MRS JEANNIE NOEL AND SIX OTHER DURBAN ACTIVISTS RELEASED FROM DETENTION AFTER FOUR-AND-HALF MONTHS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN JOHANNESBURG JAILS

(This article was published in the Durban Daily News on Dec 22 1976 at a time when I was fully involved in reporting on the struggles of the people against the former apartheid regime.”

While researching my files containing the articles I had written during my career at the Durban Daily News between March 1973 and late December 1980, I came across another story that brought back memories of the struggles at that time. This article related to the release from detention of activist, Mrs Jeannie Noel, and Professor Fatima Meer who were detained at the Fort in Johannesburg and four other activistS who were held at the Modder B Prison in Benoni, near Johannesburg, from early August to December 1976. Mrs Noel, who was a community leader and executive member of the South African Black Women’s Federation at that time, was detained for more than four-and-half-months without being charged.

She was detained at Modder B Prison along with Professor Meer, who was taken into custody on August 20 1976. Four other activists, Mr Yunus Carrim and Mr Lloyd Padaychee, students at the then University of Durban-Westville; Mr David Gasa, president of the Umlazi Residents Association; and Mr Norman Dubizane, student at the University of Natal Medical School, were arrested on August 19 and held at the Modder B Prison. All six detainees were held under Section 10 of the Internal Security Act. Mrs Noel, who was released on December 21, arrived in Duran late that night. I interviewed Mrs Noel soon after her arrival and the article about her, Professor Meer, and Yunus Carrim, Padaychee, Gaza, and Dubizane was published on December 22 1976 under the headline: “A happy Christmas for six freed Durban detainees” and a sub-headline: “I’m glad to be back home with my boys and mother, says Jeannie Noel”. She summed up the feelings of those released by so saying: “I am very glad to be back home with my three boys and mother but sad that I have left behind so many people in prison.” “I sincerely hope that all the detainees still in detention will be released as soon as possible. “My principles and values have not changed because the conditions and situation in the country are still the same”, said Mrs Noel, who was 34-years-old at that time. She was re-united with her young sons, Alban (14), Virgil(12) and Xavier(15). At the time of her detention she worked as a librarian at the Sparks Estate branch of the Durban City Council Libraray. Mrs Noel told me the other activists who were still in detention at the time they were released included: Miss Sibolinge Khubekhe, a typist at the SASO office in Beatrice Street, Durban; Mr Terence Tyron, secretary general of SASO; Mr Diliza Mji, who was studying at the Medical School and a former president of SASO; Mr Govin Reddy, research officer at the Institute of Race Relations; Mr Bobby Mari, a research worker for the Institute of Black Research; Mr Rashid Meer, son of Mrs Meer; Mr David Dube and Mr R Taole, Medical School students; Mr George Sithole of the Umlazi Residents’ Association; Mr Vitus Mvelase, chairman of the Umlazi Residents’ Association; and at least 18 University of Zululand students. Mrs Noel continued her political activism along with Professor Meer and the others during the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. She was involved in organisations such as the S A Black Women’s Federation; United Democratic Front; and Diakonia. After the advent of the new South Africa in 1994, Mrs Noel was appointed as an ANC member of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial assembly. She passed on, on January 30 2014 at the age of 73. (May 11 2020)