DURBAN INDIAN MARKET OR TOP MARKET - RECALLING THE STRUGGLES OF THE FRESH PRODUCE, MEAT, FISH AND CURIO STALLHOLDERS WHO WERE DISPLACED BY A SUSPICIOUS FIRE THAT DESTROYED THE MARKET IN MARCH 1973

DURBAN INDIAN MARKET OR TOP MARKET

 

In early 1973 one the developments that captured the headlines was the mysterious destruction of the Durban Indian Market or Top Market in the Victoria Street area of the city.

The destruction of the historic fresh produce, meat, fish and curio Indian Market in March 1973 by what was seen as a deliberate fire, raised the anger of the dealers who relied on the market for their livelihood.

At the same time, however, the destruction brought progressive and conservative elements together in an attempt to get the authorities to re-build the world-famous Indian Market.

But the Durban City Council, which was all-white and dominated by English-speaking whites, was not interested in assisting the stall holders. It wanted the Indian Market site for the construction of the Western Freeway and was concerned about the stallholders.

This was seen by many leaders within the Indian-origin community as the reason why the fire was deliberately started to destroy the Indian Market.

From the time the Indian Market was deliberately destroyed by fire, the Indian leaders worked very closely with the Durban Indian Market Stallholders’ Association to help those who were left destitute by the fire, provide relief for the workers and to negotiate with the authorities for the stallholders to be accommodated in a site near the old Indian Market.

At this time I had just started work as a full-time reporter for the Daily News, which was situated at 85 Field Street in the centre of Durban at that time. Field Street is now known as Joe Slovo Street.

I was employed on a full-time basis after I had worked for the Daily News as a free-lancer for five years and after the only black (Indian) reporter, Mr P M Chetty, had passed on in early 1973.

The destruction of the Durban Indian Market kept me very busy and I covered almost every development related to the market for more than two years.

One of the first stories I wrote was about the stallholders calling a meeting to discuss the road ahead for them. The article was published under the headline: “Market men to meet” on March 31  1973.

 

                     

 

                   MARKET MEN TO MEET

 

The article read:

Daily News Reporter

The Durban Indian Market Stallholders’ Association will meet tomorrow to discuss the future of the stallholders.

Mr A R Naidoo, chairman of the association, has appealed to all stallholders to attend the meeting at the Vedic Hall, Carlisle Street at 3pm.

“We will be discussing the future of the market, the relief fund, employment and other important matters concerning the stallholders,” Mr Naidoo said.

A three-man Relief Committee – Mr Rajendra Chetty (who was a journalist for the Post and Drum magazine at that time), Mr Dharma Nair, secretary of the SA Indian Teachers Association, Mr N G Moodley, secretary of the Durban Indian Child Welfare Society (father of Strini Moodley) – has been formed to take charge of immediate relief in co-operation with the Durban Indian Benevolent Society.

 

              DRIVE TO RESTORE MARKET

 

Prof Fatima Meer, elected chairman of the Indian Market Action Committee

 (Mr D K Singh was elected secretary)

 

                        

 

The very next day on April 2 1973 I published a story about leading members of the community who had been elected at the Vedic Hall meeting to serve on an Action Committee that would take up the cudgels of the stallholders.

Professor Fatima Meer, who was a lecturer at the University of Natal at that time, was elected the chairperson of the Action Committee.

(Mrs Harriet Bolton - courtesy The Guardian London)

The other members comprised Dr Anusah Singh, NIC leader Dr K Goonam, trade unionist Mrs Harriet Bolton, Indian teachers leader Mr R S Naidoo, businessman Mr A M Moola, Mr M Sultan, Mr Louis Nelson, Mr H Dhupelia, Dr K Ginwala, Mr Daddy Moodliar, Mr N G Moodley, Mr Dhanpal Naidoo and Mr J T Bhoola.

The Action Committee was established after the white Durban City Council decided not to restore the market.

The Action Committee passed the following resolution at the meeting:

“This meeting deplores the refusal of the city council to accept that it has a duty to the people of Durban in restoring the market.

“It records that this market is an essential amenity which the city as a whole and that it is imperative that the market is restored at or near the previous site in Victoria Street, and that in the meantime a temporary structure be erected at the old beerhall site or some suitable place in the same area.”

Mrs Meer and her top-level Action Committee members were not only appalled at the refusal of the city council to restore the market but  were also taken aback that the council wanted the stallholders to move to a site in Chatsworth. Ends – Daily News Reporter April 2 1973

 

         MARKET ROW TAKES NEW TURN

 

                    

 

The market struggle was not without its ups and downs.

While Professor Meer and her group wanted the market to be re-built near the original site, it was revealed that the city council was the main obstacle in the re-building of the market near the original site.

This story was published on April 5 1973 under the headline: “Market row takes new turn” and sub-headline: “Indian Council objected”.

Well-known anti-apartheid sporting personality and lawyer, Mr George Singh, who was an executive member of the Durban Indian Market Stallholders’ Association, told a meeting of stallholders that the Indian people were confused as to why the Durban City Council had refused to re-build the market after the fire three weeks ago.

Mr Singh said the stallholders were prepared to re-build the market themselves but this was objected to by the South African Indian Council.

“The Indian Council had their own ideas for a market,” he said.

   

                             ( J N Reddy)

                    

But Mr J N Reddy, an executive member of the Indian Council, told the stallholders that he would be making the strongest representations for the market to be re-built.

“We are going to see that justice is done for the Indian people. We will ask the Government that immediate action be taken to get the stallholders back in business.

“We will also ask the Government to ensure that a permanent market be re-built as soon as possible.”

Mr Reddy said he would urge the Government to pressurise the city council to to re-build the market.

The city council, he, said, should take the same steps to help the stallholders as it would have done for whites in a similar position.

Meanwhile, Mrs Meer and her Action Committee had arranged to meet the Mayor , Ron Williams, to persuade him to re-build the market. Ends – Daily News Reporter April 5 1973

 

  FOOD FOR HUNDREDS OF HUNGRY INDIANS

          

                

                         

                               

While the activists were busy with trying to get the market re-built, another group of humanists, formed the Victoria Street Relief Committee to help employees who had been left destitute by the fire.

The Relief Committee was working with the Durban Indian Benevolent Society and the Mayor’s Relief Fund to help the destitute.

The person leading this project was Mr Rajendra Chetty, a journalist with the Post and Drum magazine. He was the PRO for the Relief Committee.

This story was published on April 6 1973 under the headline: “Food for hundreds of hungry Indians.”

 

       MRS BOLTON FOR MARKET MEETING

                              

 (Mrs Harriet Bolton - courtesy The Guardian London)

The Natal Indian Congress, which was revived only a few years ago, also joined in the support for the stallholders by holding a meeting at the Kajee Memorial Hall in Durban. This story was published on April 12 1973 under the headline: “Mrs Bolton for market meeting.”

Mrs Bolton shared the platform with Mr Norman Middleton, leader of the Labour Party in Natal; Mr Solomon Ngobese, Mayor of Umlazi; Dr A D Lazarus, former principal of Sastri College; and Dr Jerry Coovadia, vice-president of the Natal Indian Congress.

Mr R Ramesar, who was the acting secretary of the NIC at that time, was the spokesperson who revealed that they wanted to get all citizens of Durban to force the city council to re-build the market. Ends – Daily News Reporter April 12 1973

 

                          MARKET RELIEF COMMITTEE

                            

 

                         

On April 13 1974 we published a story about an announcement by the Minister of Indian Affairs, Senator Owen Horwood, that Durban City Council would provide temporary facilities for the displaced Indian market stallholders.

                         

   (Senator Owen Horwood, Minister of Indian Affairs in 1973)

But Mr Horwood made it clear that the market would not be re-built near the original site or anywhere in the white area of Durban.

This was condemned by all concerned, including Mrs Meer, Mr Louis Nelson and the Natal Indian Congress.

Said Mr George Sewpersadh, president of the Natal Indian Congress:

“The refusal of the authorities to re-build the Indian market in the centre of Durban is a clear and planned attempt to stifle the economic development of the Indian community.”

 

FORMER MARKET MEN GET VOUCHERS

            

Meanwhile, we published another story about relief for the employees of stallholders on April 12 1973. Mr Rajendra Chetty, PRO and chairman of the Victoria Street Market Relief Committee, said they had to refer scores of desperate stallholders and their employees to the Durban Indian Benevolent Society for relief.

 

        

           

SAME SITE FOR NEW MARKET URGED

        

                             

 

The Natal Indian Congress meeting in Durban on April 15 1974 witnessed leading white, African and Indian personalities calling for the Indian market to be re-built on the present site.

The trade union leader, Mrs Harriet Bolton, who was the main speaker at the NIC mass meeting, said the market was not a shopping centre for Indians only but for whites, Africans and coloured people as well.

“The Market was a shopping centre for all races where there was no such thing as apartheid, but when the market was burnt down it has become an Indian problem.”

Mrs Bolton urged people to stand up and protest loudly against things they did not like.

“Do not wait for other people. You must raise your own voice when you find that you are being wronged.

“I pledge my support for the restoration of the market in the same area,” she said.

Mr Solomon Ngobese, Mayor of Umlazi, said the African people were greatly affected by the loss of the market.

“The burning of the market has caused hardship not only for the Indian people, but also for Africans, coloured people and whites.”

Mr Ngobese said more than a million people from Umlazi, Lamontville, KwaMashu, Chatsworth, Merebank and the coloured townships depended on the market for the purchase of their goods.

“A market in Chatsworth is not going to help my people and other people as well,” he said.

Mr Ngobese said whenever there were plans for development, it was always the black people who had to suffer.

“We are entitled to all that the white man is entitled to,” he said.

At the end of the meeting a unanimous resolution was passed for the market to be re-built at or near the present site. Ends – Daily News Reporter April 16 1973

 

            DEALERS UNHAPPY ABOUT PLAN

  (Mr A M Moolla with National Party Minister, Dr Connie Mulder in 1973)

 

Then on April 25 1973 I wrote another story about stallholders refusing to move to Unit 3 in Chatsworth at an urgent meeting held to discuss the city council and government’s plans for the traders.

The meeting, held under the auspices of the Victoria Street Market Committee, was called to discuss the proposal of the Minister of Indian Affairs, Senator Owen Horwood, that the fresh produce market in Unit 3, Chatsworth, was available immediately for the affected traders to re-start their businesses.

One of the stallholders, Mr G H Mohideen, said they should reject outright the suggestion that they move to Chatsworth.

Another fresh producer dealer said it was pointless going to Chatsworth because his customers were of all races and he would not earn a living from one Chatsworth unit, “especially if there were 40 other dealers under the same roof”.

His views were endorsed by other stallholders.

Mr A M Moola, a member of the South African Indian Council and the Victoria Street Market Committee, stated that the Market Committee felt all the displaced traders, including the fresh produce dealers, should be re-instated in the Victoria Street market.

Mr Moola said that he had carried out a survey of trading conditions in Chatsworth and that, except for a few traders in the Pelican restaurant complex, the traders would not be able to make ends meet. Ends – Daily News Reporter April 25 1973.

 

                                  CASH TO REPLACE FOOD

 

            

                  

Then on April 30 1973 I wrote another story about the relief for the affected traders and their employees.

This article was published under the headline: “Cash to replace food”.

A spokesperson for the stallholders’ association and the Mayor’s Relief Committee said food hampers would be done away with and replaced by cash.

A spokesperson said those employees with three or less children would be granted R40 a month; those with four to six children, R45, and those with six or more children, R50. Ends – Daily News Reporter  April 30 1973

 

                                MARKET MEN TO MEET TODAY

 

 

 

On April 30 1973 we carried another story about the Indian Market traders holding an urgent meeting at the Vedic Hall in Carlisle Street, Durban, to decide whether to move to Chatsworth.

One of the activists, Mr D K Singh, who was secretary of the Victoria Street Market Committee, said the fresh produce dealers’ decision would not be influenced in any way.

“The stallholders will have to make up their own minds,” he said.

Mr A M Moola, a member of the South African Indian Council, told the fresh produce dealers last week that the so-called market at Chatsworth was not a market.

“Although it was constructed a long-time ago the stalls are still empty and an official told us that they could find no tenants in the past for the stalls,” he said.

The stalls had only a roof and covering and no walls.

“I cannot see how this market will be made profitable by the stallholders,” Mr Moola said. Ends – Daily News Reporter April 30 1973

 

                                NEW MARKET IS REJECTED

 

On the next day, May 1 1973, I reported about the fresh produce dealers rejecting a call by the Government’s Indian Council for them to move to Chatsworth. This article was published on the same day under the headline: : “New market is rejected”.

The stallholders took the decision despite warnings by Mr J N Reddy of the Indian Council that the old beerhall or meat market sites would not be available to them.

“Unfortunately, I am not in a position to divulge the reasons why they won’t be available,” Mr Reddy told a packed meeting of the stallholders at the Vedic Hall in Carlisle Street, Durban.

The stallholders were told by the Co-Ordination Committee for Relief Measures for Stallholders appointed by the Minister of Indian Affairs, Mr Owen Horwood, that the market at Chatsworth was available for occupation immediately by the stallholders.

But the stallholders resolved: “We believe that it is unjust and inequitable that any particular section or group should be excluded from the market.

“We request the authorities to supply suitable amenities for all those who previously traded at the market without discrimination of any kind.

“This meeting therefore requests the officials of the association to convey this decision to the authorities concerned.” Ends – Daily News Reporter May 1     

       

  TALKS ON TRADERS’ FUTURE PLANNED

Two days later on May 3 1973 we published a story about the Government’s plans for the re-settlement of traders, other than fresh produce dealers.

The Government’s spokesperson on the Indian Market traders, Mr J N Reddy, said once the re-settlement of meat, fish and bread stallholders at the present market site had been ironed out, the issue of the fresh produce dealers would be dealt with.

He said meat, fish and bread stallholders were being accommodated at the site where some of the destroyed area had been temporarily restored.

“I will take up the issue of the fresh produce dealers according to the representations made to me by the stallholders,” he said. Ends – Daily News Reporter May 3 1973

 

     MONEY IS DIVERTED TO MARKET RELIEF FUND

 

On May 8 1973 the Mayor’s Market Relief Fund issued a statement that money collected by the Bengal Refugee Relief Fund which was launched in 1971 would be diverted to the affected stallholders and their employees.

Dr M B Naidoo, local chairman of the Bengal Fund, said that in view of the Indian Government’s refusal to accept the R10 000 collected, the donations were being refunded.

And one of the donors, Dr E M Bhamjee, has already forwarded his cheque of R25 to the Mayor’s Fund.

Dr Naidoo said yesterday he was in favour of donors diverting their donations to the Mayor’s Fund.

“The Mayor’s Relief Fund is serving a very useful purpose and I make an appeal to the Bengal donors to divert their donations to the Mayor’s Fund,” he said. Ends – Daily News Reporter May 8 1973

 

                           3 YEARS’ LIFE FOR MARKET

                              

                                   

On May 18 1973 I wrote another story about the market developments when the Mayor, Ron Williams, announced that the city council would carry out renovations to accommodate the affected Indian Market stallholders for another three years only.

The Mayor made the announcement after the Minister of Indian Affairs, Senator Owen Horwood, announced that the Government would set aside R100 000 for the reconstruction of the market to accommodate the stallholders.

The new renovated sites would only accommodate the meat, fish and bread stallholders.

The fresh produce dealers would have to move to Unit 3 in Chatsworth.

Mr D K Singh, secretary of the Victoria Street Citizens Action Committee and chairman of the Durban Federation of Civic Associations, said the fresh produce dealers who had been told that they had to move to Chatsworth were being sacrificed for the benefit of the wealthier and more powerful curio, meat and other dealers.

He said: “This is grossly unjust and it is no wonder that certain officials of the Stallholders’ Association are jubilant. They are not being asked to move to Chatsworth and they will benefit from the Government grant and the re-establishment of the market.

“I cannot understand why the fresh produce dealers have been excluded from the market.

“The city council is only obliged by law to provide market facilities for fresh produce dealers. These people were pioneers at the market and they provided an essential service.”

Mr Singh appealed to the Government’s representative in Durban, Mr M J de van Eyssen, to reconsider the matter and, if necessary, give preference to the fresh produce and other small dealers.

“The bigger merchants at the market have the capital and other resources to find their own accommodation,” he said.

Mrs Fatima Meer, chairman of the Citizens’ Action Committee, said today she hoped work will be speeded up to re-establish every stall-holders affected by the fire. Ends – Daily News Reporter May 18 1973

 

             

 

            TRADERS’ MONTH-END DEADLINE

 

            

The next day, May 19 1973, I wrote another story about the fresh produce dealers being given a deadline until the end of the month to move to Chatsworth.

The Government’s representative in Durban, Mr J H de W van Eyssen, issued the order after saying that the traders had been originally given a deadline of April 30 to move to Chatsworth.

He issued the statement after the fresh produce dealers decided once again at a meeting in Durban that they would not move to Unit 3 in Chatsworth.

“If representations are made by the Stallholders’ Association, we would only too pleased to consider them,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Mayor’s Relief Fund was boosted further by a significant donation of R11 500 by the South African Indian Teachers’ Association. This donation boosted the Relief Fund to R27 500.

The Mayor, Mr Ron Williams, said he welcomed the “most generous” donation from SAITA. He added that the Indian community had done its duty in coming to the aid of stallholders who lost their livelihood when the Indian Market was destroyed by fire in March.

Mr Williams said the Relief Fund needed another R12 000 to R15 000 and he appealed to other communities in the city for funds.

The Fund has paid out more than R10 600 to stallholders and their dependents and another R1 325 to the Durban Indian Benevolent Society for food parcels.

Other recent cash gifts to the fund included R800 from the Helping Hands Society and R500 from Glenton and Mitchell (Pty) Ltd. Ends – Daily News Reporter May 19 1973

 

DURBAN NOT INTERESTED IN STALLHOLDERS – RAJAB

 

   (Mr A M Rajab)

                            

 

Early in the next month, the executive chairman of the South African Indian Council (SAIC), Mr A M Rajab, disclosed that the Durban City Council was only interested in moving the Indian Market from Durban.

Mr Rajab made this statement in a lengthy letter to the chairman of the Victoria Street Citizens’ Action Committee, Mrs Fatima Meer.

We published this story on June 7 under the headline: “Durban not interested in stallholders – Rajab”.

Mr Rajab said the city council was interested in the fate of the stallholders.

“It is determined to wipe out the Indian Market from Victoria Street and has advanced numerous piffling excuses as to why the market should go to Chatsworth.

“It has resorted to flimsy little legal technicalities to shield itself from its clear responsibility to the stallholders and the community on this important matter.”

Accusing the city council of employing delaying tactics to prevent the erection of temporary structures, he says the council refused “obstinately and callously” to do anything when the market was razed by fire.

                                      TO OUR AID

 

“If the Government had not come to our aid, our position would have been a very sorry one indeed.”

Mr Rajab says in the letter that the city council proposed the closure of the Victoria Street Market in 1971 and the “banishment” of all stallholders to Chatsworth.

He was critical of Mrs Meer’s “unwarranted” criticism of Government saying an already difficult situation has become even more complex and clouded to the detriment of the stallholders.

Mr Rajab urged Mrs Meer to support the plans for the erection of the temporary structures at the market. He said he was concerned at the obstructive attitude of the city council. Ends – Daily News Reporter June 7 1973

 

       MAYOR DENIES ACCUSATIONS BY MEER

 

                   

The Indian Market issue re-surfaced a few months later in October 1973 when the Mayor, Mr Ron Williams, rejected claims by the chairman of the Victoria Street Citizens Action Committee, Mrs Fatima Meer, that the city council should be responsible for re-settling fresh produce dealers affected by the mysterious fire in March 1973.

He was responding to a statement by Mrs Meer that the city council was not interested in the welfare of the fresh produce stallholders.

The temporary market built after the fire with a grant of R100 000 from the state housed only curio, meat and other dealers. Mrs Meer had said that no interest was shown for the “poor fresh-produce stallholders”.

Hitting back at Mrs Meer, Mr Williams said: “As usual Mrs Meer makes wild accusations when in fact she is fully aware of the Durban City Council position. I know she is aware of this because I told her so personally.

“The truth is that the whole matter of the allocations of stalls has been placed in the hands of the Van Eyssen Committee, appointed by the Minister of Indian Affairs, Senator Owen Horwood.

“The Durban City Council has nothing to do with this whatsoever.”

Mrs Meer herself did not pull any punches. She said practically every city in the world had developed around the nucleus of a market and that “one of the very basic functions of a city council is to provide a market”.

She said the council had a duty to the fresh produce dealers because they had provided a consumer service.

“I do not have the impression that I do ever make wild accusations. I am amazed that the mayor or the council should deem the issue of a local market as a central government issue.

“I do not believe that the council is so impotent that it cannot solve the marketing problems of over 75 percent of its citizens.”

The central government had stepped in after the council’s failure to provide relief for displaced curio dealers and grocers, she claimed. But the re-settlement of fresh produce dealers in the city had not yet been solved.

“Surely the council should be vitally involved in solving the problem and playing its proper part. Due to the failure of the city council doing anything in the matter, I have been informed, the State has discussed with it the prospects of leasing the land in the Victoria Street complex to a consortium to build a market.

“The council has responded by offering to lease the land at the inflated market value which presently exists in the area due to the unfair and unjust application of the Group Areas Act,” she said. Ends – Daily News Reporter October 26 1973

 

         INDIAN MARKET OPENS – WITHOUT THE      “GREENS”        

 

   

 

 

Nearly nine months after the devastating fire that destroyed the Victoria Street Indian Market, some traders resumed trading after a section of the market was restored through a grant of R100 000 by the central government.

But fresh produce dealers were left out in the cold. We covered this story on December 1 1973 under the headline: “Indian market opens – without the ‘greens’.”

Only the curio and grocery dealers were able to re-start their business.

I interviewed some of the fresh produce dealers and they expressed their anger that no provision was made for them at the original market centre.

One fresh produce dealer, Mr  M H Patel, said they had more right than curio and grocery dealers to be provided with facilities at the renovated market.

He said he and his father had been tenants of the Durban City Council for more than 60 years.

“We were the pioneer greengrocers and fruit dealers,” he said.

Mr Patel said that fresh produce dealers should have been given preference after the market was re-built because “it is vital for everyone that we continue trading in Durban”.

Another fresh produce dealer, Mr Moosa Rakir (64), said fresh produce had been badly treated.

“Why must only we be forced to move to Chatsworth. My clients are not only Indians. They are Africans, whites, coloured people and Indians.

“It is for this reason we should have been given preference.” Ends – Daily News Reporter December 1 1973

 

DEALERS PLAN PROTEST MEETING

 

                           

The fresh produce dealers did not allow

themselves to be bullied around.

They arranged for a protest meeting and invited the political parties and leaders of the church to attend their meeting at the Vedic Hall in Carlisle Street, Durban, on December 4 1973.

This story we published under the headline: “Dealers plan protest meeting” on December 3 1973.

The Archbishop of Durban, Denis Hurley, and political leaders – Mr Ray Swart, national chairman of the Progressive Party; Mr Eric Winchester, MP for the United Party; Mr Clive Haupt, a member of the National Party – had been invited to attend the meeting.

Mr M H Patel, one of the organisers of the meeting, said while curio and grocery dealers were housed in the renovated section of the Indian Market, no provision had been made for the fresh produce dealers.

“We want to express our problems and grievances to these people because nobody seems to care for the fresh produce dealers,” he said.

Mr Patel said repeated requests to the City Council and the Van Eyssen State Market Committee for assistance were unsuccessful.

“The only thing we were told was that provision had been made for us at Chatsworth. But we don’t want to go to Chatsworth because our business is in Durban and not in Chatsworth.

“We are entitled to trade in Durban like all other dealers,” he said.

Mr Patel said when the Government had provided R100 000 for the reconstruction of the market at the intervention of the Minister of Indian Affairs, Senator Owen Horwood, “no stipulation was made that we should not be housed in Durban”. Ends – Daily News Reporter December 3 1973

                

                               INDIAN MARKET PLEDGE

(Archbishop Denis Hurley – a photo that was taken in 1995 when I interviewed him at his office in Durban about his life as a activist religious leader)

                

The protest meeting at the Vedic Hall in Carlisle Street in Durban attracted the support of leading church and political leaders who pledged to negotiate for the establishment of an Indian Market in Durban.

We carried this story under the headline: “Indian Market Pledge” on December 5 1973.

The Archbishop of Durban, the Most Rev Denis Hurley; the national chairman of the Progressive Party, Mr Ray Swart; and United Party MP Mr Eric Winchester gave their full support at the meeting.

They were invited by the Citizens’ Market Committee after the fresh produce dealers were left out in the cold when they were not accommodated at the Victoria Street renovated market.

                            

                                    GRIEVANCES

 

The “white guests” were told that while 74 curio and greengrocers were accommodated in the renovated section of the Indian Market, about 42 fresh produce dealers were “still hitting the streets”.

Only about 10 fresh produce dealers had taken up stalls in Chatsworth but trade was poor.

                              LOST

One of the women stallholders who had taken up a stall at Chatsworth told the meeting that she was struggling to make a living.

“Last Saturday I bought goods for R25 but was only able to sell for R20. I lost R5,” she said.

She said that she would like to return to Durban because it would be more economical to trade among all sections of the people and not just Indians.

Mrs Fatima Meer, chairman of the Citizens’ Market Action Committee, said that repeated and concerted efforts for reason with the authorities had not gained any positive response.

“The City Council was frank and blunt that it was not their responsibility. The Government, on the other hand, will not give us a hearing.”

The situation would be aggravated when the fish and meat dealers would be asked to move next year and the squatters market stallholders sometime in the future.

“My feeling is that the Durban City Council will stay say that a market is none of their business. Therefore, I want to appeal to you people to use your good offices in securing a market for the Indian stallholders.”

                             PLEASED

Mr Winchester said that a great deal of people in authority had been pleased when the market was burned down “because the problem was solved”.

He said that the city council was morally bound to build a new market once the freeway replaced the present market.

“I will do my best to assist,” said Mr Winchester. Ends – Daily News Reporter December 5 1973

 

 

FREEWAY THREATENS INDIAN MARKET STALLHOLDERS

 

                  

 

The ongoing Indian market stall-holders episode reached a new development in February 1974 when 56 fish and meat stallholders were told by the Durban City Council that they had to move out by February 28 to make way for the Western Freeway.

We published this story under the headline: “Freeway threatens Indian Market stallholders” on February 6 1974.

A Durban Corporation market official, Mr S Murphy, said the stallholders had little chance of a reprieve.

“Plans are well ahead for the construction of the freeway. We have to demolish this particular section of the market next month.

“The stallholders were given enough time to sort themselves out,” he said.

While some people working in the city council system as LAC members called for an extension of the deadline, the executive chairman of the SAIC indicated that he would fly to Cape Town to talk to the Minister of Indian Affairs, Senator Owen Horwood. Ends – Daily News Reporter February 6 1974                     

                      REDDY AWAITS GOVT HELP

 

                          

Then on February 13 1974 Mr J N Reddy, the executive chairman of the SAIC, told me that the Minister of Indian Affairs, Senator Owen Horwood, had indicated that he would help the meat and fish stallholders who had been given notice to quit the Indian market area by the end of February.

We carried this story on February 13 1974 under the headline: “Reddy awaits Govt help”.

Mr Reddy had held discussions with the Minister and the Secretary for Indian Affairs, Mr H A Prinsloo, in Cape Town about the matter over the past two days.

Mr Reddy told me that the Minister understood the plight of the traders and had their interests at heart.

“I am confident the Minister will send me news before the weekend that will be in favour of the traders.”

Mr Reddy said the Minister was given full information about the traders and the views of members of the SAIC.

“The traders to be displaced must be provided with alternate permanent accommodation and in view of the fact that this will take some time, temporary accommodation must be found.”

Footnote: The Policy and Finance Committee of the Durban City Council decided on Monday night not to grant the stallholders an extension of time. They would have to quit by end of the month. Ends – Daily News Reporter Feb 13 1974

 

                   MEETING ON FATE OF STALLHOLDERS

                       

Then on February 21 1974 we published another story about the intervention of the State regarding the meat and fish traders who had been given notice to quit the Indian Market premises by the end of February.

The story was carried under the headline: “Meeting on fate of stallholders.”

The Secretary of Indian Affairs, Mr H A Prinsloo, told the Daily News that the matter of the stallholders had been referred to the State Committee after the executive chairman of the SAIC, Mr J N Reddy, had met the Minister of Indian Affairs, Senator Owen Horwood, in Cape Town.

According to Mr Prinsloo, Senator Horwood felt the State Committee under the chairmanship of the regional representative of the Department of Indian Affairs, Mr M J de van Eyssen, was the ideal body to work out a solution for all concerned.

“The Minister is unable to do anything because the Government is not responsible for the expiration of the Stallholders’ lease. It is a matter between the stallholders and the city council.

“Whenever the Government is responsible for this sort of thing it always finds alternative accommodation,” he said.

Mr Prinsloo said, however, that Senator Horwood would be keeping a close watch on the situation.

It is expected that the State Committee, on which the Durban City Council is represented, will call on the council to grant the stallholders an extension of time until alternative arrangements have been made for them. Ends – Daily News Reporter Feb 21 1974

 

                           ENDING OF TENANCIES “INHUMAN”

 (Mr Pat Poovalingam)

                              

 

During this time, a member of the Southern Durban Indian Local Affairs Committee, Mr Pillay Poovalingam, took the city council to task for cancelling the tenancy of the 46 meat and fish traders.

He described the action as being “inhuman”.

This story was published under the headline: “Ending of tenancies ‘inhuman’,” on February 22 1974.

Mr Poovalingam said the Policy and Finance Committee of the Durban City Council had shown total and blatant disregard not only for the stallholders but for thousands of consumers who used the market daily.

“Nobody should be deprived of a livelihood that they have been engaging in for so long, some for as long as 50 years,” he said.

“Other cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria have overcome similar problems and I cannot understand why the Durban City Council cannot find a solution.”

The council had always “taken the Indian community for a ride and this is another of their totalitarian actions”. 

The chairman of the Policy and Finance Committee, Mr Keith Morrison, refused to comment yesterday. Ends – Daily News Reporter Feb 22 1974

 

                MARKET MEN MAY GO TO COURT

 

                        

 

While the white Durban City Council was adopting a don’t care attitude to the plight of the stallholders, the affected meat and fish traders had decided to approach the Supreme Court for an interdict against the council.

This article had been published on February 25 1974 under the headline: “Market men may go to court”.

A spokesperson for the traders said they had decided to take drastic action because no alternative arrangements had been made for them.

                             

          
                                (Mr M E Sultan)         

Mr M E Sultan, an executive member of the SAIC who is a member of the State Market Committee, said that certain recommendations, including an extension of time, were made to the city council.

“We will just have to wait and see what the outcome is after the City Council discusses our recommendations today,” he said.

The stallholders, unaffected by the fire early in 1973, have been given until February 28 to quit to make way for the construction of the Western Freeway. Ends – Daily News Reporter Feb 25 1974

 

 

MARKET MEN TURN DOWN CHATSWORTH STALLS

 

Almost one year after the Durban Indian Market was destroyed by a mysterious fire in March 1973, the stallholders once again turned down the offer to trade at the unit 3 market in Chatsworth.

We covered this story after a joint meeting of the Durban Indian Market Stallholders’ Association and executive members of the government’s Indian Council. This story was published under the headline: “Market men turn down Chatsworth stalls” on March 2 1974.

The stallholders took the decision against the Chatsworth move despite an appeal by the chairman of the Market State Committee, Mr M J de van Eyssen, that the 62 stallholders affected by the construction of the Western Freeway should “seriously” consider accepting the trading facilities at Chatsworth.

The 62 meat, fish, offal and bread stallholders, who were originally asked to move out at the end of February, were given a one month reprieve early in March by the Durban City Council.

Mr A M Moolla of the Indian Council told the meeting that the building of trading facilities at Chatsworth were independent developments and the market issue had nothing to do with it.

“Those developments can go ahead and it is necessary for Chatsworth. But the Indian Market in Durban is a different matter altogether.

“It is a necessity for the whole of Durban and its peoples. Therefore a permanent market must be built in the Victoria Street complex,” he said.

                        SATISFACTORY

Mr Moolla said that both the SAIC members and the stallholders had decided on certain proposals that would be submitted to the Market State Committee on Wednesday for consideration.

“We regard these proposals to be satisfactory for all concerned.

“I will not mince my words at the State Committee meeting,” he said.

It is understood the SAIC will negotiate with the Government for the construction of a permanent market on a non-profit basis to be built in the Victoria Street complex. Ends – Daily News Reporter March 2 1974

 

 

      NEW BID TO GET MARKET MEN TO MOVE

 

                            

Despite the promises given to the Durban Indian Market stallholders, I wrote a story on March 7 1974 about the government’s efforts to persuade the stallholders to take up stalls at Chatsworth.

This article was published under the headline: “New bid to get market men to move”.

The Government’s State Market Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr M J de W van Eyssen, announced that they would meet the stallholders after the stallholders took another decision not to move to Chatsworth.

Mr A M Moolla, a member of the Indian Council, who is also a member of the State Market Committee, told me in an interview that the committee would tell stallholders what was being planned for them at Chatsworth.

“Because each stallholder must know what is being planned at Chatsworth this meeting has been arranged to give them full information,” he said.

Members of the SAIC would address the committee at another meeting about plans for a permanent market at the Victoria Street complex.

Mr A R Naidoo, chairman of the Durban Indian Market Stallholders’ Association, said the stallholders would discuss the matter on Monday.

“The stallholders would have to decide at this meeting whether to go to Chatsworth or not,” he said.

Sixty-two dealers in fish, meat, bread and offal affected by the construction of the Western Freeway have until March 31 to quit their stalls. Ends – Daily News Reporter March 7 1974

 

                               STALL MEN SIGN TO QUIT

 

                           

 

Four days later on March 11 (1974) we published a story about the stallholders having no option but to sign an agreement that they would move out by the end of March.

This story was published under the headline: “Stall men sign to quit”.

One of the stallholders, Mr R G Ram, told The Daily News: “If we did not sign the agreement the council would have asked us to leave immediately.”

He said: “We have no other business to make a living from. This is our only livelihood.

“We hope the Government will come to our aid.”

Another stallholder, Mr Seaman Chetty, said because the stallholders were voteless members of the community, nobody was trying to help them.

“The city council should make available land next to the temporary market,” he said.

A spokesman for the city council said that the stallholders had to move because of the construction of the Western Freeway which had been long delayed.

“The building of another market is not our problem,” he said.

The stallholders will meeting this evening at the Vedic Hall, Carlisle Street, Durban, to discuss their plight. Four members of the South African Indian Council – Mr A M Moolla, Mr M E Sultan, Mr J B Patel and Mr Y S Chinsamy – will address the meeting. Ends – Daily News Reporter March 11 1974

 

                  FIGHTING PROMISE TO STALLHOLDERS

 

                 

 

The next day on March 12 (1974) I wrote yet another story quoting Mr J N Reddy, executive chairman of the SA Indian Council, that the council would do everything in its power to help them.

He and three other members of the SAIC addressed an urgent meeting of the stallholders at the Victoria Street Market on March 11 (1974).

The other members were Mr M E Sultan, Mr A M Moolla and Mr J B Patel.

“The SAIC cannot afford to lose out on this market issue. We will fight till the bitter end to see that you people are resettled permanently in Durban,” he told the stallholders.

Mr Reddy said the market was in a proclaimed Indian area and the Indian community had the right to decide on the future. There was no point in having Indian areas if the Indian community had no say in them.

Mr A M Moolla said the council was prepared to go to the highest level to sort out the market issue.

“We will take up the matter with the Minister of Indian Affairs, Senator Owen Horwood, and even the Prime Minister if the need arises.

The decision on whether the stallholders should go to Chatsworth or not was entirely their choice – but you must remember the development of Chatsworth is a diffrrent matter altogether.

Stallholders will meet the state and civic market committee tomorrow. Ends – Daily News Reporter March 12 1974

 

             

                            “KEEP MARKET IN DURBAN”

 

While the stallholders and the authorities were at each other’s throats, I visited the market once again, this time on March 15, to speak to ordinary people about whether they would like to see the Victoria Street Indian Market remain in Durban.

This story was published the next day under the headline: “Keep market in Durban”.

The unanimous response of the people was that they want the market to remain in Durban because without a market, Durban would be like a “lost soul”.

I spoke to the people after the town clerk, Mr Edwin Godwin, told meat, fish, bread and offal traders at a meeting that they could either move to Chatsworth or be out of business.

The people I spoke to said that if the present market site had to make way for the Western Freeway alternative sites should be found for a permanent market in the city centre.

Mrs F Leerie of Durban said she had dealt at the market for 41 years and had always bought fish and meat from the Indian stallholders.

“I will be very sad if this market has to go. If the site is required for a freeway surely an alternative site must be found for a new market.

“What good is a market in Chatsworth is going to be for white people?,” she asked.

Mrs Muthuma Govender of Bayview, Chatsworth, said she had been using the market for 15 years and that she would be disappointed if there was to no market in Durban.

She added: “Although I stay in Chatsworth I would prefer the market to remain in Durban because a market in Chatsworth would be out of my way.

“Whenever I come to Durban I do other shopping as well.”

Mrs O Maharaj of Reservoir Hills said a market in Chatsworth would be of no use to her.

“For more than 10 years I have been doing my shopping at the market. It seems the authorities have not taken the plight of the public into consideration.” Mrs Marie Weeden and Mrs F Thomson of Durban said: “This market is ideal for us.” Mrs Dorothy Nawanaya of KwaMashu said she bought fish and meat at the market because it was cheaper than in shops. And a visitor from London, Mrs F Pinner, said the Indian Market was unique and was better than the markets in London. “This market has all the atmosphere of a real market. It will be a pity if it has to go.” Ends – Daily News Report March 16 1974.         

STALLS MAY BE MOVED BACK TO CITY

 

                           

 

The sad saga of the stallholders took another turn in the third week of March 1974 when the State Market Committee indicated that the affected stallholders would be re-settled in Durban once a new market was re-built.

This assurance, given by the chairman of the State Market Committee, Mr M J de van Eyssen, was published under the headline: “Stalls may be moved back to city” on March 23 (1974).

Mr Van Eyssen said in a statement he hoped the announcement would clear any misunderstanding that may exist in the minds of the stallholders “as to their position with regard to any new premises which may be erected in the Victoria Street complex pursuant to proposals put forward by the South African Indian Council”.

The executive chairman of the SAIC, Mr J N Reddy, said the stallholders should make their decisions known to the City Council so that arrangements could be made for them in Chatsworth.

“I would like to point out that the stallholders would not be sited at the township centre but at various units in Chatsworth. This will give all stallholders an opportunity of making a living,” he said.

Mr Reddy said the SAIC was pursuing the construction of a permanent market in the Victoria Street complex.

Meat, fish, bread and offal stallholders have been given notice to quit to make way for the proposed construction of the Western Freeway. Ends – Daily News Reporter March 23 1974

 

 

 

 

 

 

STALLHOLDERS DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE DURBAN

 

 

The Durban Indian Market Stallholders Association members, despite the assurances of Mr J N Reddy and others in the SAIC, had expressed their misgivings about moving to Chatsworth.

They complained they were being tricked into leaving Durban for Chatsworth.

We published this story under the headline: “Stallholders do not want to leave Durban” on March 25 1974.

Well-known former champion boxer, Mr Seaman Chetty, who is a fish dealer, told The Daily News that most stallholders were unhappy about moving to Chatsworth.

Mr Chetty said he could not understand why the stallholders were being asked to move to Chatsworth if a new market was going to be built in Durban.

“Surely this will be a sheer waste of public money? I think they are only interested in getting the Indian people out of Durban.

“The Victoria Street complex is now an Indian area, therefore a market must be built there. We are not happy to go to Chatsworth,” he said.

Another stallholder, Mr M Naidoo, said that he had signed to go to Chatsworth on condition that when a new market was built in Durban he would be allowed to re-establish himself there.

“This decision has been forced upon us,” he said.

The stallholders have been given notice to quit to make way for the construction of the Western Freeway. Ends – Daily News Reporter March 25 1974

 

              MARKET MEN DENY THREATS

 

                    

While the all-white Durban City Council was adopting a clear racist policy against the Indian stallholders, certain people connected with the stallholders apparently made threatening calls to the Mayor, Mr Ron Williams.

But this was rejected by the stallholders and this story was published under the headline: “Market men deny threats” on April 2 1974.

The chairman of the Stallholders’ Association, Mr A R Naidoo, said his association was in no way involved in the death threats against Mr Williams and three other councillors. The other councillors who received the deaths threats were Mr Raoul Goldman, Mr Keith Morrison and Mr Jock Reilly.

Mr Naidoo said that stallholders, who are under notice to quit the market to make way for the construction of the Western Freeway, would not resort to such tactics. “Somebody is trying to cause trouble between the city council and the stallholders. Although we are dead against moving to Chatsworth we will not resort to such beastly tactics,” he said. The executive chairman of the South African Indian Council, Mr J N Reddy, also deplored the action of the “unnamed telephone callers”. “I don’t think the Indian community will benefit from such actions,” he said. Ends – Daily News Reporter April 2 1974  

FREEWAY PUSHES OUT 100 FAMILIES

 

While the lives of Indian market traders have been made desperate by the fire that destroyed the Indian market in March 1973, in April 1974 we reported that the construction of the Western Freeway would also affect the lives of 100 families and traders in the Grey Street complex.

I wrote this story and it was published under the headline: “Freeway pushes out 100 families” on April 6 1974.

All the families and traders affected carried out their lives along Cathedral Road, Pine Street and a part of Grey Street.

Mr A H Randeree, secretary of the Durban Business and Professional Tenants’ Association, said even though the Grey Street complex had been proclaimed an Indian trading area “there seems to be a deliberate attempt to stifle trading facilities” there.

“Why should land from an already limited declared Indian area be used for development? The proposed road can easily be re-routed without affecting the livelihood of thousands of people who have traded in the area for generations.

“If this portion of the Indian area has to be taken away for freeway construction, then the Government should consider granting Alice Street, Centenary Road and Warwick Avenue for inclusion into the Grey Street complex,” he said.

The City Estates manager, Mr D L Williams, said 10 traders and 40 families had already been served with expropriation papers. Ends – Daily News Reporter April 6 1974

 

INDIAN MARKET STALLHOLDERS LEASES EXPIRE NEXT MONTH

             

 

In August 1974 I pursued the plight of the Indian Market Stallholders once again and wrote an article about their leases expiring at the end of September 1974.

The story was published under the headline: “Indian Market stallholders’ leases expire next month”.

They were told that they would be accommodated at a new market in Chatsworth.

But, according to the Durban Town Clerk, Mr E J Godwin, the construction of the stalls is still in the planning stage.

He said the Government would be approached for financial assistance.

In the meantime, the stallholders fear that if no alternative accommodation is found they will be “out in the streets”.

One of them, Mr Seamen Chetty, said the dealers would be in dire trouble if alternative accommodation was not provided.

“We were told that we would be given stalls in Chatsworth but nothing seems to have been done. Our only hope is for the council to allow us to trade in central Durban,” he said.

Mr J N Reddy, executive chairman of the Indian Council, said representations had already been made for the stallholders to continue trading in central Durban.

“Since the stalls in Chatsworth will only be ready in another 18 months, it would be fair to allow the stallholders to continue trading in Durban.”

He said the State Market Committee would meet on September 5 to discuss the issue. Ends – Daily News Reporter August 23 1974

 

       INDIAN STALLS GET 3 MONTHS GRACE

 

                                    

On September 6 1974 I wrote a story about the city council granting a three-month reprieve for the meat, fish, bread and offal traders who were given a final notice to quit by the end of September of that year.

The announcement was made by the Market State Committee, headed by the regional director of the Department of Indian Affairs, Mr M J de van Eyssen.

In addition to the reprieve, the Van Eyssen Committee will be taking steps to find the stallholders alternative accommodation in Durban in January when contractors are expected to demolish the restored section of the Victoria Street market.

The stallholders are expected to remain in Durban until the stalls in Chatsworth become ready in another year. Ends – Daily News Reporter September 6 1974

 

          STALLHOLDERS FIGHT QUIT NOTICE

 

 

 

The ups and downs of the struggles by the Indian Market stallholders took another turn on December 30 1974 when attorneys disclosed that they would take up the fight to the Supreme Court.

Only 30 of the affected 42 stallholders had been accommodated at the bulk sales market in Durban’s Warwick Avenue.

Mr D K Singh, an attorney acting for the stallholders, told the Daily News that the Durban City Council had obtained a Supreme Court order on December 19 for the eviction of the fish, meat, bread and offal traders.

They had been originally given notice to quit by the end of December 1974.

“This the stallholders find to be unjustified because they had no knowledge of the action of the council at all.

“Furthermore, the stallholders were in lawful occupation of the stalls at the time of the order granted to the council.

“Therefore, we have written to the council to inquire under what circumstance the ejectment order was obtained. If we do not get a satisfactory reply by 1pm today then we will seek a Supreme Court interdict against the ejection tomorrow,” he said.

Meanwhile, it was learnt today that the Minister of Indian Affairs, Mr Chris Heunis, had been asked to come to the aid of the 42 stallholders who will be out of business for four months if the Supreme Court interdict application is not successful.

Mr A Rajbansi, an executive member of the Indian Council, had written to the Minister about the plight of the stallholders. Ends – Daily News Reporter December 30 1974

 

WE’LL FIGHT FOR A MARKET IN CITY, SAYS REDDY

 

 

More than a year after the stalls of the Durban Indian Market were destroyed in a mysterious fire in March 1973, the stallholders were given another assurance that a permanent market would be built in the Victoria Street complex.

This assurance was given by the executive chairman of the South African Indian Council, Mr J N Reddy, and we published the story under the headline: “We’ll fight for a market in city, says Reddy” on January 17 1975.

Mr Reddy, a member of the Van Eyssen State Market Committee, had responded to claims by members of the Indian community that no effort was being made to re-build the ill-fated Indian Market.

Indian leaders accused the Van Eyssen Committee of confusing the issue of re-building the market with the needs of the people of Chatsworth.

Mr Reddy said that the only reason the Van Eyssen Market Committee had not acted yet was because of the problems encountered to re-settle displaced traders.

“We have encountered tremendous difficulties in finding temporary alternative accommodation for the stallholders. But as soon as the problems are sorted out, we will do everything to see that a permanent market is built on a site in the Victoria Street complex.

“We have not lost sight of the need for a permanent market in the city,” he said.

He said that the SAIC had already asked the Minister of Indian Affairs, Mr Chris Heunis, to approach the Durban City Council to release the site next to the present market at a reasonable rental. Ends – Daily News Reporter Jan 17 1975

 

           INDIAN MARKET MAY RETURN

                             

                       

After the struggles of the Durban Indian Market stallholders continued for more than a year since the devastating fire in March 1973, the Central Government had once again given an assurance that it would give “serious consideration” to the re-establishment of the famous Indian Market in central Durban.

I was given this top news by Mr D K Singh, president of the Durban Business and Tenants Association, who led a delegation to meet the Minister of Community Development, Mr A H du Plessis, in Cape Town on March 13 1975.

           

The Daily News published the story on the front page under the headline: “Indian market may return” and top-head: Government to consider”. It was the first time also that I was given my personal by-line for the story.

The story read:

Mr Singh, a top civil rights lawyer and leader, told The Daily News that the assurance had been given by the Minister and two government officials at the meeting in Cape Town.

The delegation, headed by Mr Singh, included Mr A Rajbansi, an executive member of the South African Indian Council; Mr A H Randeree and Mr R J Naran, secretary and treasurer respectively of the association. The delegation was accompanied by Senator Eric Winchester of the United Party.

The Government officials at the meeting were Mr Louis Fousche, secretary of the Department of Community Development, and Mr A H Prinsloo, secretary for the Department of Indian Affairs.

Mr Singh, also an executive official of the Natal Indian Congress, said their plea for a new Indian Market was received very favourably by the Minister and the two officials.

The delegation had emphasised that more than 200 traders had become displaced because of the decision by the Durban City Council not to re-build the market.

“We pointed out that a market in central Durban was very essential because Durban was the focal point for Indian trade.

“Besides being a leading tourist attraction in Durban, the market also provided a cheap range of essential foodstuffs for all race groups in the lower income bracket.”

He said after they were given a patient hearing, the Minister asked whether the land in Victoria Street was suitable for a market and whether the community would object if a new complex was also used to re-settle traders from other areas.

The delegation told the Minister that there would not be any objection provided displaced market stallholders were given preference.

Regarding the problems encountered by small traders at the hands of landlords in the Grey Street area, Mr Singh said Mr du Plessis had promised to institute a full investigation into alleged malpractices.

“The Minister assured us that his department will take the necessary steps to assist the small traders and tenants in the Grey Street complex.”

Mr Singh said the delegation had earlier told the Minister that the demand for business premises in the Grey Street area exceeded the supply and this was due to the fact that the area set aside for Indians was far too small.

The delegation claimed that certain landlords were taking advantage of the shortage and were demanding exorbitant rentals and huge sums of money as “goodwill” for the renewal of leases.

Many tenants had found that their position was becoming untenable and some of them were being forced to give up their businesses.

“The delegation submitted documentary evidence to substantiate the allegations in connection with the malpractices and suggested various amendments through the Rent Act in order to meet the peculiar situation in the Grey Street complex,” he said. Ends – Marimuthu Subramoney March 14 1975

 

            INDIANS SLAM MARKET RULING  

                

 

A month later on April 16 1975 I spoke to Mr D K Singh again about the latest developments regarding the Durban City Council’s Policy and Finance Committee’s attitude towards the reconstruction of the Indian Market in the Victoria Street complex.

The city’s Policy and Finance Committee rejected a call by a councillor, Mr Clive Herron, at a meeting at the city hall for the council to acknowledge its responsibility to re-build the market.

We published this story under the headline: “Indians slam market ruling” on the same day.

Mr Singh told The Daily News that the decision of the Policy and Finance Committee illustrated that the council was not interested “in providing this essential public amenity”.

“One would have expected that, after the indication given by the Minister of Indian Affairs that he would seriously consider the provision of funds to re-establish the market, the council would take the initiative and work with the Government to achieve this aim.

“But instead, it is now considering the sale of the land to certain private individuals. Why is the private consortium of businessmen, who want to grab the market, not named? The whole thing is disgusting,” he said.

National Party city councillor, Mr Carl Haupt, told The Daily News yesterday that he was disappointed at the decision of the Policy and Finance Committee.

“This is not the end of the matter because there are groups of us who are going to see that a market is re-built,” he said. Ends – Daily News Reporter April 16 1975

 

 

INDIAN LEADERS OPPOSE MARKET MOVE

               

The move by the city council to allow a private consortium to build a market in the Victoria Street complex was further condemned by Indian leaders within and outside the system.

We published this story under the headline: “Indian leaders oppose market move” on April 17 1975.

The Indian leaders were reacting to a statement by Mr Royce Kinkaid , chairman of the council’s Policy and Finance Committee, that a private consortium had approached the council to take over the section of the former Indian Market site to build an oriental bazaar.

The chairman of the South African Indian Council, Mr A M Moolla, said today that it would be unwise to allow a private enterprise to build the market.

He said that the Government was in a very accommodating mood and the council should take advantage of this.

“All that the council is required to do is to make the land available on long lease to an Indian non-profit company at a reasonable rental to keep the rents of stallholders at an economical level.

“Following this Indian leaders then could prevail upon the Government to provide the money for the re-building project on long term loan at minimum rate of interest.”

Two other Indian Council members, Mr Y S Chinsamy and Mr A Rajbansi, said they would make strong representations, through the Indian Council, against any private consortium being given the right to build an oriental bazaar. Mr Chinsamy said it was the responsibility of the council to build the market and that it should not “pass the buck”. Ends – Daily News Reporter April 17 1975

 

       URGENT PLEA ON MARKET BY REDDY

 

                                 

On April 23 1975 we carried another story about the executive chairman of the Indian Council, Mr Reddy, making it clear that only stallholders should be given the right to re-build the Indian Market in the Victoria Street complex.

The story was published under the headline: “Urgent plea on market by Reddy”.

Mr Reddy told me in yet another interview that he had asked the Minister of Indian Affairs, Mr Marais Steyn, to veto the sale of the Victoria Street market site to any private consortium intending to re-build the market.

He said the stallholders in fact had approached the Durban City Council to make the site available to them at a reasonable rental.

“But in view of the fact that there stallholders and other traders, displaced as a result of road works and the Group Areas Act, the council should take advantage of the Government’s offer of finance and build an oriental bazaar where all these traders can be settled,” he said.

“Provided all traders displaced under the Group Areas Act are catered for, I am satisfied the Department of Community Development would make the necessary funds available for the building of the market.”

Mr Reddy said he was confident of the Minister’s aid in the matter. Ends – Daily News Reporter April 23 1975

 

NO DECISION YET ON FUTURE OF INDIAN MARKET

 

                                 

The Durban City Council’s attitude to the rebuilding of the Indian market or an oriental bazaar took another turn early in July when it was disclosed that the council will consider the Government’s offer of a low interest loan.

The Durban Town Clerk, Mr E G Godwin, told The Daily News the council would take a final decision as soon as the terms and conditions were drawn up.

This article was published on July 3 under the headline: “No decision yet on future of Indian market”.

Mr Godwin denied that plans for the market site were well advanced or that the council had no intention of taking up the Government’s offer.

“The Council will also consider the Government’s offer of a low-interest loan,” he said.

Senator Eric Winchester, the United Party leader who has led the campaign along with others for the re-building of a market in Victoria Street, said he was now relieved to hear that no final decision to put that market site out to private tender had been taken.

Meanwhile, the Durban Indian Market Stallholders’ Association has appealed to the Administrator of Natal, Mr Ben Havemann, to persuade the council not to sell the market site out to a private business consortium.

The secretary of the association, Mr R J Naran, has said that if the market site was sold to a private consortium the small trade would be phased out by the big merchants who would only by interested in maximum return on their capital. Ends – Daily News Reporter July 3 1975

 

This was the last story on the Indian Market saga that I covered over a  period of  more than two years. At this time in July, 1975 it appeared that most of the stallholders had been re-settled in the Victoria Street complex. Many of the original stallholders or their descendants may no longer be in the fresh produce, meat, fish or curio business. Today, more than 41 years later the situation has once again changed as the Victoria Street complex or the Grey Street area are no longer the “Little India” areas of our new Durban centre, 27 years after the attainment of our non-racial democracy in April 1994. Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com Jan 11 2021.