RE-CALLING HISTORY: THE VOICE OF SUMINTHRA - LOVE, CASTE AND ETHNICITY

 

                        THE VOICE OF SUMINTHRA

 

While researching through my files for stories on the Natal Indian Congress in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, I came across an article about a book written by a local author on love, caste and ethnicity.

The book, “The Voice of Suminthra”, was written by Mr Moghamberry Govender  of Durban sometime in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

I was Editor of the Press Trust of South Africa (PTSA) at this time and we had written the story for publication in Indian newspapers through the Press Trust of India (PTI).

The story was published, among others, by the Indian Express under the headline: “Call to ban book by SA Indian” and The Hindu under the headline: “Controversy in Durban over Indian’s novel” on February 1 1990.

The story read:

Durban, Feb 1 (PTI): Mr Moghamberry Govender, a South African Indian grandfather, has raised the ire of some community leaders over the caste theme and some explicit sex scenes between the two main characters of his first novel, reports PTI.

Mr Govender (61) of Durban deals in the novel, “The Voice of Suminthra”, with a love affair between a rich Gujerati girl and a poor Tamilian forced to leave school because of his family’s financial circumstances.

The young couple face many trials and tribulations and eventually they elope and leave South Africa for India.

The book contains steamy sessions which Mr Govender says are well within the context of the story. But some members of the Indian community have called for the book to be banned.

But in spite of the controversy, Mr Govender has sold 3 000 copies, some of which to Indian school libraries.

Mr Govender says: “I do not consider the book to be dirty. The book is a genuine portrayal of many young couples who have been caught in caste, religion and language problems.” Ends – Press Trust of South Africa Feb 1 1990

 

              INDIAN GIRL IN LOVE MISSING  

 

The book by Mr Govender has resemblance to a real life story that developed in Durban in June 1973.

I was working for the Daily News at this time and covered a development about a young Gujerati-speaking girl who had gone missing after her parents objected to her relationship with a 20-year-old Tamil-speaking boy.

She went missing after applying to the Durban Supreme Court for permission to marry her boy-friend.

This story made headline news and was published on June 14 1973 under the headline: “Indian girl in love missing”.

The story read:

                          

A young Durban girl who applied to the Durban Supreme Court for permission to marry her Chatsworth boy-friend is missing. Twice this week she failed to appear in court.

Miss………………., an 18-year-old Gujerati-speaking Indian girl, applied to Mr Justice Friedman in the Supreme Court last October for permission to marry her 20-year-old Tamil boy-friend, Mr …………, with whom she had been in love for six years. The application was opposed by her parents.

Miss ……. . was granted an order preventing her parents, Mr and Mrs…….. , from removing her from the magisterial district of Durban.

Mr ……… (her boy-friend) is baffled by her disappearance.

He saw Miss ……. . last Friday and she was in a happy mood.

“She was looking forward to the court case because she was confident that permission would have been granted for us to marry.

“I am now frightened for her safety.”

When Miss…….. applied for permission to marry, the application was opposed by her father who claimed that his daughter’s “so-called love is nothing more than a temporary infatuation”.

He said his daughter’s boy-friend belonged to a different group.

He said: “It is important to me and my family that my daughter should marry within the faith, and my experience is that people who marry out of the faith usually reap unhappiness as they are isolated from the community.”

Despite her parents’ objection, Miss …….sought Supreme Court permission.

When the decision was to have been given on Monday, June 11, she failed to appear. The hearing was postponed for the next day, June 12, but she again failed to turn up.

Her disappearance has been reported to the police by both her boy-friend and her parents. Ends – Daily News Reporter June 14 1073

 

        GIRL CAN MARRY IF SHE RETURNS

 

Then three weeks later on July 6 1973 I wrote a follow-up story that her father would allow her to marry her boy-friend if she returned home.

The story read:

 

The father of Miss….. , the Durban girl who disappeared from her  home early last month after her parents objected to her marriage plans, now says she can go ahead and marry if she will return.

Mr ……… . said today although he had originally objected to his daughter marrying her Chatsworth boy-friend, Mr……… , he had changed his mind.

Miss ……. , an 18-year-old Gujerati-speaking Indian girl, sought Supreme Court permission last October to marry her boy-friend. Her parents objected to the application.

Mr …….. . opposing his daughter’s marriage on the grounds that the “so-called love is nothing more than a temporary infatuation”.

Miss ……, however, continued with her application and a decision was to have been given on June 11, but she failed to appear.

Mr …….. . said anyone seeing his daughter should phone the Chatsworth police at 031 – 846644 or contact the nearest police station. Ends – Daily News Reporter July 6 1973

 

After these two stories were published, the families concerned refused to talk to the media. But it appeared that the young couple married and continued with their lives with the full blessing of their parents.

 

 

 

 

RECALLING ARTICLES ABOUT RONNIE GOVENDER'S PLAYS "THE LAHNEE'S PLEASURE" AND "OFF-SIDE" PUBPLISHED IN DURBAN IN 1976 AND IN INDIA IN 1984

 

RONNIE GOVENDER’S PLAY, “OFF-SIDE”, IN 1984 POKES FUN AT SA’s INDIAN MPs

 

While researching through my files for articles that I had written on the Natal Indian Congress from the early 1970s to the 1990s, I came across articles that I had written about the recently late, Ronnie Govender’s play, "The Lahnee's Pleasure", in October 1976 and “Off-Side”, in September 1984. 
I am re-publishing these stories as a tribute to Ronnie Govender, who passed away at the age of 85 on April 29 last month. He was one of the most accomplished playwrights and theatre personalities who reigned supreme during the days of struggles against the apartheid regime.

            BLACK ACTORS GET CHANCE IN RONNIE’S PLAY

During the hurly, burly days in the 1970s, I was working for The Daily News, which at this time was situated in a building in 85 Field Street (now Joe Slovo Street), Durban. 
As an activist journalist I covered most of the anti-apartheid political, educational, social, sporting and cultural stories.
It was in this frame that I spoke to Ronnie Govender and filed a story that Ronnie was intending to stage his play, The Lahnee’s Pleasure”.
Writing about Ronnie Govender’s stage plays was also of interest to me because most of Ronnie Govender’s plays in some way or other attacked the apartheid policies of the former apartheid regime.
The story I wrote was published in the Daily News on October 22 1976 under the headline: “Black actors get chance in Ronnie’s play”.
The story read:

Mr Ronnie Govender, the Durban playwright, whose play “Swami” was highly acclaimed a few years ago, is to produce another play, “The Lahnee’s Pleasure” in December.
“The Lahnee’s Pleasure”, which was written by Mr Govender in 1972 and staged once during the South African Black Theatre Union’s Festival in Durban, will feature some of Durban’s best known black actors.
They are Essop Khan, who took part in “Swami” and “The Fire Stone” and was one of the producers of the well-received musical, “Saras”; Mahomed Ali, who acted in “Swami”, “The First Stone” and “Stableexpense”; Sunny Clothier, the talented Coloured actor; and Solly Pillay, who came to prominence when he played the lead role in “Saras”.
The central character in the play is a worker on a sugar plantation. As a widower, he is faced with the problem of rearing his children, among them a teenage daughter.
The entire play is set in the Indian bar of a white-owned hotel and revolves around the barman, the “Lahnee”, a stranger and a young man who seduces the widower’s daughter.
Mr Govender, who is also a journalist, told The Daily News he had decided to re-stage the play because of the favourable reaction of the people who saw it during the black festival.
“I intended to stage the play long ago but was not able to do so because of many problems. I have now assembled my cast and am busy with rehearsels,” he said. – Daily News Reporter Oct 22 1976

"OFF-SIDE" PLAY POKES FUN AT SOUTH AFRICA'S INDIAN MPs

Eight years later when I was the Editor of the Press Trust of South Africa (PTSA), we filed stories daily to the Press Trust of India (PTI) in New Delhi about the struggles and other relevant articles.
At this time RonnieGovender wrote and produced the play, “Off-side”, to expose the Indian-origin collaborators who participated in the tri-racial elections a few weeks earlier in August 1984. The collaborators had participated in the sham elections despite the majority of the people of Indian-origin boycotting the racial elections.
“Off-side” was just one of several plays that he had written and produced over the past six decades or so.

           POLITICAL SATIRE ON SA INDIANS

The article on “Off-side” was published in several newspapers in India under the headlines: “Off-side” play pokes fun at SA’s Indian MPs”, “Play debunks Indian MPs of S. Africa” and “Political satire on SA Indians”.
One of the Indian newspapers, Indian Express, published the article on “Off-side” on September 17.

The story read:
Durban, Sept 17 (PTI): A local Indian playwright, Mr Ronnie Govender, has poked fun at those Indians who are participating in the new South African Constitution by producing a play, named “Off-side”, about their actions.
The play, which is running to packed houses in Durban, takes a knock at a Durban butcher, Amichand Rajbansi, who is the leader of the National Peoples’ Party (NPP); Mr Pat Poovalingam, chairman of the Party; and a columnist, Mr Ranji Nowbath – all willing collaborators with the apartheid regime.
The play is spiced with Indian and English music, reports Press Trust of South Africa.
Mr Govender, who is a strong opponent of the apartheid South African Government, has produced a number of plays with Indian characters.
The calibre of the new coloured and Indian members of the tri-racial parliament is very poor, according to political observers here who cite reports that the new members of the coloured House of Representatives and the Indian House of Delegates were to undergo crash courses in parliamentary procedures.

PLAY DE-BUNKS INDIAN MPs OF SOUTH AFRICA

The four-day course will be made up of intensive briefing about how the new three-chamber parliament will operate, its standing rules and the general conduct of the new MPs, reports Press Trust of South Africa.

One political observer said it was shocking that people could enter the new system without any idea about its workings.

Contestants for seats in the new Houses also showed an appalling lack of knowledge of the new Constitution in the run-up to the Indian and coloured elections. When several candidates were questioned on how they would fight apartheid legislation from within the system, they were unable to explain their stance.

Their arguments that they wish to fight apartheid from within therefore comes to naught considering that many have not even read the new Constitution.

With the majority of the MPs undergoing intensive briefing section, it has also been revealed that several Indian candidates had taken crash courses in Afrikaans – which is one of the two official languages used by the new parliamentary scheme. The other official language is English. End – Press Trust of South Africa Sept 17 1984

 

AS WE CELEBRATE 27 YEARS OF FREEDOM TODAY – APRIL 27 2021 – WE MUST CHERISH NELSON MANDELA’S RICH LEGACY OF A UNITED, NON-RACIAL AND DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA

 

“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” – NELSON MANDELA

 

April 27 2021

 

As we celebrate 27 years of our new democracy on Tuesday, April 27 (2021), I would like to bring you some of the words of wisdom that our first democratic President, Nelson Mandela, had stated  about freedom for all people.

Over the years ever since his release on February 11 1990 and his passing in December 2013, Dr Mandela always acknowledged the role played by all South Africans in the struggles for a new, non-racial and democratic South Africa and how the new South Africa would be a home for all citizens and people.

I produced this radio documentary on his 90^th birthday on July 18 2008.

 

NELSON MANDELA – HIS RICH LEGACY OF A UNITED, PEACEFUL, NON-RACIAL AND DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA

 

“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

 

 

The late former South African President, Nelson Mandela, was more than just a political leader. At a time when South Africans are celebrating 27 years of our freedom, it is appropriate to assert that Mandela was one leader, like many of his contemporaries, who had continually promoted unity, non-racialism and peaceful co-existence of all people. 

Veteran journalist, Subry Govender, who has covered Nelson Mandela ever since his release on February 11 1990 and right up to his death on December 5  2013, writes that wherever he is now, Mandela will be deeply disillusioned and disappointed by actions of those political leaders who are now spreading racial hatred and disunity. It seems that these new political elites have no respect or regard for Mandela’s RICH LEGACY of unity, peaceful co-existence, non-racialism and democracy.

 

RICH LEGACY OF NON-RACIALISM, UNITY, PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE AND DEMOCRACY

 

Although Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for nearly three decades and spent more than 50 years of his life fighting minority rule, he has always promoted the values and principles of unity and peaceful co-existence of the majority African people alongside the white, coloured and Indian-origin communities.

He first demonstrated his desire for a peaceful and united South Africa only a few hours after his release from prison on February 11 1990. Addressing a massive crowd of people at the Grand Parade in Cape Town, he said:

“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

                    

F W de KLERK: “Man of integrity”

 

At the same time, he went further to demonstrate his commitment to a peaceful South Africa when in his speech he showed no animosity to his former oppressors and spoke highly of the last white President, F W de Klerk.

De Klerk, not only made Mandela’s release possible, but was also chiefly responsible for the peaceful transfer of power from the white minority to the black majority, led by Mandela’s African National Congress.

He referred to De Klerk as a “man of integrity” despite drawing some “no, no” from the people who had gathered to welcome him as a free man.

This is what he said about De Klerk:

“Mr De Klerk has gone further than any other Nationalist President in taking real steps to normalise the situation.

“It must be added that Mr De Klerk himself is a man of integrity.”

Mandela pursued the unity theme throughout the negotiations process from 1990 and thereafter as President, and during his retirement.

Only five days before he was installed as the country’s first democratic President on May 10 1994, Mandela outlined his vision for the new South Africa when he addressed a large crowd of people in Cape Town. This public meeting was organised with the support of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and struggle stalwarts such as Dr Alan Boesak, Trevor Manuel and Mr Dullah Omar.

He once again spoke of the new non-racial South Africa being a country where all people would live in peace and harmony.

 

“CITIZENS OF ONE NATION”

 

“The South Africa we have struggled for, in which all our people, be they African, coloured, Indian or white, regard themselves as citizens of one nation is at hand. We honour the best sons and daughters of all our people. We can count amongst them, Africans, coloureds, whites, Indians, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Jews – all of them united by a common vision of a better life for the people of this country.”

He showed this theme when he established his first democratic government. It was not only all inclusive but he also ensured that the different communities were represented in his Cabinet. He also travelled the length and breadth of South Africa in order re-assure the different cultural and religious groups that individual and group rights would be protected in the new, non-racial and democratic South Africa.

 

“NO CULTURAL GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL SHOULD FEEL INSECURE IN THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA”

 

In one address in Durban in November 1994, Mandela gave an assurance that no cultural group or individual should feel insecure and that they should become part of the new South Africa. This is what he said:

“The benefits of the new era for peace and prosperity, freedom and tolerance will now be clear. We are one nation of many cultures and religions. No community or religion has anything to fear from non-racialism and democracy. On the contrary, all communities and religions now enjoy equal respect without preference.”

In one address in Soweto in Johannesburg during the same period, Mandela told the people that the ANC did not regard itself as conquerors. This was his theme throughout his five-year term as President and when he stepped down in 1999 it was the same message that he passed down to his successor, President Thabo Mbeki, and other leaders within the ruling ANC.

And in 2008 when South Africans observed the 32^nd anniversary of the Soweto uprisings, Mandela used the occasion to once again remind the youth that they must work towards promoting unity and non-racialism.

This was his message: “As future leaders of this country your challenge is to foster a nation in which all people, irrespective of race, colour, sex, religion or creed, can assert social cohesion fully. Mindful of your own challenge you must continue to promote the principle of relentless freedom and democracy as it is the foundation upon which issues of human rights are ingrained.”

Now as South Africans celebrate 27 years of our new democracy, many people are justly concerned that Mandela’s sacrifices for our freedom may have been in vain. This is due to the unchecked way in which some political leaders are poisoning the minds of young people and others through their racially-inciting demagoguery.

It seems that these new political elites have no respect or regard for the values and principles of a united, free, peaceful and democratic society that Mandela had pursued during his life.

Mandela would definitely be feeling disillusioned and disappointed wherever he is now.  Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com April 27 2021

 

HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL SOUTH AFRICANS – INDIVIDUALS AND CULTURAL GROUPS - WILL BE PROTECTED IN A BILL OF RIGHTS – NELSON MANDELA IN AN INTERVIEW 30 YEARS AGO

AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE OBSERVING 27 YEARS OF OUR FREEDOM WE SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT NELSON MANDELA HAD TO SAY ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENS

At a time in 2021 when many South Africans are expressing their serious concerns about the factional-political development in the ruling ANC and the continued promotion of racial hatred by some politicians, I would like to bring you a recorded interview that I had conducted with freedom icon, Nelson Mandela, 31 years ago in April 1992. At this time, South Africa was facing some of the most brutal and bloodiest periods with the apartheid security apparatus promoting the “killing fields” feuds between supporters of the ANC on one side and right-wing elements, on the other. Hundreds of people were mercilessly killed in townships in and around Johannesburg, Durban, Pietermaritzburg and other areas of the country. It was also during this time that the apartheid security elements and the white right-wing were continuing to sow seeds of fear and anxiety among the people of Indian-origin and the Coloured community.

Leaders of the Natal Indian Congress and other progressive forces were seriously concerned about the negative tactics being used by the apartheid regime to promote fear and anxiety among the people of Indian-origin. It was clear this tactic was used in an attempt to prevent the Indian and coloured communities from throwing in their lot with Mr Mandela and the ANC. The ANC, other political parties and the National Party were negotiating at this time to set up the transitional government that would be in charge of the country until the democratic elections that were held on April 27 1990.

At this crucial period, I was working for the Press Trust of India as its correspondent in Johannesburg, and PTI wanted me to get the views of Mandela about, among other things, the fear and anxiety experienced by people of Indian-origin, steps to be taken to promote human rights and future relations between a new Government and the Government of India.

I spoke to Mr Mandela at his offices in Luthuli House. His personal assistant and spokesperson, Ms Gill Marcus, had made the arrangements for me to interview Mr Mandela. Mr Mandela was crystal clear that all South Africans would enjoy equal rights and the human rights of the people would be protected in a future Bill of Rights. He had also appealed to the Government of India to help in the transition to a new non-racial and democratic South Africa. The radio documentary and the articles that I produced after the interview were broadcast and published in several radio stations around the world and in several newspapers in India and other countries. This is the interview that I had conducted with the freedom icon. I had recorded only certain parts of the interview in my radio tape recorder and written other parts of the interview in a notebook. The transcript of the radio interview follows after this documentary:

These were my questions and Mandela’s responses: Q 1: Dr Mandela immediately after your release and the unbanning of the ANC in February 1990 there was a surge of support for the ANC by the Indian and Coloured communities. But this surge apparently has waned because of the ongoing political violence. Do you think the violence was deliberately fanned in order to put fear into the Indian and coloured communites so that they will not support the ANC? Mandela: “My view is that there are those who are fuelling this violence have far larger objectives than that and that is to discourage people from joining the African National Congress. The attempt is either to destroy or weaken the African National Congress. The Indian and Coloured people are part, included in that strategy that they should be estranged, alienated from the liberation movement in the country. “But I don’t think the government (apartheid regime) is going to succeed.” Q 2: But some people are saying that the there is a need for the protection of the minority rights of the Indian, coloured and white communities. Don’t you think that the entrenchment of such rights in a new constitution will lead to the entrenchment of minority privileges and lead to further discrimination between the haves and have nots? Mandela: “The only way of entrenching minority rights in this country is a Bill of Rights which sets out the rights of every South African, irrespective of the national group he or she belongs to. That we have done. We have gone further to say that the constitution will not only be amended by a two thirds majority. We have also declared that there will be proportional representation. Any party that gets more votes than a certain percentage will be entitled to representation. “Those strategies are intended to protect the rights of the minorities.” Q 3: Now getting down to India which is one of your strongest supporters. It is yet to establish any links with South Africa, despite the large population of people of Indian descent here. It seems that they are waiting for an interim government here. When do you think India and other similar countries should establish links here? Mandela: “Well our point of view is that countries should establish diplomatic links with South Africa and lift sanctions only when an interim government has been established.” Q 4: Now during the post-apartheid period what kind of relations do you forsee between the new South Africa and India? Mandela: “O’h naturally they will be very good because of the relationship between the ANC and the Government of India. We are looking forward to the further strengthening of those relations. We will not forget our friends, I can assure you.” Q 5: In many of your statements since your release you have stated that you have been inspired by the writings and actions of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlall Nehru. Can you expand briefly how you were inspired by these leaders? Mandela: “Well the writings and speeches by Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru about the unity of India, the letters which he wrote to his daughter, Indira, from prison, provided us with a great deal of literature. Also, the writings of Mahatma Gandhi on Satyagraha and other issues of the Indian struggle. Not only that they taught us they demonstrated how freedom fighters should handle the problems facing the country and the fact that they were in and out of prison raised our esteem and respect for them.” Question 6: The Indian community in South Africa despite its small size has contributed in no small measure to the liberation struggle in all departments. What can you say to all the so-called feelings of insecurity among some sections of the Indian-origin community? Mandela: “We have and I have addressed a number of Indian occasions like Diwali and Eid/ Ramadaan, and I am due to address further rallies in these communities. I have addressed Indian businessmen twice already in Durban since I came. I have addressed Indian businessmen in Johannesburg. We are addressing the Indian community because of the vital role which they played in the past and which they are likely to play in the future.” - ends April 1992 PTSA

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

 

 

 

At a time in April 2021 when the good names of struggle stalwarts such as Pravin Gordhan and others are being torn apart by reactionary elements, I want to bring you a radio documentary on the life of their comrades who passed away at the age of 58 on January 6 2008. He is none other than Yunus Ismail Mahomed, who worked very closely with Minister Gordhan and a hose of other activists in the struggles for a free, non-racial and democratic South Africa.

Yunus Mahomed made enormous contributions in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s for freedom and justice in South Africa. 

Yunus Mahomed, who was born in Johannesburg on January 6 1950, was an activist of principle who promoted the full values and traditions of the freedom struggle. He worked with leaders of the calibre of Archie Gumede, Griffith Mxenge, Pravin Gordhan, Rev Xundu, Professor Jerry Coovadia, Thumba Pillay, Paul David, Mewa Ramgobin, and hundreds of other activists.

RULING ANC IN SOUTH AFRICA EXPRESSES ITS WELL WISHES TO THE TAMIL COMMUNITY ON TAMIL NEW YEAR

 

 

The ruling African National Congress in South Africa had expressed its well wishes to the Tamil community in the country and across the world on Tamil New Year (April 14 2021).

The message was contained in a media release issued by the organisation’s national spokesperson, Mr Pule Mabe, on Wednesday, April 14 (2021) in Johannesburg.

 

 

            “TAMIL PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXEMPLARY”

 

The ANC’s statement, also published on its webpage, read:

“As the Tamil people celebrate 5 122 years, the ANC wishes to express its appreciation for their contribution in nation-building, moral regeneration, poverty eradication and the advancement of black economic empowerment.

“The ANC is confident that other communities will emulate the noble and patriotic example consistently shown by the Tamil people in working towards a peaceful, non-racial and democratic South Africa based on the principles of social and economic justice.

                                      GRATITUTE

“The ANC wishes to express its gratitude to the Tamil people for their continued support and solidarity with the poorest of the poor. We urge them to continue along this noble path. The ANC believes that government, working alone, cannot succeed to adequately address the plight of the poorest of the poor. The contribution of all sectors of society is critical, and the Tamil people have been exemplary.

“The ANC appreciates that, as a result of COVID-19, the Tamil community cannot be in their temples during this sacred period. We wish to thank the Tamil community for complying with all measures and regulations that seek to defeat the pandemic.

“Our gratitude goes to the Tamil community for their commitment and dedication to ease the burden placed on citizens’ shoulders by COVID-19.

“The ANC wishes the Tamil community a blessed New Year.”

The message by the ANC follows in the footsteps of similar sentiments issued by leaders in the British and Canadian governments. Masses of Tamil people reside in these two countries, United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other countries like the more than 500 000 people of Tamil-origin in South Africa.

It’s understood that the ANC had conveyed similar Tamil New Year messages for more than two years.

The Tamil-origin people in South Africa are descendants of indentured labourers who were brought along with Hindi, Telegu and Malayalam communities by the British Colonial Government since 1860 to work on the sugar plantations of the then Natal Colony. Since their arrival nearly 161 years ago, they involved themselves fully in the struggles against racial discrimination and later in the liberation war against white minority rule.

Many people believe that the ANC’s latest move is a sign that the major cultural events of all communities are being recognised in our new non-racial and democratic South Africa.   

South Africa is a multi-cultural country and, therefore, all communities should feel at home. Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com April 16 2021

OUR RICH HISTORY - MINISTER PRAVIN GORDHAN – HIS DETENTION AND BANNING IN EARLY 1982 RECALLED ON HIS 72ND BIRTHDAY

 

 

HIS SACRIFICES RECALLED WHILE THE CAMPAIGNS TO TARNISH HIS IMAGE CONTINUES IN APRIL 2021

 

The campaigns to tarnish the image of struggle stalwart and current Minister in the Government of President Cyril Ramaphosa – Pravin Gordhan – show no signs of ending.

In the latest development – at the time when Minister Gordhan has turned 72 – this campaign has been demonstrated at the Judicial Services Commission hearing now taking place to appoint two nominees to the Constitutional Court and other courts of the country.

The Chief Justice – Mogoeng Mogoeng – when interviewing Judge Daya Pillay for a position in the Constitutional Court indicated that Minister Gordhan had requested to see him some years ago. In a broadcast on SAFM radio, he was heard saying that this had surprised him because he was not a friend of Gordhan and and that he had only known Gordhan via television. When the meeting was arranged Minister Gordhan during the conversation that followed on the specified date had asked him: “How my friend Judge Daya Pillay was performing?" This was at a time when Judge Pillay had applied for a senior position in the judiciary.

Judge Pillay responded by saying that Minister Gordhan was her friend she had known for a long time. In a broadcast on SAFM radio, she was heard saying:

“We are both activists from Durban and it’s hard not to know him.”

The leader of the EFF, Julius Malema, who is one of six MPs on the JSC, showed his vengeance for for Minister Gordhan, when he implied that she was part of “Gordhan’s faction”. He also alleged the Minister had captured the judiciary.

Judge Pillay responded to Malema by saying “we are friends” but this did not affect her work as a judge.

This latest continued attempts by Julius Malema to smear the image of Minister Gordhan only demonstrates that he has a personal grudge against the Minister. He has no knowledge whatsoever of the sacrifices that Minister Gordhan had made during the 1970s and 1980s when involved in the struggles for a free, non-racial and democratic South Africa.

Since the early 1970s Mr Gordhan was involved with the Natal Indian Congress, South African Communist Party(SACP), the ANC, community organisations in Durban, Chatsworth, Phoenix; and other progressive movements. He also played a major role in the establishment of the United Democratic Front in 1983 and was elected as one of the executive officials.

After Nelson Mandela was released and the ANC was unbanned in February 1990, Mr Gordhan was fully involved in, among other things,  as a member of the NIC/TIC/ANC in the negotiations process, in the establishment of the Interim Government, and the drawing up of the new non-racial and democratic constitution.

While researching through my files, I came across an article that we had written about his detention for 161 days since late 1981 and early 1982 and the banning order imposed on him in May 1982.

 

 

DURBAN INDIAN LEADER UNDER HOUSE ARREST

We wrote an article about the harassment meted out to Gordhan at a time when the apartheid regime had heightened its suppression of anti-apartheid activists. Gordhan at this time was a top leader of the Natal Indian Congress and an underground activist of the banned African National Congress at that time.

This article was submitted to the Press Trust of India (PTI) for publication in newspapers in India and to news outlets around the world.

The Indian Express published this story under the headline: “Durban Indian leader under house arrest” on May 19 1982.

The story read:

Durban, May 19 (PTI): A 33-year-old executive member of the Indian Congress, Mr Pravin Gordhan, has been banned and placed under house arrest for two years immediately after being released from detention without trial for 161 days.

Mr Gordhan and another Congress executive member, Mr Yunus Mahomed, were arrested in November 1981 along with more than 150 political activists, trade unionists and students in a massive crackdown by the South African security police.

Just before his release Mr Gordhan had spent more than a week in the psychiatric ward of a Durban hospital.

As a banned person, reports the Press Trust of South Africa (PTSA), Mr Gordhan is not allowed to leave his house from 7pm to 6am every weekday and during weekends and holidays.

He is also not allowed to communicate with more than one person at a time and he may not enter any residential area set aside for Africans, coloured people and Indians. He is also prohibited from entering any industrial complex, educational institution and publishing or broadcasting house.

At the time of his arrest, Mr Gordhan played a leading role in the anti-SAIC Committee, which was established by the Natal Indian Congress and other progressive organisations throughout the country to persuade the Indian people not to vote in the “sham” elections of the government-created South African Indian Council.

The campaign was a major success with the majority of the Indian people boycotting the elections and rejected discrimination and apartheid in all its forms.

Mr Gordhan’s wife, Pravina, told PTSA that she was very bitter about the banning and detention of people without trial.

Mrs Gordhan, daughter of Mr Natu Babenia who was imprisoned on Robben Island for 16 years for his anti-racist stand against the Pretoria Government, said that her husband’s release did not make her totally happy.

“How can I be happy when many other people are still in detention?”, she asked.

Mr Gordhan joins a number of other Indians who have been banned and placed under house arrest. Among them are Mrs Fatima Meer, a sociology lecturer at the University of Natal and a close friend of Mrs Indira Gandhi; Mr Mewa Ramgobin, former president of the Natal Indian Congress; Mr George Sewpersadh, president of the NIC; and Mr Marimuthu Subramoney, a Durban journalist who founded the PTSA News Agency.

There are altogether about 150 persons of this category in South Africa, including Mrs Winnie Mandela, wife of the leader of the African National Congress, Mr Nelson Mandela, who is serving life imprisonment. Ends – Press Trust of SA News Agency May 19 1982