DURBAN MAN HOME AFTER 12 YEARS ON THAT ISLAND

(Published in the Daily News on Feb 28 1976) (The Daily News was owned by the Argus Group and situated at 85 Field Street (now Joe Slovo Street) at that time) In late February 1976, while working for the Daily News in Durban, I interviewed Robben Island political prisoner, Mr Kisten Doorsamy, who had just been released after serving 12 years. I found this article and photo while researching my files of articles published during my stay at the Daily News from the early 1970s till late 1980. Arrangements for me to interview Mr Doorsamy was made by activist Phyllis Naidoo, who only a few years earlier had been admitted as an attorney after her banning orders were lifted after 10 years. She had her office in a building in the “Grey Street” area of Durban at that time. I spoke to Mr Doorsamy in Merebank where his wife, children and grand-children were staying. Mr Doorsamy, who was 30-years-old when he was convicted and sentenced in September 1964, had left behind his wife and five children. His youngest daughter was only 10-months-old at that time. When he re-joined his family, he was not only welcomed back by his baby girl, who was 12-years-old, but also four grand-children. Mr Doorsamy was one of 18 African and Indian members of Umkhonto We Sizwe who were sentenced for five to 20 years when convicted at the 1963 Natal sabotage trial in Pietermaritzburg. He was found guilty on two of the 28 counts that arose during the trial. It was alleged that he and another comrade, Kay Moonsamy, who is now late, had carried out sabotage acts at the Umlazi bridge and in Montclair. In the interview in February 1976, Mr Doorsamy said he now wanted to settle down and lead a normal life with his wife, children and grand-children. “I am happy to be back in society. I now only want to find a job and lead a new life,” he told me. Mr Doorsamy, like Mr Kay Moonsamy, is no longer with us. He passed away in 1991. (Re-published May 10 2020)