Billy Nair – a struggle stalwart who sacrificed his life for the freedom of the people in South Africa for nearly 60 years

One of the freedom fighters and struggle stalwarts who sacrificed his life for the removal of the apartheid regime in South Africa was Billy Nair, who was imprisoned on Robben Island for nearly 20 years. Nair was part of the Natal Indian Congress, South African Communist Party, the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), the Africans National Congress (ANC) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) after his release from prison in the early 1980s. Born in the district of Sydenham in the South African coastal city of Durban on November 27 1929, Nair was the son of parents who had come from the Cochin district of Kerala in south India. He was also part of the group of freedom fighters who sought refuge at the British Consulate in Durban in the mid-1980s at the time of intense protests against the apartheid regime’s attempts to co-opt Indian-origin and coloured people into the so-called tri-cameral (racial) parliament. The other freedom fighters who joined Billy Nair were Paul Devadas David; Mewa Ramgobin, who passed away recently on October 17 (2016) at the age of 84; and the late M J Naidoo; Archie Gumede, and George Sewpersadh. After Nair left the British Consulate, he continued to work with the UDF to promote the freedom struggle without any concerns for his life. He addressed community meetings and students all over the country about the need to replace the apartheid regime as soon as possible. He realised this dream when Nelson Mandela was released and the ANC and other organisations were unbanned in February 1990. He campaigned vigorously for the ANC and after 1994 served as an MP in the national parliament. He died at his home in La Mercy on October 23 2008. The then President, Kgalema Motlanthe, and the ANC leader, Jacob Zuma, paid glowing tributes to Nair at an official funeral in Durban a week later. Subry Govender, who interacted and interviewed Billy Nair on several occasions, compiled this special radio feature as a tribute to Billy Nair after his funeral…… .

South Africans are dumfounded at the election of Donald Trump as the next President of the United States of America

INTRO: The election of multi-billionaire – Donald Trump – as the new President of the United States of America has sent shock waves in South Africa – a country he described as “broken and crime-ridden” during the run-up to the elections. But the Government says it will work with Trump to promote the already strong relations between the two countries and between Africa and America. Subry Govender filed this report……. .

Paul Devadas David - ONE OF THE STRUGGLE ACTIVISTS WHO PAID THE PRICE FOR A NON-RACIAL AND DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA

IN SEPTEMBER 2009 PAUL DAVID TOLD SUBRY GOVENDER THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A NON-RACIAL FORUM TO WORK WITH THE RULING AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS(ANC)

(PAUL DAVID (LEFT) ATTENDING THE NATIONAL PROTEST RALLY IN DURBAN ON WEDNESDAY NOVEMVER 2 2016 ORGANISED BY THE ACTIVE CITIZENS MOVEMENT) BY SUBRY GOVENDER One of the leaders who spoke at the funeral service of Mewa Ramgobin at the Verulam Civic Centre, north of Durban, in South Africa on Sunday, Oct 23 2016, was another struggle stalwart, 76-year-old Paul Devadas David.

(PAUL DAVID AT THE FUNERAL OF MEWA RAMGOBIN AT THE VERULAM CIVIC CENTRE, NORTH OF DURBAN, IN SOUTH AFRICA ON SUNDAY, OCT 23 2016) David with Ramgobin was among the six freedom activists who sought refuge at the British Consulate in central Durban after being hunted by the then apartheid security police. The other leaders were the late Archie Gumede, M J Naidoo, George Sewpersadh and Billy Nair. David was also among the 15 activists with Ramgobin who were charged with High Treason in 1985. The others were Isaac Duze Ngcobo, Archie Gumede, Curtis Nkondo, Sisa Njikelana, Aubrey Mokoena, Sam Kikine, M J Naidoo, Albertina Sisulu, Essop Jassat, Cassim Salojee, George Sewpersadh, Frank Chikane and Thozamile Gqweta. Born on August 26 1940 in Pietermaritzburg into a devout Catholic family, David’s grand-parents came from a little village in Tamil Nadu in South India to the then Natal Colony as indentured labourers. His father Simon David was a school teacher and principal and as such was a strict disciplinarian. He instilled the values of respect for elders and commitment to education to David and his three other sons and three daughters. One of his David’s sisters, Phyllis Naidoo, was also a struggle stalwart who was called to rest on February 13 2013. Paul David came under the influence of Phyllis and his brother-in-law, M D Naidoo, while still at high school and became the secretary of the Natal Indian Youth Congress in 1959. He became actively involved in the political struggles when he joined Mewa Ramgobin and other activists in the revival of the Natal Indian Congress in the early 1970s and was elected the vice-president of the NIC in 1979. He was also involved with the Release Mandela Committee and was elected its secretary in 1983 and in 1984 became fully involved with the United Democratic Front(UDF). In addition to his political involvement at all levels, Paul David also became involved in anti-apartheid work at community levels in ratepayers’ organisations in Verulam, Stanger and Durban. He was also involved in non-racial sport in organisations such as the Southern Natal Soccer Board, South African Soccer Federation, Natal Cricket Board, Natal Council of Sport, South African Council of Sport and at local levels in Verulam and Stanger. In 2009, 15 years after the advent of our non-racial and democratic South Africa I had the opportunity of talking to Paul David about his thoughts about the new South Africa at his offices in KwaDukuza (formerly Stanger), north of Durban. He was blunt in his views that there was a need for a non-racial forum to help the ruling ANC in furthering the social, political and economic development of the new South Africa. His views and thoughts expressed then are very relevant today when the ANC faces serious and deep divisions within its ranks over the lack of proper leadership and the hunger among some people who have joined the ruling party to enrich themselves through fraud and corruption. This is the radio feature that I had compiled after speaking to Paul David seven years ago in September 2009.

National Protests in South Africa on Wednesday, (Nov 2 2016) brings back memories of the struggles of the 1970s/1980s and early 1990s.

A wave of protests were organised in several cities in South Africa on Wednesday (Nov 2 2016) to highlight the rot of corruption and state capture and the lack of integral leadership by President Jacob Zuma. The main protests took place in Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town. The protests took place on a day when Zuma withdrew his application in the Pretoria High Court to interdict the release of the State Capture report by the former Public Protector – Thuli Madonsela. Subry Govender compiled this radio feature for Radio Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany) Africalink programme…

https://sites.google.com/site/subryaudio/soundarchives/National%20protests%20Pkge%20Nov%202%202016_mixdown%20%282%29.mp3?attredirects=0&d=1

ROY RADHAKRISHNAN PADAYCHIE WAS ANOTHER LEADER WHO WORKED IN THE NATAL INDIAN CONGRESS WITH THE RECENTLY LATE MEWA RAMGOBIN IN THE STRUGGLES FOR THE CREATION OF A NON-RACIAL AND DEMOCRATIC AFRICA.

IN THIS RADIO FEATURE, THE LATE GOVERNMENT MINISTER, WHO PASSED ON DURING A GOVERNMENT MISSION IN KENYA ON MAY 4 2012, TOLD SUBRY GOVENDER IN AN INTERVIEW IN 2008 THAT ALL SOUTH AFRICANS MUST WORK TOGETHER TO BRING ABOUT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ALL PEOPLE. BY SUBRY GOVENDER Mr Roy Padaychie, a descendant of indentured labourers, also experienced the oppression of the former white regime during the 28 years of his involvement in the struggles prior to the creation of our new non-racial and democratic South Africa in 1994. During the nearly three decades of his involvement, Padaychie became involved in the revival of the Natal Indian Congress, and later in organisations such as the Chatsworth Housing Action Committee, the United Democratic Front, the Release Mandela Committee, the Anti-South African Indian Council Committee and finally the ANC. After his schooling, he studied at the University of Durban-Westville where he joined activists like Pravin Gordhan, Zac Yacoob, Yunus Mahomed and others, to confront the apartheid state. Despite his involvement in student politics, he managed to complete his Bachelor of Science degree and later, after finding work at the Shell Company, he was granted a scholarship to study for his Masters at the University of London. Here he further heightened his anti-apartheid struggles and worked closely with leaders of the calibre of Dr Yusuf Dadoo, Aziz Pahad, Frene Ginwala, Oliver Tambo, the president of the ANC at that time, and many others. After his return he continued with his anti-apartheid work, especially in Chatsworth, and established a non-government organisation to foster early childhood education. After the ANC was unbanned in 1990 and Nelson Mandela was released from prison, Padaychie joined other activists in promoting the ANC and establishing branches all over the place. He was inducted into the new non-racial Government when he was appointed Deputy Minister of Communications in 2004 by former President Thabo Mbeki. He was later appointed Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration in 2009 by President Jacob Zuma. In 2010 he was appointed Minister of Communications and in 2011 he was appointed to the position of Minister of Public Service and Administration. Padaychie is the fourth leader I have included in this radio feature series to archive those who had made enormous contributions during the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s to bring about the free South Africa we enjoy today. The others so far I have listed are Mewa Ramgobin, Professor Jerry Coovadia, and George Sewpersadh.

TRIBUTE TO GEORGE SEWPERSADH – ONE OF THE COMRADES OF MEWA RAMGOBIN WHO PASSED ON RECENTLY

One of the leaders who worked closely with Mewalall Ramgobin, who passed on Oct 17 2016 and whose official funeral was held in Verulam on Sunday, Oct 23 2016, was former Natal Indian Congress and United Democratic Front leader, George Sewpersadh. Sewpersadh, who passed on nine years ago at the age of 71, was a close associate of Ramgobin and other progressive leaders. On his passing on May 18 2007, I compiled this radio feature on the life of Sew, as we referred to him.

PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS IN SOLDIARITY WITH MINISTER PRAVIN GORDHAN TO BE HELD AT GUGU DLAMINI PARK (NEAR THE WORKSHOP COMPLEX) IN DURBAN ON WEDENSDAY BETWEEN 8AM AND 12 NOON

(SIMILAR DEMONSTRATIONS TO BE HELD IN PRETORIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY)

(Minister Pravin Gordhan with former judge, Thumba Pillay, at a function in Durban a few months ago) By Subry Govender

(ACTIVISTS OF THE ACTIVE CITIZENS MOVEMENT WHO HAVE ORGANISED THE PROTEST DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF MINISTER PRAVIN GORDHAN) Thousands of people, including hundreds of former political activists and struggle stalwarts, will gather at the Gugu Dlaimini Park, near the Workshop, in Durban on Wednesday, November 2 to lend their solidarity for Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan. The event, organised by the Active Citizens Movement (ACM), will take place between 8am and 12 noon. Minister Gordhan has been asked to appear in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on charges of fraud and an alternative of theft. He is accused of approving the early retirement and subsequent re-employment of former South African Revenue Service (SARS) Deputy Commissioner, Ivan Pillay. He will appear in court along with Pillay and former SARS Commissioner, Oupa Magashula. The Durban solidarity gathering will be just one of several organised around the country. Similar protest demonstrations will be held in Pretoria, Johanesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Bloemfontein and other parts of the country.

(Yousuf Vawda with colleagues of the Active Citizens Movement) Mr Yousuf Vawda, an official of the ACM, said the Durban solidarity gathering was aimed at demonstrating that most South Africans stood solidly for justice and equality before the law. “The event will go ahead, even if charges are withdrawn,” said Vawda. The charges against Minister Gordhan has drawn widespread debate with many people, especially former struggle activists and stalwarts, expressing their concerns about the current political implosion among members of the ruling elite. One hundred and one (101) former struggle stalwarts have said they are deeply concerned about the state of affairs in the ruling ANC and the country. They have submitted a memorandum to the ANC calling on the leaders to reclaim the public trust and to spend time on moral introspection. They said the charges against Minister Gordhan were without foundation and showed a misuse of stage agencies.

(Ahmed Kathrada)

(Andrew Mlangeni)

(Frene Ginwala)

(Frank Chikane)

(Popo Molefe)

(Trevor Manuel) Among those who signed the memorandum, include Ahmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni, Frank Chikane, Popo Molefe, Trevor Manuel and Frene Ginwala.

(Prof Ben Turok) CURRENT STATUS QUO IS SINKING THE SHIP Meanwhile, another ANC Veteran, Professor Ben Turok, has called on President Jacob Zuma to step down for the sake of the party. He warned that if things don’t change in the ANC, the party would continue to lose support. “I would like to see President Zuma step down and for an interim president to be appointed,” he said. “Someone like former President, Kgalema Motlanthe, or Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, could act in the interim position. The crisis is so deep that we need interim measures. “We must move away from the present status quo because the present status quo is sinking the ship.”

In addition to these stalwarts, others who have also expressed their concerns about the current state of affairs include former activist and leaders of the United Democratic Front (UDF), Professor Jerry Coovadia, Judge Thumba Pillay, former Constitutional Court Judge Zac Yacoob, Dr Farouk Meer and Paul Devadas David. Two organisations, the Helen Suzman Foundation and Freedom Under Law have challenged the NPA’s decision to charge Minister Gordhan without sufficient and without conducting the investigations properly. The Helen Suzman Foundation filed an affidavit in the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday (Oct 26 2016). – ends (subrygovender@gmail.com Oct 28 2016)