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Courageous
Struggle Journalist Subry Govender Publishes Memoir of Resistance and Resolve –
a Chronicle of His Anti-Apartheid Battles
10/01/2026
By Special Correspondent:
Veteran Struggle Journalist, Subry Govender. (
Image: supplied)
Often the story of one individual
relating his own life in a particular era becomes the story of the society in
which he lived, including that of his fellows during that time – a fact that is
expected to come out clearly when former anti-Apartheid activists and struggle
era journalists pay tributes and congratulate prolific resistance journalist
and activist,
Marimuthu Soobramoney (aka Subry
Govender) is launching his autobiography, ‘Coolie Journalist‘,
before the end of this month. Marimuthu Soobramoney was a founder member of the
Media Workers Association of South Africa (MWASA) with other struggle
journalists such as Zwelakhe Sisulu and others.
‘Comrade Subry’ was a courageous,
bold and fearless fighter for justice
In the book, Govender, renowned for
his fearless reporting and uncompromising commitment to justice, traces his
lifelong dedication to documenting South Africa’s liberation struggle and
offers an unflinching account of the sacrifices, courage, and convictions that
defined his career.
Already, some of his fellow activists
have voiced their impassioned tributes to the man they commonly knew as “Subry”
or “Comrade Subry”, highlighting his boldness and fearlessness in pursuit of
justice as a news hound and fearless activist during the white apartheid
repression era. They described him as a prominent former political and social
activist and “a courageous, progressive and fearless” news hound.
Among those who congratulated
Govender was Siva Naidoo, a struggle veteran and former top official of the
Natal Indian Congress (NIC), United Democratic Front (UDF), Activist Citizens
Forum and other anti-apartheid organisations in the 1970s, 1980s and early
1990s. Writing about Govender, Naidoo highlighted his contributions to the
freedom struggles through his work as a “struggle journalist”. He wrote that he
wanted to add his voice “with conviction and pride” to congratulate Govender on
the launch of ‘Coolie Journalist’.
A journalist and political being with
a moral compass
In his support of the launch of
“Coolie Journalist”, Naidoo said that he first encountered Subry around 1977,
shortly after Naidoo was recruited into activist work. “From the outset, it was
clear that Subry was not a journalist in the narrow, professionalised sense,
but a political being with a moral compass.
“He understood, instinctively and
intellectually, that journalism is never neutral in a society structured by
injustice. In times of oppression, silence and false balance serve power;
truth serves the people. Subry was, and remains, a progressive struggle
journalist in the truest sense of the word — fearless, courageous, and utterly
uncompromising.”
Naidoo wrote that as young activists
confronting the brute force of apartheid, he and other anti-apartheid activists
in general were “inspired by his reporting because it did more than inform; it
exposed, challenged and mobilised”.
Chipping away at apartheid legacy –
piece by piece
“His words chipped away at the
legitimacy of an illegitimate system, one story at a time. He was well known to
the NIC and UDF leadership, and later, after the unbanning of the ANC, to the
political leadership of KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa. This was not because he
sought proximity to power, but because power knew it was being watched. That
distinction matters — then and now.
“Today, South Africa faces a
different but no less dangerous conundrum. Political freedom has not translated
into social or economic justice. Corruption, state capture, patronage networks
and the erosion of ethical leadership threaten to hollow out our hard-won
democracy.”
Naidoo added that in this context,
“journalists who interrogated power rather than echo it were not a luxury —
they were essential to democratic survival.” In this regard, he wrote that
“Subry’s life reminds us that press freedom is not secured once and for all”.
Press freedom, he said, must be defended constantly, especially when power
becomes impatient with accountability and hostile to scrutiny. The banning
order and harassment Subry endured under apartheid were crude and overt. Today,
repression is often subtler — through intimidation, co-option, economic
pressure, political favour and the normalisation of mediocrity. Yet the intent
remains the same: to mute critical voices.”
Subry’s journalism was rooted in
community struggle, amplifying the voiceless voices
“I recall Subry interviewing me at my
home in Watsonia, Tongaat, during his time at the SABC when I founded the Activist
Citizens Forum. That interview symbolised what ethical journalism looks like:
rooted in community struggle, alert to power dynamics, and committed to
amplifying voices from below rather than sanitising narratives from above.
“Subry’s trust was earned, not
assumed. His integrity was not situational. He never abandoned principle for
access, nor traded truth for comfort. In an era where too many have crossed the
line from journalism into public relations for the powerful, Subry stands as a
rebuke. He continues to speak truth to power, not as an outsider throwing
stones, but as a patriot who understands that loyalty to country means holding
it to account. That is why he remains respected across political generations —
even when he is an inconvenient,” Naidoo wrote.
Not just a memoir, but a warning and
call to action
According to Naidoo, the “Coolie
Journalist” book was, therefore, not merely a memoir. It is a warning and a
call to action. “It reminds us that democracy without a fearless, progressive
media will inevitably decay. It urges a new generation of journalists to choose
courage over compliance, ethics over expediency, and the people over power.
“Subry Govender is one of our unsung
heroes — not because he sought recognition, but because he chose resistance
when compliance was easier. The best way we can honour him is to read this
book, to ensure that the lessons of the past inform our present struggles, and
to recommit ourselves to defending media freedom as a non-negotiable pillar of
democracy. His words remain as repellent to injustice today as they were when
the chips were down in our beautiful country. And that is precisely why they
matter — now more than ever.”
Govender’s ‘Coolie Journalist’ would
be launched at the Umhlanga Apart-Hotel (60 Meridian Drive, Umhlanga) on
January 25 at 11 am. Former colleagues, comrades, friends and family members
are geared to attend the launch. Another launch is envisaged to take place in
Johannesburg later. Subry could be reached here for
those interested in knowing more about the book and the launches. – @NewsSA_Online
Posted in Culture
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