(Haneff Bhamjee)
One
of the political activists who played a pivotal role as part of the British and
Wales anti-apartheid movements to isolate apartheid South Africa during the
days of the struggle was Hanef Bhamjee, formerly of Pietermaritzburg.
He
passed away a week ago on January 8 in Wales at the age of 86.
Bhamjee
has been resident in London and Cardiff in Wales after being forced to leave South
Africa in 1965 to continue his studies.
In
2009 he was recognised for his anti-apartheid activities in Britain and other
parts of the world when he was bestowed with the Satyagraha Award by the
Mahatma Gandhi Foundation in Durban.
I
interviewed him in July 2009 when he came down to Durban from Cardiff to attend
the Satyagraha ceremony.
He
spoke to me about his flight from South Africa at the tender age of 18, his
involvement in the British and Wales Anti-Apartheid movements, the joys and
celebrations when Nelson Mandela was released in February 1990, his return to
South Africa to be part of a film production on his roles in the anti-apartheid
movement from any early, and his return in April 1994 to vote in the first
democratic elections.
FLED
TO ENGLAND AT THE AGE OF 18 TO ESCAPE THE SECURITY POLICE
Mr
Bhamjee told me that he was forced to flee South Africa at the age of 18 after what
he described as the “apartheid net” was closing around him.
“I
left South Africa in August 1965. The main reason for leaving was that the net
was closing in. A lot of people had been arrested. Initially the problem
started with the arrest of the first Natal Regional Command of Ebrahim Ismail,
Billy Nair and then with the raid at Rivonia. The net was closing in all over
the country. The people I knew closely had been arrested for being involved in
lesser things than I was.”
Soon
after leaving the country in August 1965, Hanef Bhamjee, became actively involved in the British
Anti-Apartheid Movement and the Wales Anti-apartheid Movement.
He
spent seven years in London and Birmingham - both being actively involved in
promoting the struggles of the democratic forces in South Africa and studying
for a sociology degree.
WORKED
TIRELESSLY AS PART OF THE BRITISH AND WALES ANTI-APARHEID MOVEMENTS
After
obtaining his degree in 1972, Bhamjee, now aged 25, moved to Cardiff in Wales.
He went about building the Wales Anti-apartheid Movement and within a short
while built a network of 22 branches throughout Wales.
“We
succeeded in our efforts because the various arts councils, writers, film
makers, and producers all wanted to break links with South Africa. The Welsh
Arts Council, various sports bodies wanted no truck with South Africa.
“The
only place we had difficulties was rugby. Eventually most of the unions broke
links with South Africa.
“But
most importantly we found that the white people in the United Kingdom and
elsewhere had made anti-apartheid their struggle. Many of the white men and women
by far were more committed to the struggle than many of our own people in
exile.”
BORN
IN RUSTENBURG BUT MOVED TO PIETERMARITZBURG AT AN EARLY AGE WITH HIS PARENTS
Haneff
Bhamjee was born in 1936 near the town of Rustenburg to parents who ran a shoe
shop. Haneff and his three brothers attended a local school that was designated
at that time as a school for African children.
While
still a young boy, his parents moved to Pietermaritzburg. It was here that
Haneff Bhamjee became socially and politically aware. He joined the Natal
Indian Congress and initiated the establishment of the Natal Indian Youth
Congress in Pietermaritzburg.
“In
1958 there was a potatoe boycott and I went for a rally at a local cricket
ground where we used to play many cricket games. And the potatoe boycott and
the tobacco boycott spurred me on to realise that the oppression in this
country was almost tantamount to slavery.
“I
eventually was told about the Natal Indian Youth Congress and I initiated the
establishment of the first branch of the Natal Indian Youth Congress in
Pietermaritzburg when I was about 14 or 15. Then came the State of Emergency
and very quickly we were plunged into the work of the ANC underground work
structures.”
WAS
INVOLVEMENT IN THE ANTIA-ARTHEID MOVEMENTS FOR 27 YEARS
Haneff
Bhamjee told me that he continued with his work for the anti-apartheid movement
in England and Wales for 27 years. But this work was not without harrassment
and intimidation. The South African intelligence forces were busy in Britain as
well and on more one occasion made attempts on his life.
“My
home was burgled about three times and a lot of documents were taken. We were
followed. The tyres of my car outside my house were slashed. I was physically
assaulted, I had eight stitches, and I had hate mail dumped in my letter box.
The mail was sent with powdered glass or thin razor blades in the back. We were
told by the local police and the ANC security department to take whatever security
precautions we could.”
SUPPORTERS
REJOICED WHEN MANDELA WAS RELEASED IN FEBRUARY 1990
He
said the anti-apartheid leaders rejoiced with their South African counterparts
when in February 1990 the ANC and other organisations were unbanned and Nelson
Mandela and other prisoners were released. For Haneff and his British comrades
this was one of the most important developments in their lives.
“Almost
spontaneously people got out into the streets shouting: ‘Mandela is free, Mandela
is Free, Mandela is free’. There were street parties and there was absolute joy
all over. The people were rejoicing because the Anti-Apartheid Movement had
succeeded in supporting the overthrow of apartheid. People had felt that
anti-apartheid movement had become their struggle and that is why they had
become overwhelmed by Mandela’s release.”
Mr
Bhamjee returned to the country for the first time in more than two decades in
1992 as part of a television crew who were putting together a documentary on
his life. He re-connected with former comrades and family members and also
voted for the first time in April 1994. He believed that the new ANC government
had achieved a great deal since 1994 but he was concerned about some ANC
members departing from the true principles of the movement.
BHAMJEE
WARNED AGAINST CORRUPTION IN THE ANC IN 2009
This
is what he told me during the interview in July 2009:
“Politically
we are liberated but I am concerned about various aspects such as the economic
situation and the social situation. I speak as a very committed and firm
supporter of the African National Congress and the trouble is that every time I
talk to people here or abroad who are South Africans, they raise various issues
such as corruption. I think the movement has to act very quickly and fast
because it seems corruption has become endemic from top to bottom in our
society.”
BHAMJEE
WARNED AGAINST RACISM IN NEW FORMS
The
Cardiff-based lawyer, who still considered himself as a South African in 2009,
had also expressed his concerns about some people connected to the ANC using
the race card in Durban's Early Morning Market issue. He had called on the ANC
to take tough action against those who transgressed the ANC's non-racial
policies and principles.
He
told me: “I think it is the duty of the African National Congress members to
take them to task and if necessary to prosecute them. I read the statement about
the Mayor and his municipal chief and I think impeachment action should be
taken.
“These
people are going against the values and principles of the African National
Congress.”
When
after the release of Nelson Mandela and the unbanning of the ANC in February 1990
there was no longer any need for the anti-apartheid movement, Mr Bhamjee, did not
withdraw into the background.
ACTION FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA
Bhamjee,
who was awarded the OBE by the British Queen in the mid-1990s, and other
activists had become more active by transforming the anti-apartheid movement
into a new group called, Action for Southern Africa. The aim of this
organisation was to campaign for peace, justice, democracy and rights for all
people in Southern Africa.
He
also became a member of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign; and the Committee
Against Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Bhamjee,
also on his return to Wales in 2009, become
involved in the campaign for the release of the incarcerated Burmese leader, Aung
San Suu Kyi, and freedom for the people of Burma.
He
was committed to the struggles for freedom and justice all over the world until
his sad demise a week ago on January 8 (2022). Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com (Jan 17 2022)
