JUDGE THUMBA PILLAY – ANOTHER STALWART OF THE FREEDOM STRUGGLES

A TWO-PART RADIO DOCUMENTARY COMPILED IN MAY 2009 ABOUT HIS EARLY LIFE, STRUGGLE POLITICS AND CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA BY SUBRY GOVENDER

(THUMBA PILLAY (FOURTH FROM LEFT) IN THIS HISTORICAL PICTURE OF OFFICIALS OF THE NATAL INDIAN CONGRESS)

(THUMBA PILLAY WITH ANOTHER STALWART, SWAMINATHAN GOUNDEN) While the Corona Virus (Covid-19) pandemic has taken its toll on the lives of people, one of the prominent anti-apartheid activists and leaders during the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s – JUDGE THUMBA PILLAY – has been using the time to publish on social media historical material about the struggles. JUDGE Pillay, who has just turned 85, has played a prominent role in the Natal Indian Congress, the United Democratic Front, other political and community organisations and in the struggles of non-racial sporting orginsations. I had known Judge Pillay from 1971 when the NIC was revived and during the struggles thereafter in the attainment of our non-racial democracy in April 1994. I had the privilege of talking to Judge Pillay in May 2009, after our fourth democratic elections on April 22 2009, and compiled this two-part Radio Documentary about his life, his involvement in the struggles and the decision to disband the NIC. PART ONE: His early life in Clairwood, Durban; university education, and political involvement.

PART TWO: His involvement in negotiations prior to the April 1994 elections, disbandment of the NIC and views about the new South Africa.

DR ZWELI MKHIZE - HIS ROLE IN TRYING TO COMBAT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HIGHLIGHTS HIS COMMITMENT TO THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT OF THE MARGINALISED AND DISADVANTAGED

A THREE-PART RADIO DOCUMENTARY ON HIS LIFE COMPILED IN FEBRUARY 2009 IS BEING RE-PUBLISHED TO SAY THANK YOU TO DR ZWELI MKHIZE BY SUBRY GOVENDER

One of the political leaders who is playing a major and crucial role with President Cyril Ramaphosa and his government in tackling the Corona Virus (Covid-19) is the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize. Since the Ramaphosa Government’s campaigns began more than two months ago, Dr Mkhize has been in the forefront with his team to try to control the spread of the dreaded pandemic. Dr Mkhize’s commitment brings to mind the kind of roles he has played in the political struggles and the socio-economic emancipation of the marginalised, the poor and the disadvantaged after 1994. I had the privilege of interviewing Dr Mkhize in February 2009 about of his early life, his student days, political struggles and his involvement in the new non-racial and democratic Government. I compiled a three-part Radio Documentary in order to recognise the invaluable contributions by Dr Mkhize. I have the pleasure of re-publishing the three-part documentary to say thank you to Dr Mkhize for his efforts in fighting Covid-19. PART ONE This is about his early life growing up in a farm near Pietermaritzburg and his school life.

PART TWO This is about his student days and struggles, helping in the formation of the UDF, his move into exile, return in 1991 and his entry into post-apartheid government after the April 1994 elections.

PART THREE This is about his political views about what should be done to improve the socio-economic conditions of the poor and marginalised, and his fight against corruption and personal enrichment of people who join the ruling ANC.

HANIF BHAMJEE - SOUTH AFRICAN WHO WAS A FORMIDABLE ACTIVIST AND LEADER OF THE BRITISH AND WALES ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENTS

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 is Hanif Bhamjee, formerly of Pietermaritzburg. Bhamjee, 73, 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. He was also awarded the OBE by the British Queen for his humanitarian work. SUBRY GOVENDER interviewed Bhamjee while he was in Durban in July 2009 and compiled this Radio Documentary as a tribute to this dynamic anti-apartheid activist.

KAY MOONSAMY – WHO – LIKE NELSON MANDELA – ALSO SACRIFICED 67 YEARS OF HIS LIFE, INCLUDING HIS FAMILY, IN THE ANC STRUGGLES FOR A FREE, NON-RACIAL AND DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA A TWO-PART RADIO DOCUMENTARY ON THE LIFE OF THIS HUMBLE FREEDOM ACTIVIST BY SUBRY GOVENDER

(KAY MOONSAMY WITH FELLOW ACTIVIST, SWAMINATHAN GOUNDEN)

On the 21st June 2017 – one of the country’s lesser known freedom activists – who spent 27 years of his life in exile – died at the age of 91 at his home in Chatsworth, Durban, after the serving the cause for freedom for 67 years. I compiled this two-part Radio Documentary on his life in 2009 after interviewing at his home in Chatsworth. One of the political activists and struggle stalwarts who like, Nelson Mandela, sacrificed 67 years of his life for the freedom we enjoy today is little-known 90-year-old Kay Moonsamy of Chatsworth in Durban. This correspondent had the opportunity of interviewing Mr Moonsamy at his home in 2009 when he had retired from active politics after serving 10 years in parliament as a member of the ruling ANC. He had earlier spent 27 in exile, working for the ANC in Botswana, Swaziland, Zambia, India and the Soviet Union. PART ONE: is about his early life as a trade unionist, involvement in the Natal Indian Congress, removal of the conservative Kajee-Pather group from the leadership of the NIC, and his arrest as one of the Treason Trialists in 1956 when he met for the first time Nelson Mandela and other leaders.

PART TWO: is about is about his flight into exile in 1965, his work in exile, his return to the country 1991 and his involvement in helping to build the ANC into a political party.

YUNUS ISMAIL MAHOMED – ANOTHER STRUGGLE ACTIVIST WHO PLAYED AN ENORMOUS PART FOR JUSTICE AND FREEDOM

A RADIO DOCUMENTARY AS A TRIBUTE TO YUNUS MAHOMED BY SUBRY GOVENDER

(YUNUS MAHOMED WITH ZAC YACOOB, PRAVIN GORDHAN AND THUMBA PILLAY)

Another leader who made an enormous contributions in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s for the creatioin of a non-racial and democratic South Africa is Yunus Ismail Mahomed. Born in Johannesburg in 1950, Yunus Mahomed made his mark in student struggles, Natal Indian Congress, United Democratic Front and organisations such as the Democratic Lawyers’ Association. Subry Govender compiled this radio documentary on his life after he passed away at the age of 58 in Durban on January 6 2008.

SOUTH AFRICA FOR ALL AS ENUNCIATED BY NATAL INDIAN CONGRESS LEADERS IN THE 1970s, 1980s and EARLY 1990s

A RADIO DOCUMENTARY BY SUBRY GOVENDER COMPILED IN 2008 TO REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES OF THE ACTIVISTS AND LEADERS

(FAROOK MEER WITH FORMER KZN PREMIER WILLIES MCHUNU)

(GEORGE SEWPERSADH (EXTREME LEFT SEATED) WITH OTHER ACTIVISTS OF THE 1970s, 1980s and EARLY 1990 ERA) In the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s a number of Indian-origin activists came to the fore after the revival of the Natal Indian Congress by Mewa Ramgobin and his band of dedicated leaders in 1971. The voices of Dr Farook Meer and George Sewpersadh were recalled in 2008 after a memorial service in Durban for fellow activist and human rights lawyer, Yunus Mahomed. During the service a number of leaders spoke about the lack of credible leaders taking up the cause of the people. Even the ANC representative at the service, Mr Senzo Mchunu, stated that the ruling party should look up to credible leaders within the community instead of empowering former apartheid stooges and yes men. This radio documentary was compiled in 2008 to acknowledge the voices and contributions of the people of Indian-origin to the struggles for a non-racial and democratic South Africa.

THE INTERNAL STRUGGLES THAT KEPT ALIVE THE ANC WHILE IT AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS WERE BANNED A RADIO DOCUMENTARY BY SUBRY GOVENDER

This radio documentary was compiled in 2008.

While political power in 2020 is now the order of the day, it is necessary to recall the voices of some of the leaders inside the country who kept the struggles alive in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. The leaders inside the country continued with the struggles despite heavy repression, bannings, detentions, and even state-sponsored murders and violence. The voices of Dr Nthatho Motlana, Jay Naidoo and Murphy Morobe represent the hundreds of activists who kept alive the values and principles of the ANC during the dark days of apartheid oppression.