THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PRESS TRUST OF SOUTH AFRICA NEWS AGENCY IN 1980

I want to acknowledge all the colleagues who kept the PTSA alive during the oppressive period from 1980 to 1990.

(FAWZIA MOODLEY, NEIL LEWIS, THYNA SUBRAMONEY AND DIANE COETZER) While going through my files during this time of lockdown as a result of the Corona Virus pandemic, I decided to record some details about how we initiated the Press Trust of SA News Agency.

It all started in November/December 1980, after I resigned from the Daily News in Durban, to launch a new progressive struggle newspaper, Ukusa. In this project, I worked with struggle stalwarts such as Griffith Mxenge, Archie Gumede, Dr A E Gangat and Dr Kurshod Ginwala. We set up office on the second floor of the 320 West Street building, near the former main railway station, in central Durban and was all set to get off the ground.

(ARCHIE GUMEDE SEATED WITH ARCHBISHOP DENIS HURLEY AND MEWA RAMGOBIN ADDRESSING A PROTEST ACTION IN DURBAN IN THE 198s)

(Dr Korshed Ginwala, who was one of the initiators of the alternative Ukusa newspaper)

(GRIFFITH MXENGE) But the former apartheid regime had other ideas. Two dreaded security policemen raided our office sometime at the end of December 1980 and handed me a three-year banning order. They warned me that I should leave the office immediately because in terms of my banning order, I was restricted from being in a news office.

At this time when I was busy with the Ukusa project, I, at the same time set up an alternative news agency, Press Trust of SA, to supply radio stations and news organisations around the world with news reports and analytical articles about the socio-political developments in South Africa.

I used to report for the BBC Africa Service, Deutsche Welle Africa English, Radio France Internationale, Radio Nederlands, radio stations in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. At the same time, I established contacts with the Press Trust of India (PTI) and news organisations in the US, West Indies, Kenya, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. The banning order against me followed hot on the heels of my detention at the hands of the security police while I was still working at the Daily News. The security police targeted me at a time when I was reporting on the schools’ boycott and at a time when some politicians within the system accused me of encouraging the school children to embark on the protest actions.

The politicians believed that I was propagating the banned ANC and warned me that I was playing with fire. They threatened that I would be dealt with.

The security police, for their part, wanted to crush my involvement with a number of anti-apartheid activists in launching the struggle Ukusa newspaper.

(A SECURITY POLICE INFORMER PUBLISHED THIS LETTER IN THE CITIZEN NEWSPAPER IN THE 1980s ABOUT ME REPORTING AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA IN THE FOREIGN MEDIA, ESPECIALLY DEUTSCHE WELLE) The banning order also prevented me from continuing with my work as a correspondent for the international radio stations and news organisations. But I was not deterred and obtained the support of my wife, Thyna, and several reporters in continuing with the Press Trust news agency. Some of the people who joined to ensure the running of the news agency were Neil Lewis, Liz McGregor, Muff Anderson, Mark Bennett, Rob Montgomery, Deven Maistry, Fawzia Moodley, Jabulani Sikakhane, Skumbuzo Manyoni and Diane Coetzer. We even set up an office in Johannesburg for Liz McGregor and Muff Anderson. They operated in the building where the South African Council of Churches was based. While Liz and Muff worked for a very brief period, all the other colleagues worked for PTSA in Durban for various periods. After my banning orders expired in 1983, I returned to the news agency and continued with the work for PTI and various radio stations around the world.

From 1980 to 1990 we moved office several times from 320 West Street Building to two buildings between Gardiner Street and Field Street and one in Smith Street, near the Durban High Court. At one time we also operated from a building in the town of Verulam, north of Durban.

(BBC AFRICA COLLEAGUES WHO I USED TO INTERACT WITH IN THE 1980s after my banning orders) We continued with this work until 1990 when, after the unbanning of the ANC and the release of Nelson Mandela, I was offered a position to work as a Foreign Correspondent for the Press Trust of India in Johannesburg. While working for PTI, I at the same time also continued with my work for Radio Deutsche Welle, Radio Nederlands, Radio France Internationale and other radio stations around the world.

(STAFF AT RADIO DEUTSCHE WELLE WHO I USED TO INTERACT WITH DURING THE DARKS DAYS OF REPORTING FROM SOUTH AFRICA) I worked as a Foreign Correspondent in Johannesburg until 1995 when I joined the SABC in Durban as a senior political correspondent on a full-time basis. During the period 1980 to 1990, I was denied my passport several times to take up a scholarship to study at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and a one-year scholarship to work at Radio Deutsche Welle.

(WITH JOURNALIST COLLEAGUES IN NAMIBIA WHILE COVERING THE NAMIBIAN INDEPENDENCE ELECTIONS IN 1990)

(INTERVIEWING FLORENCE MKHIZE AT THE OFFICES OF GRIFFITH MXENGE IN DURBAN DURING THE DAYS OF THE APARTHEID)

(COVERING THE NKOMATI ACCORD BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND MOZAMBIQUE IN 1989)

(INTERVIEWED AHMED KATHRADA FOR THE PRESS TRUST OF INDIA AFTER HIS RELEASE FROM ROBBEN ISLAND IN 1989. THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE AT HIS RELATIVE'S PLACE IN LENASIA, JOHANNESBURG. WITH HIM IS ONE OF THE ACTIVISTS.)

(VISITING A SUPPORTER IN SWEDEN IN 1978)

(WRITING ABOUT WHY PEOPLE OF COLOUR WOULD NOT SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL SPORTS UNTIL FULL FREEDOM WAS ACHIEVED)

(LETTER PUBLISHED IN THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA'S SPORTING ISOLATION)

MAJORITY RULE BEFORE ENDING SPORTING ISOLATION) BUT DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF ANTI-APARTHEID SPORTS LEADERS LIKE M N PATHER, MORGAN NAIDOO, HASSAN HOWA AND OTHERS - THE SOUTH AFRICAN WHITE CRICKET BOSSES MANAGED TO LURE FORMER WEST INDIAN CAPTAIN, ALVIN KALLICHARAN, TO VISIT SOUTH AFRICA.

(ALVIN KALLICHARAN WITH MIKE PROCTOR IN DURBAN)

(THE REGIME CONTINUED WITH ITS HARRASSMENT AGAINST ME AND AT ONE TIME OFFERED ME AN EXIT PERMIT OUT OF THE COUNTRY)

(AT THE FNB STADIUM IN JOHANNESBURG IN FEB 1990 WHEN NELSON MANDELA WAS GIVEN A HERO'S WELCOME AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM LIFE IMPRISONMENT)

(AFTER THE RELEASE OF NELSON MANDELA THE PRETORIA REGIME TRIED TO PROMOTE GREATER RELATIONS WITH AFRICAN COUNTRIES. IN `1991 THE REGIME WENT ON A VISIT TO NIGERIA AND WE AS FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS WERE INVITED TO ACCOMPANY THE PRETORIA LEADERS. I WAS WORKING FOR PTI AS A FOREEIGN CORRESPONDENT AT THIS TIME.)

(PRESS CARDS AFTER 1990)

(PRESS CARDS AFTER 1990)

(PRESS CARDS AFTER 1990)

(PRESS CARDS FOR PTI BETWEEN 1990 AND 1995) SINCE 1995 WHEN I JOINED THE SABC, I COVERED MANY CONFERENCES AND VISITED INDIA REPORTING ON THE OFFICIAL VISITS OF NELSON MANDELA IN 1995, THABO MBEKI IN 1997 AND I ALSO COVERED THE TSUNAMI DISASTER IN TAMIL NADU IN EARLY 2000.

(AHMED KATHRADA WHO JOINED NELSON MANDELA DURING THE 1995 OPFFICIAL VISIT TO INDIA SEEN HERE WITH A COLLEAGUE AT THE MAHATMA GANDHI ASHRAM IN GUJERAT)

(COVERING THE GOPIO CONFERENCE IN MAURITIUS IN 1996)

(INTERVIEWING THE FIRST CONSUL GENERAL OF INDIA AND ANOTHER GUEST FROM INDIA AFTER 1995) (ALSO WITH THE SABC STAFF IN DURBAN AT THAT TIME)

(GOPIO CONFERENCE IN MAURITIUS IN 1996)

(THIS WAS DURING A VISIT TO SRI LANKA IN 1999 IN THE COMPANY OF FELLOW SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNALISTS. WE WERE INVITED BY THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT AT A TIME WHEN THE WAR WITH THE TAMIL TIGERS WAS AT ITS PEAK)

(SOME OF THE BROADCAST TRAINING CERTIFICATES I WAS AWARDED AFTER ATTENDING A NUMBER OF TRAINING COURSES)

(PLAYING GOLF WITH CECIL MSOMI, GARY GOVINDSAMY AND AMI NANAKCHAND WHILE WE WERE SENIOR JOURNALISTS AT THE SABC)

(VISITING INDIA IN 2008 AS PART OF INDIAN-ORIGIN JOURNALISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD)

(VISITING ROBBEN ISLAND AND THE CELL OF NELSON MANDELA SOMETIME IN 2000 WHILE STILL AT THE SABC)

SPEECH DELIVERED AT VERULAM SECONDARY SCHOOL (FORMERLY VERULAM HIGH SCHOOL) ON FRIDAY, COTOBER 10 2004

Just over 15 years ago on October 10 2004, this correspondent was invited to deliver a talk to students at my former Verulam High School on the north coast of the KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa. The school was built through the hard work of descendants of indentured labourers in order to provide opportunities for their children to progress in life. Some of the local leaders who contributed tremendously to the construction of the high school were Mr Y S Chinsamy, Mr Ismail Kathrada, Mr R L Beharie and Mr D S Moodley. I was privileged to have attended the school between 1961 and 1964 because of the commitment of the teachers and the school principal, Mr Simon David. Some of the teachers who stood out at this time were Mr K P Rajoo, Mr G R Moodley, senior, Mr G R Moodley, junior, Mr Kissoon, Mr P A Pillay, Mr Juta and Mr Archary. It was because of their dedication and commitment that most of us graduated to enter important professions. I am publishing the speech below because I considered Verulam High School to have played an important role in my development to become an activist journalist during the dark days of apartheid in the 1970s and 1980s.

(This was my matriculation class in 1964. Our form teacher was Mr K P Rajoo, who sometime in the late 1980s migrated to Canada. I can recall the names of some of class mates.) SPEECH TO BE DELIVERED AT VERULAM SECONDARY SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10 2004 Good afternoon boys, girls, teachers and all others present here. It gives me great pleasure to come here this afternoon to say a word or two. When one of your class mates, young Tyrone Naicker, telephoned me and asked to deliver an address to you I was more than pleased to do so. I am very excited that the young boys and girls of this school have established the Student Development Association - the name itself gives an indication that there are some young people here who are concerned about the social conditions in which they find themselves. I am happy to be here today. I attended this school from 1961 to 1965 when it was known as the Verulam High School. At that time the school principal was one of the great educators and community leaders of that era, Simon David. The school was staffed by some of the most dedicated teachers who graced the classrooms at that time. I am certain the teachers today are just as dedicated and committed as those of our era. And the pupils at that time came from all the areas in and around Verulam and from all social backgrounds, languages and religions. Most of the pupils were from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds where their parents worked as labourers in factories and sugar cane fields and where they lived in houses built of tin and wood. CAME FROM OTTAWA For example I came from an area in Ottawa known as Tin Town. My father worked as a labourer for a large soap company in Durban and my mother worked at a clothing factory in Ottawa. Life was tough - with my parents having to take care of seven children and in addition - two adopted children. I used to fetch water from the nearby river on two tin drums and carrying them in what we used to call a banga. I also used to fetch coal from the railway line which we used for fire. At that time we did not have running water, electricity or flush toilets. You must be wondering why am I telling you all this? What is Mr Govender worrying us with what happened so many decades ago? It was your time. Why are you telling us all these nonsensical things? Boys and girls don't be alarmed. My purpose in giving you a little picture of what was life in the early days is to show you that nothing came to people of our generation on a plate. The vast majority of the pupils who attended Verulam High during my time and for many years after that - all of them did not allow their poverty or social and economic disadvantages to be an obstacle in their desire to attain a decent education and improving their lives. Most of the students of that era went on to become teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, business people, and other upward mobile social careers. Many also entered the technical field. I was one of the few who entered the field of journalism. I want to show you that life is not easy and no matter the circumstances - all of us should concentrate on our education, and strive to attain the highest qualification possible. Once you have attained an educational qualification you can then stand on your own. You don't have to rely on your parents, your family members or the government to give you a job. You can take care of yourself and stand on your own two feet. Your utilmate aim should be to become an Entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs are are a special group of people that start businesses and create their own opportunities. They not only improve their careers and financial prospects but also contibute to the growth and development of others and our beautiful country. Why become an "employee", when you could be an "employer" and create jobs and opportunities for others. But before you do this - we have to remember that you have to steer clear off all types of anti-social activities that are having a detrimental effect on our youth. We have to respect our parents, our elders and most of all our teachers. The great Mahatma Gandhi once said: "Live the Life you want to be." In other words, it is not up to others but you yourself to decide what you want to be. If you concentrate on your education and attain the highest qualification possible - then there's no doubt that your life will be better. But at the same time if you feel that your parents will always be there to take care of you and attaining a decent education is not your priority - then life will definitely be different. You will not be ready for your life ahead and the cruel world out there. Fifteen years into our new democracy - we today face many challenges and it is up to all of us to play our part. South Africa is pregnant with opportunities in all areas of life and it is up to you take advantage of the new conditions. We did not allow our social conditions to deter us and so should you. If you fail to attain a decent education then you will only be contributing to the many challenges we face today. LIFE WAS NOT EASY LIFE IS NOT EASY OUR THERE. In my work as a journalist - I have noticed that young people face many problems today - there are peer pressures, sex, drugs, smoking, alcohol, and other anti-social activities. You must decide for yourselves what you want in life. If you become caught up in anti-social activities then you must realise that you are not going to enjoy life to the exent that your colleagues who will graduate to become engineers, Information Technology specialists, doctors, lawyers, media practitioners, artisans like electricians, plumbers, builders and other fields. Let me give you an example. A 16-year-old girl pupil from this very school a few years ago found that having a boy-friend was far more important than her studies. She ignored the pleadings of her family and within a matter of months became pregnant. Now more than two years later she - a child herself - is the mother of a girl child. She now spends her time looking after the child while her husband to be, who also does not have a decent education, works as a waiter in a hotel in Umhlanga. Now ask yourself what is the future of this young girl, who is a child herself? If she does not continue with her education, she is going to rely on her waiter husband or her parents to survive? One just hopes that this little girl will have the determination to continue with her studies for her own good and her future. You have to guard against becoming involved in anti-social activities that will only ruin your lives. STAY AWAY FROM ANTI-SOCIAL ACTIVITIES As young people - you must get yourselves involved in sporting activities. There are many opportunities today - football, cricket, tennis, squash, athletics, golf and other sports. I hope you are doing this now in school and also during off-school hours. You must remember that if you keep yourself physically occupied then you will also have a healthy mind. "An idle brain is a devil's workshop." MAHATMA GANDHI In conclusion, I want to leave you with another of Mahatma Gandhi's inspirational verses. He said: "You come into this world only once, any good you could do, do it now, because you will not pass this way again." He also said and I quote: "There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for." Don't follow the reckless noises of a person called Julius Malema. Do you know who this thug is? Yes he promotes himself as a leader of the youth. But he's not. He's no example to our young people today. I want to leave you with another wise advice from Mahatma Gandhi. He said: "I ask nobody to follow me. Everyone should follow his or her own inner voice." Boys and girls, I am deeply concerned that some of our young people are taking life for granted. Once again - if I have to repeat for the umteenth time - please remember that the only way you are going to take care of yourself and lead a decent life in this materialistic world of ours - is by attaining a decent education. Please please please concentrate on your studies, follow the advice of your parents and elders, and strive to become constructive and productive citizens of our country. Please remember that only with a decent education you will be able to compete in the world out there. Our parents and forefathers did not give us wealth or money. Their legacy was the importance of education. Don't allow yourself to be mis-led by anti-social elements in our environment. Rise and rise above all these to become a productive citizen of our beautiful country and the world. But always remember where you came from and the sacrifices your parents and others have made for you to have a better life. I know you will be going out into the world soon - if you want me to answer some of your concerns about our social and political conditions - I am only too willing to do. I hope I have given you some food for thought. Thank you very much for giving me a patient hearing. - M. Subramoney October 10 2004

Inside a Lost African Tribe Still Living in India Today | Short Film Sho...

CAMEROONIANS SPEAK TAMIL LANGUAGE---( AFRICA PEOPLES )

SOUTHSIDE FM RADIO LATEST FEB 6 2020

Vanakkam, Namaskaram, Sanibonani and Namasthe. We wish to advise that due to unforeseen circumstances, the completion of our office and the construction of our broadcasting and recording studios at 59 Musgrave Road, Durban, will take another three months. This delay has been relayed to us by the architect following a joint inspection conducted on Wednesday, Feb 5, by the architect, sound and studio technician and Southside officials, Mr Subry Govender, Logan Naidoo and Mr Naidoo’s personal assistant, Ms Roxanne Gounden. In view of this latest development, we wish to advise that our official launch will also be delayed as we need at least one month for our selected Presenters and News Readers to undergo the necessary training. In the meanwhile, however, we will proceed with our programme to recruit our Presenters, News Readers/Reporters, Office Secretary/Librarian, Advertising Representatives, Deputy Station Manager, and Marketing Person. We have already received more than 40 applications for the various positions and continue to receive more applications. We will invite all the applicants for a briefing and for the selected candidates to undergo training. The candidates will undergo training at the hands of veteran radio personalities and at least one seasoned university speech and drama professor. We NOW hope to launch in four months once we have ironed out all processes and professionally prepared our Presenters and News Readers/Reporters. The delay, although unforeseen, will also help us to prepare programmes for the commemoration of the 160th anniversary of the arrival of our indentured forefathers and mothers in November 1860. Southside FM Radio was initially projected to honour our forbears who sacrificed enormously for the development in all fields of life, not only their descendants, but also the attainment of a free, democratic and non-racial South Africa, which we achieved in April 1994. Subry Govender Secretary Board of Governors: Ms Sally Padaychie (chairperson), Mr Balan Gounder (deputy chairperson), Mr Richard Naidoo (deputy chairperson), Mr Deven Moodley (treasurer), Mr Denis Naidoo (deputy treasurer), Ms V. Naidoo (assistant secretary), Mr Logan Naidoo, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Mr Sumeshen Moodley, Mr Richard Govender, Ms Roxanne Gounden, Mr Mari Ramaya-Pillay (Johannesburg), Dr M Sooboo (Pretoria), Dr Dilly Naidoo, Mr Kiru Naidoo (PRO) and Mr Subry Govender (Secretary).