“MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL” - HOW THE WHITE REGIME WANTED TO ISOLATE DESMOND TUTU IN 1986

In August 1986 when one of the most radical religious leaders at that time, Desmond Tutu, was busy preparing for his enthronement as South Africa’s first black Archbishop of the Anglican Church, the white establishment was calling for his head. He had enraged the white ruling elite because of his calls for sanctions against the country. The Press Trust of SA News Agency, which was operating under extreme harassment at the hands of the security police at this time, published the following article on August 27 1986 about the anti-Tutu hysteria. “TU TERRIBLE, TU SPECTACULAR, TU TU MUCH” The run-in to the investiture of Archbishop Desmond Tutu on September 7 (1986) in St George’s Cathedral, Cape Town, has been marked by incredible virulence. He has been labelled “fat-cat, vain, impudent and transparent” and lampooned: “Tu terrible, Tu spectacular, Tu Tu much”. The pro-government Citizen newspaper of Johannesburg, which runs an almost daily campaign against the archbishop-elect, wrote in one of its editorials: “There is no greater thorn in South Africa’s flesh than this man of cloth who strides through the world like a religious pop star”, and went on to denounce the enthronement as a quest for “ecclesiastical super-stardom”. More decisively, the right-wing Afrikaner political parties have called for his arrest, prosecution and the confiscation of his passport. In the white Government circles there have been murmurs of treason. It is an unusual situation for white South Africans to be frustrated by a black Christian whose neck they would dearly love to wring. The up-market Business Day newspaper in Johannesburg neatly summed up the problem. Bishop Tutu, it said, “was taunting a blundering Government, calling for sanctions, pronouncing his hatred for capitalism and making his investiture an international showbiz event”. But the newspaper warned that if the Government took the bait and tried to play the Bishop at his own game it would lose.

“The bishop is a master of theatrical politics who has raised the consciousness of half of mankind about apartheid……. He has no need to fear Government. He has won the affection of his people, the honour of his church, the Nobel Peace Prize, and the acclaim of mankind; the only achievement that eludes him as a man of the cloth is martyrdom. “To be tried for treason, and (if the past trials are any guide) to be acquitted, would create an international circus sufficiently sensational to satisfy the lust of cameras for a year or two.” The only point on which the newspaper may be wrong is that the bishop will necessarily be acquitted. The law is specific and provides for lengthy incarceration for South Africans who call for sanctions against their country. There is little doubt that the bishop’s action verges delicately on the treasonable. From the white right-wing point of view the real issue is relatively simple. Will the satisfaction of jailing the bishop outweigh the disadvantage of a bad international Press. It is a judgement on which Bishop Tutu’s head depends. The Citizen newspaper offers some insight into the possible plans that are being made for the Bishop. It says action will not be taken against the Bishop before his installation because it would precipitate an international diplomatic incident given the high-powered guest list. “The spectacular guest list is a ploy to ensure maximum publicity and martyrdom should any steps be taken against him.” But, it adds: “Because of the hostile public opinion generated during Bishop Tutu’s latest trip abroad and the mounting pressure for action in political circles, there is now a considerable body of senior opinion in the Government that favours some form of action at an appropriate time”. This sounds ominous considering that warnings have also been issued recently by both the Minister of Manpower, Mr Pietie Du Plessis, and the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industries, Mr Kent Durr. To boot, State President Mr P W Botha suggested in a jibe at his party’s Federal Congress that the country could soon see the back of the Bishop. It is difficult to say whether the Bishop would have been reviled so bitterly had he been white? In South Africa, however, there is little reason to doubt that race colours most perspectives. In the Bishop’s case, racism has been conveniently submerged in the great debate on sanctions and the “national interest”. Most whites, if they are to be believed, are outraged by the Bishop because he has called for sanctions. The stock argument is that this will put Black people out of work, erode their living standards and increase their misery, “effects that the Bishop is unlikely to suffer because of his clerical wealth”. As the Citizen newspaper put it: “Far be it for us to suggest there should be any actions against the Bishop. But at least we can question why a man who lives so well and travels so far is unconcerned about the lot of so many blacks who are going to suffer because of sanctions.” Seldom is there ever mention that sanctions will affect whites when these arguments are trotted out. It is a remarkable testimony to white altruism which probably explains why social security for blacks in South Africa is virtually non-existent. The fact that some four million blacks in the country – 25 percent of the working population – are unemployed; that nearly two million people in the bantustans are without incomes, let alone jobs, never enters the reckoning. Moreover, in attacking the Bishop, most whites gloss over the fact that he is not the only black person who supports economic pressure on South Africa. The largest labour federation in the country, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), favours economic measures as does the black business lobby, the National African Federated Chambers of Commerce (NAFCOC). The United Democratic Front (UDF) people’s organisation, which commands the support of millions of South Africans, shares similar sentiments as do all of the extra-parliamentary black political groups. In short, the conundrum is that whites are against sanctions for the sake of blacks who favour economic measures that will pressurise the white government into vital political concessions. Those blacks who are the exception to what is very much a rule are inevitably linked to the bantustans, which are essentially and increasingly dependent on South Africa for survival. They understandably, reserve a special ire for the Bishop.

(DR FAROUK MEER - A PHOTO TAKEN WHEN HE ATTENDED A ONE YEAR MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR STRUGGLE ACTIVIST MEWA RAMGOBIN IN 2017) Dr Farouk Meer, an official of the UDF and the Natal Indian Congress (NIC), believes that part of the hostility derives quite naturally from the Bishop’s status. “He is an international figure, with an aura enhanced by the award of the Nobel Peace Prize. As such what he says commands an international audience. “The fact that his views coincide with the opinion of the black majority in the country must hurt whites. By articulating what black people really think, he is breaking a conspiracy of silence imposed on the majority through their lack of political power and through white control of the media. “Whites are quite happy to ignore black feelings as long as it does not reach the outside world. Bishop Tutu has broken the rules of the game and whites are sore.” Dr Meer adds that “deep down whites realise that the real issue is not sanctions, but apartheid”. “They are using the sanctions threat to rally around a common fear. That fear has been raised by a black man in their own backyard. “They have allowed him to grow powerful and now he is a danger. It sticks in the craw of the white minority.”

(ZWELAKHE SISULU - WHEN HE WAS EDITOR OF THE NEW NATION NEWSPAPER) Zwelakhe Sisulu, editor of the New Nation black newspaper, adds another dimension: “South Africa prides itself on being a Christian nation”. “The reality of that Christian commitment is now being questioned by a black man. He is challenging their comfortable Christianity, challenging them to come to grips with the real horror of the apartheid system on which they thrive. This is obviously disconcerting and enraging.” Sisulu says there is also another aspect in which Tutu deeply affronts most white people. “Most whites are still basically paternalistic. They believe that they have allowed Bishop Tutu to ascend in the church. Therefore, he ought to act with reticence and circumspection, indeed respect they finally believe that all blacks must show towards whites.” The white conservative Daily News afternoon newspaper in the city of Durban suggests yet another reason for the backlash against Tutu. In an editorial, it says: “With sanctions barriers going up all around us, it is quite natural for many South Africans to have intimations of paranoia. This may manifest itself in a desire to lash back at those who promote the campaign.” Whatever the psychological motivations there is little doubt that Bishop Tutu has incensed whites as few church people have done in this country. The fact that he has invited international dignitaries to his enthronement has only fuelled white jealousies, inflaming the wrath of a besieged and isolated tribe. They are calling the enthronement in St George’s Cathedral “a showbiz event”. It gives whites the opportunity for sincerely wishing the Bishop breaks a leg. Ends – Press Trust of SA News Agency August 27 1986

MOLLY BLACKBURN – AN ANTI-APARTHEID LIFE DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE WELL-BEING ALL SOUTH AFRICANS

One of the anti-apartheid activists who played a leading role in highlighting the injustices of the former apartheid regime was Mrs Molly Blackburn. She died at the age of 55 in a tragic car accident early January 1985 at a time when she was a leading figure in the anti-apartheid struggles in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. Despite the hatred that the apartheid regime spilled out against white opponents of apartheid, more than 30 000 people turned out to say goodbye at her funeral. The Press Trust of SA News Agency, which operated under difficult conditions at this time, published the following article on January 14 1985 about Molly Blackburn and the respect she enjoyed among black South Africans. SOUTH AFRICA: MOURNING TOGETHER The funeral of the 55-year-old white anti-apartheid activist and leader, Mrs Molly Blackburn, in the city of Port Elizabeth on January 2 1985 severely embarrassed the apartheid regime. Not only did the 30 000 black mourners, who descended on the St Johns Church in the city centre, add a dimension of township protest to the proceedings, they also made it clear that “Miss Molly” – as she was affectionately known – had a special place in their hearts. For many of the black mourners it was no easy matter to attend the funeral. They travelled long distances – on foot, by taxis, in buses – from far flung townships to be at the service. For the regime it was an uncomfortable and dangerous demonstration of mutual trust that threatened its black power myth. To avoid a repeat performance, it banned a memorial service for Mrs Blackburn two days later. It was a gross, insensitive and provocative gesture, that did nothing to reduce Mrs Blackburn’s reputation among the black people. She had already proved that it only took a sense of justice to break out of racist white society. Outside observors might find it difficult to understand how the black people can be profoundly sceptical of white society and yet offer a white politician their utmost respect. In a tribute, Mrs Ann Colvin, a colleague of Mrs Blackburn in the Black Sash civil rights group, offers an insight that helps understand the situation: “Molly Blackburn possessed a common touch very rarely found among South Africa’s ruling white classes.” In short it is a sense of justice and not race that divides South Africans – despite what the National Party says and privileged whites like to believe. More importantly “Miss Molly’s” notions of justice were not academic. She fought tenaciously to protect defenceless township dwellers from the brutality of apartheid, especially that meted out by the police and army in the smouldering townships. She stood up. When she died in a tragic car crash in which a friend, Mr Brian Bishop of the Civil Rights League in Cape Town, also died, they were returning from the small Cape Province town of Oudtshoorn. They had been visiting a black township in the ostrich farming district to collect affidavits alleging horrific police brutality following the arrest of 250 youths. It was the kind of assignment they had found themselves undertaking with increasing frequency since the police and army moved into the black townships more than a year ago. Mrs Blackburn, a mother of seven children was elected to the Provincial Council for the Walmer seat in Port Elizabeth in 1981. As the situation in the Eastern Cape took on the profile of a low scale civil war, she became immersed in the problems of the townships. Hours after the Langa massacre in March 1984 when police opened fire on a funeral procession killing 20 people, Mrs Blackburn set up a relief station; when four leading members of the United Democratic Front(UDF) in the Cradock community were murdered by alleged police agents she was there to share the sorrow of their families; when the police in the town of Uitenhage savagely beat a youth while he was manacled to a table, it was “Miss Molly” who rushed to his aid. She attended numerous funerals of victims who had died at the hands of the police in the townships and openly and sincerely shared the sorrow of the residents. Inevitably, her funeral, like those she had attended in the towships, became a political event – a rally against apartheid. It may have taken place in a white suburb in Port Elizabeth, but it was very much a township send-off. It was monitored by a large contingent of security police; the black, green and gold colours of the African National Congress(ANC) were prominent and clenched fists and freedom songs were an integral part of the funeral service.

The black township youth organisation, the Port Elizabeth Youth Congress, formed a guard of honour at the church and acted as pall bearers. The speakers at the inter-denominational service were black and white and came from both the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary groupings. It was eloquent testimony that despite differences in race, religious affiliation and political persuasion, South Africans could relate to a common sense of decency. Mrs Blackburn’s funeral is not the first instance in which black South Africans have shown their respect for white activists who have given their lives for a more just cause. When white trade unionist, Dr Neil Agett, died in police custody four years ago, his funeral in Johannesburg was also attended by thousands of black South Africans. Across the country close to a million black workers, who could not be at the funeral, downed tools to hold services in thousands of work places. Despite the profound demonstration against racism – which is what the funeral came down to – Pretoria is unlikely to stop using the immense resources at its disposal to keep racism alive and blacks out of the political processes. Thus far, however, it has clearly not succeeded in turning blacks into racists. Ends Press Trust of SA New Agency – Jan 14 1985

MUNIAMMA SOCIAL CLUB FAMILY GATHERING AT JAPANESE GARDENS IN DURBAN ON BOXING DAY DECEMBER 26 2019

More than 100 third, fourth, fifth and sixth generation members of our greater Muniamma family got together for a social function at the Japanese Gardens in Durban on Boxing Day, Thursday, December 26 2019. Family members from Port Shepstone, Johannesburg, Durban and even from Perth in Australia attended the social gathering. It was a fantastic event as the Muniamma family is also affected by the movement of family members to all parts of South Africa and the world at large. The extended family is fast becoming nuclear in character because of the demise of most of our elders. Only two aunties, Mrs Savundalay Padaychee, of Dundee, and Mrs Amoy Moodley of Chatsworth,, and one sister-in-law, Mrs Soundler Govender, wife of Percy Govender, are still around today. All of them are in their 80s and 90s. One grand-daughter who is in her 80s, Mrs Panjala Naidoo, also attended the social gathering. The gathering once again infused some inspiration for the younger generation not to forget their extended family members and their roots. THESE ARE SOME OF THE PHOTOS TAKEN AT THE GATHERING:

SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO HAS AT LAST BEEN GRANTED A LICENCE AND FREQUENCY TO START BROADCASTING AFTER MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF HARD STRUGGLE, SWEAT AND SACRIFICES

(Art design by Kamalasen Padyachee) It has been a long, arduous and nerve-wracking struggle over the past 10 years to obtain a licence and frequency for our long, overdue radio station, Southside FM Radio. Now, after a relentless battle and representations to government, political leaders, even the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, and other role players over the past decade, we have at last been given the 107.2 FM frequency. The frequency will cover the greater Durban Metropolitan region, Chatsworth, Phoenix, Verulam, Tongaat, Stanger, Amanzimtoti, Umkomaas, Umzinto, Port Shepstone, Kloof, Pinetown, Hammarsdale, Newlands East, Mount Edgecombe and KwaMashu. The latest developments came about after our Chairperson, Ms Sally Padaychie, recently made representations to the Acting Chairperson of ICASA, Dr Kea Modimoeng; and after two top-level meetings were held with ICASA’s senior officials in Durban on November 27 and at ICASA’s headquarters in Centurion on December 4 (2019).

(Dr M Sooboo (in the forefront) with Mr Marie Ramaya-Pillay, Mr Deva Ponnoosamy and Mr Subry Govender at the meeting with senior ICASA officials in Centurion on Dec 4 2019) Following the meeting with ICASA’s top officials in Centurion, our Board of Governors, headed by Ms Sally Padaychie, decided at a meeting on Friday, December 6, that we would now embark on all the necessary steps to start broadcasting as soon as possible.

(Dr Dilly Naidoo, Sally Padaychie, Subry Govender, Richard Naidoo, Deven Moodley and Swaminathan Gounden at a meeting on Dec 6 2019. Missing from the photo is Mr Logan Naidoo) The Board of Governors adopted the following resolutions: 1. That our premises would be based at 59 Musgrave Road, Durban. 2. That we would commence construction with our studios and office immediately. 3. That we would finalise negotiations with Sentech for the transmission of our radio station. 4. That we would also utilise the internet to transmit our radio station to areas not covered by the 107.2 FM frequency. 5. That we would start recruiting our presenters/DJs and other necessary personnel. 6. That we would start training our presenters/DJs. 7. That we would take all the necessary steps to plan the launch of our radio station within a period of three months as from January 1 2020. We are certain that you all understand the immense struggles we have been through over the past decade to obtain a licence and frequency for Southside FM Radio. Despite the obstacles, disappointments and even sabotage by some elements, our committed Board of Governors persisted with the goal to establish our radio station. In this regard, we want to pay special tribute to our Board members – Ms Sally Padaychie (chairperson), Mr Balan Gounder (deputy chairperson), Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy chairperson), Mr Deven Moodley (treasurer), Mr Denis Naidoo (deputy treasurer), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Sumeshen Moodley, Mr Richard Govender, Mr Mari Ramaya-Pillay (Johannesburg), Dr M Sooboo (Pretoria), Dr Dilly Naidoo, Mr Kiru Naidoo (PRO) and Mr Subry Govender (Secretary) – for their unstinted commitment to our project over the past decade. We also want to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to our major donors - Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Singar Nadarajan, Mr Santha Naidoo and Dr Mickey Chetty -; the Merebank Tamil School Society (MTSS) and countless other individuals and organisations for their unyielding support. We also want to express our thanks to individuals such as Mr Deva Ponnoosami of London; Mr Rajen Reddy of KZN Oils; Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize; the late Minister Roy Padaychie; former Minister and current MP, Mr Yunus Carrim; and former Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, Mr Eric Kholwane, and Mr Nanda Subramoney of T N Civils of Verulam for their full support in our efforts to obtain our frequency. Southside FM Radio, although a Non-Profit Organisation, will aim to be self-sufficient through the sales of advertisements. Southside FM Radio, which was initiated in 2009 to observe and commemorate the arrival, struggles, and progress of our ancestors from India in 1860 as indentured labourers or “slaves”, will promote the values, principles and development of the people from the cane fields of the former Natal Colony to the new South Africa.

(Richard Naidoo, Subry Govender, Swaminathan Gounden, Dr Dilly Naidoo, Deven Moodley, Roxanne Gounden, Sally Padaychie, Logan Naidoo and Kiru Naidoo at the last meeting of Southside on Dec 18 2019) One of our Board members, Dr Dilly Naidoo, highlighted the views of the Board of Governors when he emphasised that the country’s new democratic constitution guaranteed the cultures of all South Africans. He said: “Our new Constitution promotes and ensures respect for all languages commonly used by communities in South Africa, including Tamil and Telegu, among others. “It also bestows the right of cultural, religious and linguistic communities, to enjoy their culture, … and use their language. “Our new constitution also encourages South Africans to form, join and maintain cultural, …and linguistic associations and other organs of civil society”. He added: “We want to emphasise that South Africa is a country where African, European, and Asian cultural traditions have intersected for some three centuries and more, and in which an emerging national culture is being carried and expressed, by means of many different languages. “But presently the bonding of the peoples is at its weakest. High on the agenda, is the task of uniting our emerging nation at the level of culture and ideology. “We, therefore, understand the integrative and unifying dynamics operating in South Africa today, where languages and cultures are merging organically. And we, as the South Indian-origin Community want to see ourselves as being inside this process. “We believe that presently, the technological and social-structural conditions are keeping us out of this process. “None of the channels of communication presently (tv or radio) in operation, adequately cater to the needs of the Tamil and Telegu (South Indian-origin) Communities. This deprives us of the opportunity of sharing, not only our common histories of oppression and slavery, but also the strategies for emancipation and development, and the sharing of culture, music, drama, and our successes and failures, that will contribute to nation building and our common long-term interests.”

(SSFM Dennis Naidoo with ICASA's Norman Gidi March 10 2017) Our goal at Southside FM Radio is to facilitate communication between the different language groups, and to also assist in the nation building, unifying process. This goal is an authentic expression of the unity in our diversity. The Board want to further emphasise that Southside’s objectives as a cultural radio station would be: • To be an authentic, viable broadcaster catering to the needs of the South Indian-origin Community. • To make available South Indian musical culture. • To provide programs aimed at informing, entertaining, educating, empowering and uplifting the community. • To increase our listenership through sound business practices, journalism of the highest calibre and acceptable cultural offerings. • To accommodate community participation in the activities of the station. To offer the opportunity for citizens and organisations to share their musical tastes, their ideas, and their values with other citizens and organisations. • To establish relevant partnerships and alliances to work towards the ideals and values of the station. • To strengthen civil society at large and to work towards the nation building. • Inspire development of local music and the co-operation, interaction, communication and understanding within and between local artists of all colour and denomination.

We want re-iterate our PRINCIPLES/VALUES are: • Trust and Integrity • Inclusion • Independence • Accuracy and Truthfulness • Impartiality, pluralism, Fairness • Compliance with social values • Transparency and accountability • Co-operate Dignity. In addition to providing a channel for the promotion of the cultural, social, cultural, traditional, linguistic and religious needs of the community, the radio station will act as a BEACON of HOPE and a MORAL VOICE.

(Mr Balan Gounder, one of the oldest Board members of Southside FM Radio since the start of the initiative in 2009) We want to emphasise that we will also be a progressive force and will promote morals, values and principles that are in keeping with the values and principles of the new, non-racial and democratic South Africa. Our freedom icons, including Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Oliver Tambo, Dr Monty Naicker, Dr Kesaval Goonam, Billy Nair, Dr Yusuf Dadoo, Roy Padaychie and Ismail and Fatima Meer, had fought and sacrificed their lives for these ideals. Southside FM Radio will diligently promote these ideals through its radio programmes.