of family members could not make it because of the recent death of our third generation cousin, Mrs Radha Muniamma Govender, of Unit 9, Chatsworth. Many members also sent in their apologies.

The family members had a great time and expressed the view that family members must keep in touch with one another despite the hurly, burly and constraints of our 21st century society. We want to thank everyone who made the decision to attend the gathering.

LAUNCH OF FAMILY HISTORY BOOK We did not publicly discuss the day for the launch of the Muniamma Family Roots History Book but most of the family members are of the view that we should hold the launch sometime in March. The venue will be the conference centre at the former Louis Botha Airport in Isipingo. If any one has a specific day in mind for the launch, it would be appreciated if you could get in touch the writer. (email: subrygovender@gmail.com, 082 376 9053, 031-568 1309). All the best for the rest of the festive season and the New Year (2018).

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA MUST ACT AGAINST CORRUPTION AND INTRODUCE POLICIES THAT WILL BE INVESTOR-FRIENDLY

Now that the Deputy President of South Africa - Cyril Ramaphosa - has been elected as the President of the country's ruling ANC – concerted calls have been made on him to deliver on his promises to bring all those involved in corruption – especially President Jacob Zuma – to book. Ramaphosa was elected ahead of Zuma's wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, at the party's elective conference at the NASREC conference centre in Johannesburg on Monday, Dec 18 2017. Calls have also been made for Zuma to introduce policies that will grow the economy in order to overcome the high rate of unemployment among the youth and the marginalised people. The ANC conference ends on Wednesday, December 20. Subry Govender filed this radio report from Johannesburg…… .

WILL THE ANC TAKE A STRONG STANCE AGAINST RACIAL HATRED AND RE-COMMIT ITSELF TO NON-RACIALISM AT THE 54TH ELECTIVE CONFERENCE AT NASREC IN JOHANNESBURG BETWEEN DEC 16 AND 20 2017

Dec 15 2017

South Africa’s people of Indian-origin who had played an important role in the rise to power of the ANC in 1994 are today, 23 years later, mere spectators in the new South Africa. When the ANC holds it 54th elective conference at the Nasrec Conference Centre in Johannesburg from Dec 16 to 20, the Indian-origin delegates will be far and few between. In this radio feature produced in November 2007, a month before the Polokwane conference – veteran journalist Subry Govender looked at how Indian-origin people looked forward to the creation of a non-racial and democratic new South Africa. It’s now hoped that the NASREC Conference should also re-consider how the ANC will re-commit itself to the promotion of a non-racial society instead of allowing some leaders and members to propagate racial hatred. The best leader for the top position should emerge at this conference in order to promote the culture of non-racialism and democracy. (Dr Farouk Meer - extreme right - is quoted in the radio report. he is seen here with veteran struggle stalwarts at Mewa Ramgobin's one year memorial in Durban in late 2017)

(Dr Farouk Meer talking KZN Premier Willies Mchunu recently in November 2017.) class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">

(ANC MP YUNUS CARRIM IS ALSO QUOTED IN THIS RADIO FEATURE)

Griffith Mxenge - ANTI-APARTHEID LEADER WHO WAS ASSASSINATED BY APARTHEID AGENTS ON NOVEMBER 19 1981

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… .

ANC CONFERENCE PREVIEW CLIPS DEC 15 2017

ANC CONFERENCE PREVIEW CLIPS DEC 15 2017

PODCAST TEMPLATE DEC 14 2017

NEW ICASA CEO TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES FOR SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO TO GET OFF THE GROUND

(Ms Sally Padaychie (second from left) with ICASA CEO, Mr Willington Ngwepe (fourth from left) and other ICASA officials. Also in the picture are Mr Deven Moodley (treasurer) and Mr Richard Naidoo (Joint DEputy Chairperson) STRUGGLE FOR FREQUENCY The struggle by Southside FM Radio to obtain a frequency to launch its south-Indian radio station took another turn on Monday, December 11 (2017) when Southside officials held yet another meeting with the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) at its regional office in central Durban. The latest meeting follows a meeting that was held at the offices of Mr Logan Naidoo in Musgrave Road, Durban, between Southside Board of Governors and ICASA’s former CEO, Pakamile Pongwana, and his senior officials in March this year. This meeting was held at the request of senior ANC leader and Treasurer General, Dr Zweli Mkhize, after he held talks with Southside about the frequency problems. The meeting on Monday (Dec 11) was requested by Southside to find out what plans ICASA has to provide Southside with a frequency in and around the Durban area. Southside has been struggling for a frequency for more than eight years. This despite the fact that Southside has complied with all the requirements and had been granted a licence in 2011.

Those who represented ICASA were: Mr Willington Ngwepe (CEO); Ms Anele Nomtshongwana, senior official; Mr Zakhele Kganakga, Executive, Human Resources; and Mr Nsiswa Gumede, Regional KZN Manager. Those who represented Southside were: Mrs Sally Padaychie, Chairperson; Mr Subry Govender, secretary; Mr Deven Moodley, treasurer; and Mr Richard Naidoo, joint deputy chairperson. MATTERS RAISED After the initial introductions, Mrs Padaychie outlined the origins and history of Southside FM Radio and pointed out that Southside had waited far too long for a frequency to get off the ground. She informed the new ICASA CEO and his officials that Southside has been frustrated in its attempts to launch despite the fact that its initiative has been supported right from the President’s office, former Communications Ministers, the former Chairperson of the Parliamentary Communications Portfolio Committee, and even leaders within the ruling ANC such as Dr Zweli Mkhize. She called on the new ICASA CEO to go the extra mile in helping Southside to get off the ground. Similar sentiments were expressed by Mr Govender, Mr Naidoo and Mr Moodley. Mr Govender also made available to Mr Ngwepe a cutting of a letter that was written by one concerned supporter, Mr Dhayalan Moodley, and published in Post on December 6. The letter indicated the kind of frustration being experienced by supporters and donors of Southside FM Radio. MR NGWEPE’S RESPONSE Mr Ngwepe said he was aware of all the representations made by Southside and the struggles over the past eight years. He said he was also fully informed of the last meeting held with the former ICASA CEO, Mr Pongwana, and the representations made to DSTV. After intense discussions with Southside officials, Mr Ngwepe gave an assurance that he would look at some alternatives and he would come back to us within a matter of two weeks. One of these alternatives included the provision of a frequency in an area proposed by Southside officials. Mr Ngwepe also gave an assurance that once the digital migration programme is completed by 2019, Southside would be given priority in being granted a frequency that would then become available

MANY SOUTH AFRICANS BELIEVE CYRIL RAMAPHOSA IS THE RIGHT LEADER TO RESTORE THE FAITH OF THE PEOPLE

By Subry Govender Many South Africans believe that ANC Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, will be the best leader who should be elected as the ruling ANC’s new president to succeed the much compromised Jacob Zuma, who has been embroiled in fraud and corruption allegations ever since he gained the presidency ten years ago. This is the impression I gained when I spoke to a number of people on the eve of the ANC’s 54th national elective conference scheduled for the NASREC conference centre in Johannesburg from December 16 to 20. Ramaphosa, a former trade unionist who has played a major role in South Africa’s transition from apartheid oppression to a non-racial democracy in 1994, is the main contender along with Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the ex-wife of Jacob Zuma and a former Cabinet Minister. She has also served as the Chairperson of the African Union for five years until early 2017.

(Mr Sipho Tabethe with a friend, Duduzu Ndlovu) Mr Sipho Tabethe, a young man who wants to become an entrepreneur, told me in an interview that Ramaphosa fully understood that the right conditions must be created for the economy to grow in order to tackle the serious challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality plaguing the country at the moment. “I think for me,” he said, “the person with a very proven track record is Cyril. He started his business from nothing to become a highly-successful entrepreneur. So in terms of going into business and creating jobs, unity and confidence, I think Cyril will be a much better candidate to lead the country going forward.”

(BONGANI ZULU) Another young man who also wants Ramaphosa to be elected the next president of the ANC and the country is Bonango Zulu, who is studying to become a lawyer. “I think it’s Cyril Ramaphosa. Mr Ramaphosa has been in politics for a long time ago. He can attract businessmen from around the world because he is also a businessman. In 2019 I will only vote for the ANC if Mr Ramaphosa gets elected now. If he doesn’t get elected, then I won’t vote for the ANC. “I don’t trust Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma because of the relationship she has with Jacob Zuma. I think somehow Zuma has influence over her.”

(EMMANUEL NDLOVU) Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu, who wants to enter the accounting field, is yet another young man who is also of the view that Ramaphosa could change the current negative situation prevailing in the social, economic and political areas. “I think Cyril Ramaphosa is right for the position at the moment,” he said. “I don’t think Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is fit for the position because she wants to save Zuma from being charged with corruption. She will not be able to tackle the unemployment situation. Mr Ramaphosa, on the other hand, is a businessman and I think he will be able to take positive measures to overcome the unemployment situation in South Africa. I will vote for him. I would like to see him as the next president of South Africa.”

(DUDUZU NDLOVU) Some of the people I spoke to also want Dlamini-Zuma. Mr Duduzu Ndlovu, who wants to enter the Transport and logistics field as a businessman, is one of the people who preferred Dlamini-Zuma. “Personally I would like to see Nkosazana Dlaimini Zuma to be the president. She’s been a very good leader. I think she can do a better job. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is the right candidate for me at the moment,” he said.

(CEBO NGCOBO) At the same time, however, a number of people said they did not identify with Ramaphosa or Dlamini-Zuma because they considered politicians “who are only interested in furthering their own nests”. Mr Cebo Ngcobo, a young activist, said he had no confidence in the ANC to overcome the high rate of poverty, unemployment and inequality faced by a growing number of people. He believes the ANC will lose the elections in 2019 because of the rampant corruption and inefficiency affecting the ANC. “In 2019 the ANC will not be part of the Government as a majority. It is showing that it is dominated by people who are voting for themselves. I have no faith either in Dlamini-Zuma or Cyril Ramaphosa. “Nkosazna Dlamini-Zuma has failed even at the AU, while Cyril Ramaphosa is a friend of the white monopoly capitalists who are eating from the poor. I don’t have any confidence in them.”

(SIZWE DLAMINI) Another young man who held a similar view is Sizwe Dlamini, who is looking forward to radical changes in the country 23 years into South Africa’s democracy. “I would say that the person who has numbers to emerge from the conference as president is Cyril Ramaphosa, but I don’t support either of them. I believe they are there to attain their own benefits. They are going to extend their own agendas at the expense of the people. “I don’t have any confidence in those two people. I also have no confidence in the current crop of leadership that the ANC has. Come 2019 I don’t see the ANC emerging as a majority party. The best thing is going to happen is that we are going to see a coalition government. And we are going to see a person emerging from outside the ANC.”

(TOKOZO MASONDO) Another youth who is also disillusioned with the current leasdership of the ANC, including Ramaphosa and Dlamini-Zuma, is Tokozo Masondo, who is involved in community work. He said he was not impressed with those contesting the leadership positions in the ANC because he claimed the contenders were there to promote their own interests. “I think Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma did nothing for the African people when she was in the African Union. For me she’s not fit to be the president of our country. As for Cyril, he is a businessman. I don’t have any faith in a businessman running the country properly. Look at Donald Trump. Cyril’s business interests are going to tamper with the needs of the people.” He does not have any confidence that the ANC conference will run off smoothly because of the factional battles. “Speaking of 2019 elections, the ANC will never deliver a president because the people are fed up with the ANC. The different political parties opposed to the ANC will come together to form a coalition and deliver a president who will be someone other an ANC person.” While the ordinary person in South Africa held divergent views about the leadership of the current ruling party and the country in 2019, Mr Ramaphosa has told ANC members over the past few days that he wants to be elected President of the ANC and the country because he is concerned about all the socio-economic problems that millions of people face in the country. He wants to introduce policies that will promote the business sector so that the economy will grow and unemployment, poverty and inequality will be tackled. At the same time he wants all those who had been involved in corruption to be brought to book. He did not mention the name of President Jacob Zuma but it’s obvious that he was referring particularly to Zuma who has become ingrained in corrupt activities with many business people – especially the Gupta business family. On Monday (Dec 11) the head of the National Prosecution Authority, Shaun Abrahams, announced that he had extended Zuma’s deadline to January 31 2018 to submit documentation as to why Zuma should not be charged with corruption. Zuma was to have responded by November 30 but he missed the deadline. Abraham’s action had come as an ironical development as Zuma only a few days earlier had appealed the Pretoria High Court’s decision for Abrahams to be suspended as head of the NPA. Ramaphosa has called on South Africans not to keep quiet about the corruption that has become ingrained in South African society. “We see corruption happening and we keep quiet. Sometimes we see people stealing money and we keep quiet and now comrades we are saying no more silence, now we must talk about all these things that are eating our movement. Now we must speak out because the longer we keep quiet the more this worm is going to eat the African National Congress. The more this worm will finish the African National Congress.” He said he wants to ensure that as President he would fulfil the needs of the people for a better life for all. “Our task is to make sure that the ANC fulfils the task it was founded for. And that task is to transform society and to transform our country.” For her part, Ramaphosa’s main rival, Dlamini-Zuma, has also been on the road to garner last minute support from ANC members. In one of her last minute campaign speeches, she said if she won the ANC presidential election, she would interact with all role players – mainly business – to tackle the serious challenges facing the country. She said it’s not about who emerged victorious but how the ANC and the country acted on the challenges. “The crisis in this country is not about who wins. The crisis in this country is the majority of the people who are poor; people who are going hungry; kids who can’t afford education; the growing army of unemployed young people; growing inequality; growing violence – especially very violent crime against women, against children; so this is the crisis that one must look at. The issue of people not being part of the mainstream economy, the majority of people being landless, that’s the crisis facing the country. It’s not about who wins the election.” Dlamini-Zuma said she would also tackle the issue of land restoration to the African people. She would not embark on programmes that would lead to a situation where there’s more crises and lawlessness. “We will engage, we will find a legal way, a way that will not create another crisis but a way that will be a solution to the landlessness of many people.” Will she win? “For now I can’t say I will defeat but all I am saying is that the campaign is going well, it’s looking good.” From all accounts it seems that the battle for the crown will be a hard-fought affair and both Ramaphosa and Dlamini-Zuma will continue with their campaign strategies even at the conference until the elections are held. It’s hoped that the ANC delegates will make the right choice for the presidency of the party by selecting the leader who will be able to restore the confidence of all South Africans. As stated earlier, many people say Ramaphosa will be the leader who will be able to live up to the values and principles of transforming the country in the interests of all South Africans – and not just a few elites who want to continue to loot and plunder the wealth of the country. – ends subrygovender@gmail.com