NELSON MANDELA - HIS RICH LEGACY OF A UNITED, PEACEFUL, NON-RACIAL AND DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA. HE WOULD BE DEEPLY DISILLUSIONED AND DISAPPOINTED WITH THE RACIAL HATRED BEING SPEWED BY SOME POLITICAL ELEMENTS TODAY

BY SUBRY GOVENDER The late former South African President, Nelson Mandela, was more than just a political leader. At a time when South Africans are commemorating Mandela’s 100th birth anniversary, it is appropriate to assert that he was one leader, more than anyone else, who had continually promoted unity, non-racialism and peaceful co-existence of all people. Subry Govender produced this radio documentary as a tribute to Mandela on his 90th birthday. There is no doubt that wherever he is now, Mandela will be deeply disillusioned and disappointed by those political leaders who are now spreading racial hatred and genocide. It seems that these new political elites have no respect or regard for Mandela’s values of unity, peaceful co-existence, non-racialism and democracy.

NELSON MANDELA AWARDED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN 1993 ALONG WITH F W DE KLERK FOR REACHING AN AGREEMENT TO BRING ABOUT A NEW, PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA

BY SUBRY GOVENDER At the end of 1993 the ANC, under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, and other political parties had reached an agreement for an Interim Government and the date for the first free and democratic elections on 27th April 1994. The agreement was reached at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa) talks at Kempton Park in Johannesburg. Following this agreement, Mandela and the then apartheid President, F W De Klerk, were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts in bringing about a peaceful settlement in South Africa. Subry Govender, in this radio documentary, recalls the occasion when Nelson Mandela returned home after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway.

PODCAST

NELSON MANDELA ON THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

(NELSON MANDELA IN ONE OF HIS COUNTLESS INTERACTIONS WITH THE MEDIA) BY SUBRY GOVENDER Only a decade after the attainment of our freedom in April 1994, some members of the ruling ANC were intent on curbing the Freedom of Press through what was termed, Protection of Information Bill. The new move, if enacted, would have prevented the unauthorised publication of sensitive intelligence information. That move by the ANC came in the wake of repeated attacks on the media by some members of the ruling ANC. In a radio documentary compiled in August 2008, Subry Govender looked back at the high regard in which Nelson Mandela held the media in direct contrast to some new leaders. This radio documentary is being published as a tribute to Nelson Mandela at a time when South Africans are commemorating Mandela’s 100th birth anniversary.

NELSON MANDELA LAYING DOWN THE LAW DURING NEGOTIATIONS AT CODESA IN 1991 FOR A SPEEDY END TO WHITE MINORITY RULE

BY SUBRY GOVENDER

(NELSON MANDELA GREETING APARTHEID PRESIDENT F W DE KLERK DURING THE CODESA NEGOTIATIONS IN 1991) The creation of our non-racial and democratic South Africa has not been an easy one. After Nelson Mandela was released on February 11 1990, the ANC and the former ruling National Party, together with other parties, in 1991 created the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (or Codesa) where the establishment of the new South Africa was discussed. But at the same time third force elements unleashed a wave of violence to destabilise the ANC. On the commemoration of Mandela’s 100th birth anniversary, SUBRY GOVENDER, recalls how Nelson Mandela laid down the law for a speedy end to white minority rule.

NELSON MANDELA TALKS TO SUBRY GOVENDER SOMETIME IN 1990 ABOUT HIS VISION FOR A NEW, NON-RACIAL, DEMOCRATIC AND BETTER SOUTH AFRICA FOR ALL

SUBRY GOVENDER'S INTERVIEW WITH NELSON MANDELA ABOUT HIS VISION FOR A NEW SOUTH AFRICA

(SUBRY GOVENDER WITH NELSON MANDELA IN 1994) BY SUBRY GOVENDER In the early 1990s after Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, media people from all over the world to obtain interviews with the ANC leader. This correspondent, who worked for the Press Trust of India, Radio Deutsche Welle, and other foreign radio stations, was one of those who was lucky to have interviewed Mandela at his office in Luthuli House in Johannesburg. On the occasion of Mandela’s 100th birth anniversary, Subry Govender compiled this radio documentary as part of the contribution for a united, non-racial, democratic and a socially-economically better South Africa for all.

NELSON MANDELA INAUGURATED AS SOUTH AFRICA’S FIRST DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT ON MAY 10 1994 IN PRETORIA

BY SUBRY GOVENDER On the 100th birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela, Subry Govender recalls the event when the freedom icon was installed as South Africa’s first democratic President on May 10 1990. This radio documentary is yet another contribution for South Africans to learn and practise the ideals, values and principles of a South African society that will be free, democratic, united, non-racial and socially and economically progressive for all.

NELSON MANDELA ADDRESSING RALLY IN CAPE TOWN ON 5TH MAY 1994 AFTER HE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA

(NELSON MANDELA MEETING POLITICAL ACTICIST, A S CHETTY, IN PIETERMARITZBURG IN NOVEMBER 1994) BY SUBRY GOVENDER On May 5 1990, Nelson Mandela pronounced his vision for a new South Africa before a massive crowd in Cape Town. He was introduced by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who was a political activist and leader of the Anglican church in Southern Africa. On his 100th birth anniversary in July 18 2018, Subry Govender recalls this event as our tribute to Nelson Mandela

NELSON MANDELA ADDRESSES SOWETO RALLY TWO DAYS AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM 27 YEARS IN PRISON ON FEBRUARY 11 1990

WALTER SISULU INTRODUCES MANDELA TO THE MASSIVE CROWD

(SUBRY GOVENDER AND A COLLEAGUE, WHOSE NAME I HAVE FORGOTTEN, AT THE FNB STADIUM IN SOWETO ON FEBRUARY 13 1990) The importance of unity, discipline and high moral values have always been the legacy of freedom icon and South Africa’s first democratic President, Nelson Mandela. He highlighted these values together with his former prison inmate and comrade in arms, Walter Sisulu, only two days after he was released from prison 28 years ago on February 11 1990. The occasion was a massive “welcome home” rally in Soweto, Johannesburg on February 13 1990. As a tribute to Mandela on his 100th birth anniversary, Subry Govender recalls the event that left an indelible mark on activists who organised the rally.

NELSON MANDELA - RELEASE FROM PRISON ON FEBRUARY 11 1990

July 22 2018

BY SUBRY GOVENDER As we continue to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of our first democratic President, Nelson Mandela, I bring you here, as a tribute to our freedom, a special radio documentary about the joy and happiness that South Africans greeted him when he was released from prison on February 11 1990 after being incarcerated for 27. This radio documentary was produced to commemmorate his 90th birthday in 2008.

NELSON MANDELA - RELEASE FROM PRISON ON 11 FEBRUARY 1990

July 22 2018

BY SUBRY GOVENDER As we continue to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of our first democratic President, Nelson Mandela, I bring you here, as a tribute to our freedom, a special radio documentary about the joy and happiness that South Africans greeted him when he was released from prison on February 11 1990 after being incarcerated for 27. This radio documentary was produced to commemmorate his 90th birthday in 2008.

NELSON MANDELA ADDRESSING SOUTH AFRICA'S PEOPLE OF INDIAN-ORIGIN IN NOVEMBER 1994

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(SUBRY GOVENDER WITH NELSON MANDELA DURING THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN APRIL 1994) ON HIS 100TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY, SOUTH AFRICANS AND THE WORLD AT LARGE ARE PAYING TRIBUTE TO A FREEDOM ICON WHO FOUGHT AND LIVED FOR A FUTURE SOUTH AFRICA THAT WOULD BE FREE, UNITED, NON-RACIAL, PROGRESSIVE, DEMOCRATIC AND WHERE ALL THE PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO IMPROVE THEIR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STATUS. BUT, 25 YEARS INTO OUR DEMOCRACY, SOME POLITICAL ELEMENTS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS ARE DESTROYING THIS RICH LEGACY BY SPEWING RACIAL HATRED AND GENOCIDE AGAINST THEIR FELLOW SOUTH AFRICANS. AT THIS TIME I WANT TO TAKE YOU BACK TO NOVEMBER 1994 WHEN MANDELA ADDRESSED THE COUNTRY'S INDIAN-ORIGIN PEOPLE AND RE-ASSURED THEM THAT A NEW SOUTH AFRICA WOULD BE NON-RACIAL, UNITED AND DEMOCRATIC. I AM PUBLISHING THIS RADIO DOCUMENTARY IN AN ATTEMPT TO EDUCATE THE RACIAL MONGERS ABOUT MANDELA'S RICH VALUES AND PRINCIPLES FOR A UNITED, FREE AND PROGRESSIVE SOUTH AFRICA.

ON NELSON MANDELA’S 100TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY WE RECALL HIS SPECIAL VISIT TO INDIA AND HIS VISION FOR A SOUTH AFRICA FREE OF DIVISION AND CONFLICT TO A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL SOUTH AFRICANS

(NELSON MANDELA MEETING THE LEADER OF THE INDIAN CONGRESS PARTY, MRS SONIA GANDHI) BY SUBRY GOVENDER

After Nelson Mandela was released from the Modderbee Prison in Cape Town in the early hours of 11 February 1990, he, after addressing thousands of people in the city centre, was whisked away to the home of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Here scores of journalists, including this correspondent, from all over South Africa and the world had gathered to greet the freedom icon and to ask him some pertinent questions. At this time I was working for the Press Trust of India(PTI) as its correspondent in Johannesburg. When it came to my turn, after wishing Mr Mandela well, I asked him: “Mr Mandela now that you are a free man, which country in the world would you first like to visit.” Without any hesitation, Mr Mandela responded: “Thank you very much. I like that question. I am bound by the schedule being organised by my organisation, the ANC. But if it was left to me the country I would visit first would be India. This is not only because of the staunch support of the government and people of India for our freedom struggles but also because I have been inspired and influenced by India’s own freedom leaders, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlall Nehru.” Mr Mandela fulfilled this dream officially about seven months after he was elected president in May 1994 following the country’s first democratic elections on April 27 1994. Now some 24 years later on the occasion of the commemoration of Mandela’s 100th birth anniversary, it would be timely to recall this visit to India where he not only spoke fondly of the “deep-seated solidarity” between India and South Africa but also about the “seminal role played by South Africans of Indian-origin in our history of struggle through all its phase”. It would be especially appropriate for all those elements who over the past few months have been sowing seeds of racial hatred and genocide between South Africans. Although Nelson Mandela had made a private visit to India in 1993, it was during this four-day official visit to India in January 1995 when he demonstrated his unbounded “love and admiration” for the people of India. He was accompanied on this special state visit by his political advisor and former Robben Island prison comrade, Ahmed Kathrada, ANC veteran Joel Netshitenze and scores of other officials, business leaders and journalists, including this correspondent. During the visit, Mandela held official talks with the then Prime Minister, the late P V Narasimha Rao; addressed members of the Indian Parliament; addressed the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in New Delhi; spoke to business leaders; and visited the ashram and birth place of Mahatma Gandhi in the state of Gujerat. But one of the highlights of his visit no doubt was the inter-action he had at the Springdale College with a group of school children who rendered musical tributes to him and Ahmed Kathrada. Mandela and the South African delegation were truly dumb-founded at the musical tributes, which included some songs in the Zulu language. The admiration that the school children had for President Mandela and for a free South Africa was expressed by one of the pupils. This is what the young girl said: “Dear President Mandela. We rejoice that you are here with us today. We extend our hand in friendship towards the great children of South Africa. We were with them in their struggles and we are with them now. Please convey our greetings to all of them. We, the members of the Africa Club of Springdale, would like to present to Dr Mandela and Mr Kathrada mementos of our love and admiration.” When President Mandela approached the stage to address the children, he was given a thunderous ovation and the children once again broke out in singing their tributes to the freedom icon. An elated Mandela could not hide his excitement. “We have seen the magnificent performance which they have rendered here,” he told the cheering students. “I thought when I listened to them that I was in Soweto and that it was a dream that I am in India. I sincerely hope that I will shake hands with all of them at the end of this meeting. I sincerely hope that they will not regard shaking hands with me and perhaps taking a photo with them as below their dignity. I am a friend. I will not disappoint you.” During his address, Mandela told those present that he was touched by the hospitality shown to him, not only by government leaders but also by the most humble person in the street. “These two days that I have visited this country are among the happiest and the most exciting in my life. This is an indication of how deep-seated the spirit of solidarity is between India and our country. This has gone beyond rhetoric. It has taken better visible forms and here we have our lifelong friends and children, who are the leaders of tomorrow, are the best gauge of how deep is the solidarity between our countries.” Mandela then went onto to make the amazing statement that since his release from prison in February 1990 he had been to almost all the countries in the world, but no country meant more to him than India. “I have visited all the different continents and countries since my release from prison in February 1990. I have visited almost every country in the world except the Gulf states. I will be visiting them in March this year. “I have been treated with great warmth in all the countries that I have visited so far, but there is something in India that is beyond words. I cannot express my gratitude for the manner in which I have been welcomed by everybody, including young people from the streets. I am like a battery that has been recharged. And I go back to my country feeling very strong and optimistic and I will always recall my visit here with fond memories. I thank you.” President Mandela emphasised this “solidarity” between the people of India and South Africa when he addressed the Indian Parliament on January 26 1995. He pointed out the South Africa was blessed to be a country made up of people of divergent cultural groups who had played prominent roles in the freedom struggles. In this regard, President Mandela said: “One of the greatest achievements of the people of South Africa, in the short history of our democracy, is the capacity that has been demonstrated in the past year to stand together, united, as we make our way from division and conflict to peace and a common striving for a better life for all South Africans. It is understandable, given our history, that people often speak of this as a miracle. Be that as it may, it is built upon a solid and lasting foundation.”

(Ahmed Kathrada and Joel Netshtenze when joining Mandela on his official state visit to India in January 1995) Then referring to “South Africans of Indian-origin”, he said: “For a nation as diverse as ours, the consensus we have achieved around these issues confirms the strength that lies in diversity. That strength, in our situation, is also profoundly expressed by the seminal role played by South Africans of Indian-origin in our history of struggle through all its phases. And we dare say that our achievements in reconciliation draw their inspiration in part from the Mahatma's philosophy of Satyagraha. “Our visit to India, is, therefore, in a sense, also a goodwill mission in respect of our Indian compatriots back home, a re-affirmation of the bonds our nation as a whole has with their roots. If there was at any stage a concern about the position of minorities in South Africa, that concern was challenged by facts of history and struggle. Today, it is evaporating like dew under a clear morning sky, as the nation forges itself into one entity – with all its diverse components not threatened minorities but part of the majority.” Since that historic state visit to India in 1995, Nelson Mandela and other leaders have constantly promoted the vision of unity and development of all South Africans. One would hope that EFF leaders - Julius Malema, Floyd Shivambu, Dali Mpofu - and other elements who love to spew racial diatribe and hatred against fellow South Africans should climb down from their high offices and instead learn to strive for a society “free of division and conflict to one of peace and a better life for all people”. – ends July 13 2018 (subrygovender@gmail.com

ON NELSON MANDELA’S 100TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMMORATION IT WOULD BE TIMELY TO RECALL THE FREEDOM ICON’S FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO INDIA IN JANUARY 1995 AND HIS LOVE AND ADMIRATION FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF INDIA

BY SUBRY GOVENDER

(NELSON MANDELA MEETING MRS SONIA GANDHI, LEADER OF THE INDIAN CONGRESS PARTY) On the day Nelson Mandela was released from prison on February 12 1990, he was asked at a media conference which country in the world he would first like to visit now that he was free. Without any hesitation, Mandela responded by saying that the country that meant a great deal to him was India. This was not only because of the staunch support of the Indian Government and the people of India to South Africa’s freedom, but also that he was inspirared by leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlall Nehru. Mandela fulfilled this dream officially six months after he was elected president of the new democratic South Africa in May 1994. Subry Govender, who covered his release from prison in 1990, recalls the visit to India where Mandela not only re-iterated his love and admiration for India but also gave an assurance that in the new democratic South Africa, all citizens would enjoy equal rights in a free and non-racial country. This radio feature is being published now in order to remind some political elements who are promoting racial intolerance and genocide that Mandela would be deeply saddened by their recent racist utterances.

DR DILLY NAIDOO - ONE OF THE STRUGGLE HEROES WHO PLAYED A "BEHIND-THE=SCENES" ROLE FOR FREEDOM AND LIBERTY IN SOUTH AFRICA

(Dr Dilly Naidoo(second from right) with Farouk Meer, Sunny Singh, Swaminathan Gounden, Paddy Kearney and Bishop Reuben Phlip) In the late 1960s at a time when there was a lull in above ground resistance to the apartheid regime, a number of young activists came to the fore when they became involved in the revival of the Natal Indian Congress(NIC) to keep alive the freedom struggles. One of the low profile activists who played a key role in the re-launch of the NIC was a former student of the University of Natal Medical School, Dr Dilly Naidoo. In this “Struggle Heroes and Heroines” column, Subry Govender, reflects on the life of 76-year-old Dr Naidoo, a former Port Shepstone farm boy who became politically aware while completing his matric at Sastri College in 1960. BY SUBRY GOVENDER

CNR HOUSE IN THE FORMER GREY STREET AREA OF DURBAN

(Dr Dilly Naidoo and Strini Moodley in Rotterdam in Holland in the late 1960s) Towards the end of his studies at the University of Natal Medical School in the late 1960s, Dilly Naidoo used to visit on a regular basis CNR House in Prince Edward Street in the former “Grey Street area” of Durban. In this building activists of the calibre of the late Mewa Ramgobin, lawyers, the late R S Nowbath and late Louis Skweyiya, and officials of the black consciousness South African Students Organisation (SASO) had their offices. It was a period when there were very little activities in the “above ground” campaigns against the apartheid regime because of the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada and other freedom leaders, the outlawing of the ANC, PAC and other organisations; and the bannings and flight into exile of many other leaders. NATAL INDIAN CONGRESS

(Dr Dilly Naidoo with Mewa and others when launching an NIC branch in Clairwood in 1971) One of the organisations that escaped banning was the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) but for all intents and purposes it had been rendered ineffective because of the banning, detention and flight into exile of many of its leaders. The apartheid regime was pushing ahead with its plans to impose the Bantustans, Coloured Representative Council (CRC) and the South African Indian Council (SAIC) on the African, Coloured and Indian communities. “It was against this background that many of us used to meet at CNR House on a regular basis to discuss the way forward,” Dr Naidoo told me in a recent interview. “Some of the people who frequented these intense discussions were Dr Jerry Coovadia, Dr Farouk Meer, Numsy Naicker, Louis Skweyiya, R S Nowbuth, D K Singh, George Sewpersadh, Basil Maharaj, R Ramesar, Rick Turner, Omar Badsha and occasionally Strini Moodley, Steve Biko and Saths Cooper. “While we were holding our discussions, students, at the same time, were being mobilised by Steve Biko. The communities in areas such as Chatsworth, Isipingo and Merebank were also standing up against the imposition of the SAIC. They formed the South Durban Civic Association under the leadership of M R Moodley and N N Naicker. “Our group at Mewa’s office in CNR House then decided that the time was ripe for us to revive the NIC as it was not banned. We had a very successful meeting at Bolton Hall early in 1971 with more than 500 people in attendance. It was unanimously decided that the NIC should be revived,” said Dr Naidoo. “Thereafter under the interim leadership of Mewa we moved from area to area to set up branches in Merebank, Chatsworth, Isipingo, Pietermaritzburg, Newcastle, Ladysmith, Port Shepstone, Umzinto, Stanger, Tongaat, Verulam, Clairwood and Asherville.” While they were busy politicising the people, the former apartheid security policemen were also very active, keeping a track on all the activists. MEWA RAMGOBIN

(Dr Dilly Naidoo - a creche run by the Chatsworth Health and Social Workers Association at an informal settlement near Chatsworth) It came as no surprise when in September 1971 just before the NIC was to be officially re-launched at a national convention at the Phoenix Settlement, north of Durban, the interim committee suffered a serious setback when Mewa Ramgobin was issued with his second banning and house arrest orders. Then at the same time they faced resistance to the revival of the NIC by BC activists such as Strini Moodley and Saths Cooper who questioned the “Indianess” of the NIC. “There was a lot of debate around this issue but we pointed out that no one was being excluded in terms of race,” said Dr Naidoo. “We pointed out that because of the lull in political activity there was a need to carry the struggles forward. We held another meeting at Bolton Hall where Steve Biko, Professor Fatima Meer, George Sewpersadh and I spoke on the same platform about carrying forward the struggles. “An NIC branch was formed in Central Durban and some of the BC people even became members. These people even came to our first conference at Phoenix where the NIC was re-launched in October 1971.” It was at this conference that Dr Naidoo was elected secretary along with Mewa Ramgobin as president. Among the other officials elected were George Sewpersadh, who was chosen to act as President because Ramgobin was banned, Drs Meer and Jerry Coovadia, N N Naicker, R Ramesar, A S Chetty, D Budhoo, S P Patchai, Rabbi Bugwandeen and R B Chaudhary. PROFESSOR FATIMA MEER

(Dr Dilly Naidoo with Fatima Meer, Ari Sitas and EU rep at a Aids Clinic in Durban in the late 1980s) Dr Naidoo worked with Ramgobin, despite his bannings, and the other leaders to promote the ideals of a non-racial and democratic society as envisaged by leaders of the calibre of Dr Monty Naicker, I C Meer, Fatima Meer, Ahmed Kathrada, J N Singh, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, and Govan Mbeki. Dr Naidoo held the secretarial position for three years and thereafter moved to his home town of Port Shepstone to promote primary health care while at the same time continuing the struggles for a non-racial and just democratic country through community involvement. “Having trained as a doctor, and having personally experienced the suffering caused by illnesses, most of which could be prevented since poverty is the greatest cause of ill health, I became a strong advocate of primary health care. I saw PHC, as opposed to curative, hospital-orientated disease management, as being more cost effective, affordable and could be easily accessible. I, therefore, started a rural medical practice in Port Shepstone. During this time, I ran several rural clinics and saw patients at some large factories.” PORT SHEPSTONE TAMIL ASSOCIATION

(Dr Dilly Naidoo's grand-mother and other family members) At the same time, Dr Naidoo continued with the political conscientisation of the people through a number of community-based organisations. He became involved in the Port Shepstone Child and Family Welfare under the leadership of Dr Gabriel and Mr A.K. Naidoo; the Hibberdene Santa TB Centre; Port Shepstone High School Old Boys Club; Marburg Ratepayers Association with local activist Dr A E Gangat; Port Shepstone Hindu Education Society that operated the Jai Hind School; the Port Shepstone Doctors Guild and the Port Shepstone Tamil Association. In 1987 after obtaining a Masters Degree in Primary Health Care, Dr Naidoo took up an appointment as District Surgeon in Chatsworth at a time when the political struggles were intensifying on all fronts. Dr Naidoo used this opportunity to contribute to the greater struggles by launching the Chatsworth Co-Ordinating Council for Health, Welfare and Education. He worked with activists such as Maggie Govender, Charm Govender, Shoots Naidoo, H. Nobin, a former inspector of schools, and Mr B A Naidoo, a senior welfare activist at that time. “Over 100 community-based organisations were affiliated to this body and we used it as a platform to take up various socio-economic issues and the campaigns against the Tri-cameral system that was imposed by the National Party Government. WORK AMONG THE MARGINALISED

(Dr Dilly Naidoo - a creche run by the Chatsworth Health and Social Workers Association at an informal settlement near Chatsworth) “Our Council was affiliated to the Shell Community Trust, and this enabled us to interact with organisations in areas such as Wentworth, Kwa Mashu, Lamontville and Phoenix. This became an effective networking agent and we did a lot of work among students by way of workshops and conferences during this vital phase of our struggles through the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM).” Dr Naidoo also became involved in providing health care and support to thousands of refugees who were fleeing areas caught up in the internecine political violence between supporters of the ANC-UDF on one side and Inkatha, on the other. “There was a mass exodus of refugees into Durban and its surroundings. I joined a religious NGO, Crisis Care, under Roger Govender, to provide support and assistance in Chatsworth. “This gave us the opportunity to establish the Siyakha PHC Project, with Dr Selva Saman and Dr. Poonie Pather. We delivered PHC in nine informal settlements in Chatsworth, Umlazi and Inanda. We trained 90 community health workers from these settlements who were integral to health care delivery. We even had a refugee camp and clinic at Glebelands Hostel. ARCHBISHOP DENIS HURLEY

(Dr Dilly Naidoo - members of the Chatsworth Health Workers in the 1980s) The clinics were held twice a week in these areas and the project was supported by the Catholics Bishops Conference under Archbishop Denis Hurley and the European Union. “We also worked closely with the Institute for Black Research under Prof Fatima Meer and Ramesh Harcharan. This project endured for over 10 years until the new democratic government took over. Unfortunately, the paradigm of PHC was abandoned in favour of curative health care.” When Nelson Mandela was freed and the ANC and other organisations were unbanned in early 1990, Dr Naidoo and his group of NIC and UDM activists saw the development as the start of the establishment of a truly non-racial and democratic society. “We were all elated and full of expectations and all the activists were ready and looking forward to continuing the last part of the journey to our freedom.” At the same time there was a great deal of debate about the continued existence of the NIC. Dr Naidoo was one of the leaders with Mewa NON-RACIALISM THE KEY PRINCIPLE

Ramgobin who felt that it was now time to promote non-racialism without the drawbacks of ethnicity. He joined the ANC and was involved in recruiting members in the Western Areas of Durban. He also served as the first treasurer of the ANC branch in the Western Areas. “During the struggles against the apartheid regime,” he said, “our leaders had taken a principled stand on non-racialism”. “This saw the different anti-apartheid organisations, though forced to do political work within its own groups, always striving towards achieving a non-racial, free South Africa with equality for all. “In this sense, the NIC too, worked within the Indian Community, but within the coalition made up of the different organisations from all racial groups, all striving for non-racialism as the vision. UNITED DEMOCRATIC FRONT

(Dr Dilly Naidoo - Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma visiting a community clinic run by Dr Naidoo in Durban in the mid 1990s) “At the height of the resistance, they all came together as the UDF and the MDM and the outcome was the CODESA negotiations. And the Constitution that we aspired towards was one that would entrench non-racialism. We no longer needed to fight within a strategy that forced us to remain apart. “The danger of this would be for the different groups to work towards safeguarding their own communal interests in a country that was and still is, so unequal. This would only divide us even further. “Under the circumstances, I was of the opinion that we ought to start thinking of ourselves as human beings, as opposed to Indians affiliated to an Indian Congress.” IN THE first few years after the advent of our new democracy in April 1994, Dr Dilly Naidoo rendered his services at the Tongaat Community Health Centre. And in 2004 when the ANC took over the government in KwaZulu-Natal, he served in the Premier’s Office. PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

(Dr Dilly Naidoo - his organisation providing service at a community in Inanda) “I served as project manager for the establishment of PHC Community Centre Model in a deep rural region in a partnership between government and the Divine Life Society of SA.' Dr Naidoo said today, 24 years into our new democracy, South Africa experienced the harsh realities of inequality, deep poverty and rising unemployment. “It’s necessary for all of us to work as a united nation to bring about a better life for all. In the long term, if we do not join the fight against inequality, but continue to see ourselves as a more deprived group than the really deserving, not only does this go against the grain of our religion, but can also jeopardise our claims for being treated with dignity and circumspection by all South Africans.” Dr Naidoo’s involvement in the struggles for a non-racial and democratic society had its origins when he was growing up as a young boy on a farm in the Port Shepstone area. ANDHRA PRADESH AND TAMIL NADU

(Dr Dilly Naidoo, his wife, Dr Poonie Pather, Sunny Singh and his wife) Born on February 5, 1942, Dr Naidoo’s father, Moonsamy Seethanna, and mother, Rajamoney, were second generation descendants of indentured labourers, who earned a livelihood as market gardeners. His ancestors, who arrived from villages in what is now known as Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, worked as indentured labourers at a Tea Estate and a sugar estate in Port Shepstone. “I know my parents made a living as farmers and they survived under trying conditions just like other members of the community. There were no luxuries such as running water, electricity or toilets. “I began to question the conditions under which the people were living. I would join my father when he used to go to the morning market to sell bananas once or twice a week. I would assist him in the market and then go to school. This is where I became street-wise and began to see that there were others in the same or worse social-economic predicament as ourselves.” The concern for the plight of the marginalised and disenfranchised people began to heighten when in 1957 he moved to Durban to attend high school at Sastri College. There was no high school in Port Shepstone and his parents made arrangements for him to stay with relatives and friends in Durban, so that he could attend Sastri College. PAT SAMUELS AND CLIVE VAWDA

(Dr Dilly Naidoo at their refugee shelter in Glebelands Hostel in the late 1980s. In the picture are Fatima Meer and reps of the EU.) “My conscientisation began to grow when I was in my senior standards in 1959 and 1960. Our teachers such as Pat Samuels and activists like Clive Vawda had a great deal of influence on my thinking. At the same time I became aware and took notice of the resistance activities such as the extension of universities act, the potato boycott, the riots in Cato Manor against forced removals and the Sharpeville massacre. We as students were motivated by people like Samuels and Vawda and we began to take a keen interest in the rallies and meetings taking place.” During his schooling, the young Naidoo excelled in soccer and played in the junior league. He played for Tulip Rangers and assisted the club to win the Natal Knock-Out Cup in 1960. He was also selected for Mayville District and for Southern Natal. In the South Coast League he played for Bridgeview FC. But political activism took most of his time and when he started medical school in 1961, Dr Naidoo became fully involved in the various student activities against the apartheid system. “As a student I chose to live at the student hostel in Happy Valley in Wentworth. Besides the medical students, there was a large number of students studying law and the social sciences. LOUIS SKWEYIYA, BEN NGUBANE, DENNIS MADIDE, STEVE BIKO AND AUBREY MOKOAPE

(Dr Dilly Naidoo(second from right) with some of the veteran activists. Dr Farouk Meer, Sunny Singh, Swaminathan Gounden, Paddy Kearney, Bishop Reuben Philip and Logie Naidoo.) “This is where there was heightened political activity and discussions with future leaders such as Louis Skweyiya, Ben Ngubane, Dennis Madide, and later Steve Biko, Aubrey Mokoape, Strini Moodley and Saths Cooper. There were also secret meetings with ANC leaders such as MD Naidoo and others who visited the campus secretly. “My social consciousness developed and this moulded me into a student leader. We worked initially in NUSAS (National Union of South African Students) and then joined the move that established SASO (South African Students Organisation).” During this time he made contact with Mewa Ramgobin when he and other students visited the Phoenix Settlement to provide community service at the health clinic run by Ramgobin and Ela Gandhi. They also provided their service at the Happy Valley Clinic in Wentworth. “We were strongly involved in these institutions and saw first hand the hardship that our people had to endure, and the frustrations of not being able to adequately improve their lot. But there was nothing much that we could do as students, other than conscientising the other complacent students, the community at large, and taking up issues in the press and demonstrations.” STRINI MOODLEY He served as chairman of the Medical Students Council and also Vice-President of the Association of Medical Students of South Africa. He travelled to Helsinki (Finland’s southern capital) in 1968 to represent the students at the World Conference of Medical Students. He also travelled to Rotterdam in Holland with Strini Moodley to establish links with the university activists and doctors there to support their struggles in South Africa. “On our return we started a number of projects, including a shelter for street children in Bottlebrush. I also went to India and Bangladesh as part of a South-South initiative for NGOs. This was part of a delegation of the Initiative for Participatory Democracy. All of this widened my horizons and vision and prepared me for the struggles against the apartheid regime.” Although for the next three decades he became embroiled in the mass struggles, he chose to remain in the background. Dr Naidoo, who is now retired from medicine, still continues to play a role in promoting the ideals and principles of non-racialism and democracy through the “South Africa in the Making” Exhibition being run by the Dr Monty Naicker Commemoration Committee in Durban. He also serves as a trustee in the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. Dr Naidoo is married to Dr Poonie Pather, a family physician, who has been a central part of all his contributions. They have three adult professional children. Their eldest daughter, Dr Prishani Naidoo, 43, a Ph.D graduate, is a senior sociology lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. She has just been appointed the director of the Society, Work and Development Research Institute (SCOPE) at Wits University. Their second daughter, Dr Sanushka Naidoo, 40, is a certified paediatric nephrologist, who is completing her doctorate at Wits University. Their third daughter, Dr Kanisha Naidoo, 36, a Ph.D and medical graduate, is a molecular pathologist who is attached to the London Institute of Cancer and is completing her second post graduate finals. She is the recipient of the Pioneer Award for innovative research, which carries a grant of two hundred pounds for cancer research. Now that we are in our third decade of freedom, Dr Naidoo concedes that South Africans face many challenges of social and economic inequalities. He is also concerned about the rising problem of violent crime. “We have to work with all role players in order to ensure that we create a climate where social challenges such as poverty, inequality, unemployment and crime is eradicated from our country. In the final analysis there must a better life for all with equal opportunities in all spheres of life.” ENDS – subrygovender@gmail.com (June 30 2018)

YOUNG PALESTINIAN REPORTER GIVES DETAILS OF THE ATROCITIES BEING COMMITTED AGAINST PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, INCLUDING CHILDREN, BY ISRAELI SOLDIERS

(JANNA JIHAD AYYAD WITH JOURNALISTS DURING A MEDIA BRIEFING IN DURBAN ON MONDAY, JULY 2 2018) By Subry Govender The atrocities being committed by the Israeli Government and its soldiers against the people of Palestine must be relayed to the world no matter the consequences.

(JANNA AYYAD ADDRESSING THE MEDIA IN DURBAN) This is the commitment of a 12-year-old Palestine reporter, Janna Jihad Ayyad, who has been informing the world since the age of seven about the shootings, killings, arrests, interrogations and brutalities experienced by the Palestinian people at the hands of Israeli security forces. The young girl, who is the world’s youngest registered journalist, was addressing the media in Durban on Monday, July 2 (2018) about the suffering of the Palestine people at the hands of the occupying Israeli forces. She took on the task of informing the world through the social media after two members of her family were killed by Israeli soldiers. She has more than 294 000 friends on Facebook from around the world. She is the guest of the South African human rights organisation, Shamsaan, which promotes social activism through the field of the arts. Shamsaan campaigns for a “more just, peaceful society” and the goal of an “alternative vision that enhances dialogue and contributes towards achieving the longed-for Middle East peace and greater tolerance throughout the world”. In addition to journalists, the media briefing was attended by the Ethekwini deputy mayor, Fawzia Peer; the South African Ambassador to Palestine, Mr A Suliman, and former Durban deputy mayor, Mr Logie Naidoo.

(JANNA AYYAD WITH MS NADIA MEER AND WAHEEDA, ORGANISERS OF THE YOUNG REPORTER'S VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA) Miss Janna Ayyad said the situation in Palestine was “very bad now” with all the atrocities being committed against the people, including hundreds of children. She played video clips of the atrocities being committed against the Palestinian people, including children. She also played a video clip of herself speaking out against the barbaric actions to Israeli soldiers. She said Israeli soldiers showed no mercy what so ever when “shooting, firing teargas, and arresting children”. She said more than 20 children from her village alone were currently in jail. “Really the situation is very bad now.” She gave details about how two of her cousins were arrested and interrogated by the Israeli security officers. “They were treated in the most brutal manner without any concern for their human rights,” she said. “What is tragic is that women suffer the most because they are not only arrested and interrogated but they also have to bear the burden of taking care of their families under trying conditions when their husbands are arrested. “We are being oppressed and brutalised but despite this, we will not give up. The Israelis are not going to stop us from speaking the truth and informing the world about what is going on. “We want to appeal to the world to propagate the freedom of Palestine. We will be free soon.”

The young reporter quoted South Africa’s first democratic president and freedom icon, Nelson Mandela, who said “South Africa will not be free as long as Palestine is not free.” The young reporter has embarked on her trip to South Africa to promote her Child Prisoners Fund, which takes care of the thousands of children who are in jail, left destitute and orphaned by the brutalities of the Israeli Government and its soldiers.

(JANNA AYYAD'S PRESS IDENTIFICATION CARD. SHE IS THE YOUNGEST REGISTERED JOURNALIST IN THE WORLD.) Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com July 2 2018