DURBAN ACTIVISTS TO HOLD DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF CITY HALL STEPS ON NOVEMBER 2 IN SUPPORT OF FINANCE MINISTER PRAVIN GORDHAN

(DR JERRY COOVADIA ADDRESSING THE MEETING. WITH HIM ARE JUDGE THUMBA PILLAY, DR FAROUK MEER, DR DILLY NAIDOO, AND MS CORAL VINSEN) BY SUBRY GOVENDER About 300 people, mainly former anti-apartheid activists, have decided at a meeting in Durban on Sunday to hold a massive demonstration on November 2 in support of Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan. The struggle veterans gathered at the historic David Landau Community Centre in the suburb of Asherville to lend their support to the beleaguered Gordhan, who the National Prosecution Authority head, Shaun Abrahams, has charged with fraud and theft. Gordhan has dismissed the charges as part of a political ploy to malign him and force him out of office because of his fight against corruption. Gordhan has, however, stated that he would remain in office and continue to fight in the interests of the country. Those who attended the Durban meeting, which was convened by proponents of the Activists Citizens Movement, fully supported the resolution to hold the demonstration on the steps of the City Hall on November 2.

(MS ELA GANDHI, MR VIRGIL BONHOMME, MR SWAMINATHAN GOUNDEN, MR BEN MADOKWE, MS WARARA KAKAZA AND DR FAROUK MEER) Some representatives would also travel to Pretoria to lend the support of the Durban activists to Gordhan. The campaign slogans will be: “Hands of PG (Pravin Gordhan) and “Hands off Treasury”. The struggle activists also decided that the campaign should also be escalated internationally and former Nobel Peace Prize winners should also be enlisted.

(VISITOR FROM INDIA ADDRESSING THE MEETING) One visitor from India told the meeting that he would launch a campaign in India. “It’s a tragedy that I hail from the same state where the Guptas come from. You can be assured I won’t be campaigning for the Guptas,” he said. Some of the struggle veterans who attended the meeting in support of Minister Gordhan were Mr Virgil Bonhomme, Mr Swaminathan Gounden, Ms Ela Gandhi, Judge Thumba Pillay, Dr Jerry Coovadia, Dr Farouk Meer, Dr Dilly Naidoo, and Ms Coral Vinsen. Mr Siva Naidoo, Ms Warara Kakaza, Mr Ben Madokwe, Ms Eunice David, and Mr Yusuf Vawda represented the Activists Citizens Movement. Some of the other activists present were Mr Coastal Govender, Mr Pops Rampersad, Mr Gary Govindsamy, Mr Krish govender, Mr Derek Naidoo, Mr Deven Pillay, and Mr Raj Badal. Judge Pillay told the meeting that institutions such as the NPA were being used to fight personal battles. “I believe the charges against Pravin will fail before they get off the ground. I believe the charges will be withdrawn. I am convinced of Pravin’s innocence,” he said. Similar sentiments were expressed by Dr Coovadia. He called on those in power to build state institutions, the people and the country. “But it seems these people are tearing them down.”

(MR BEN MADOKWE ADDRESSING THE MEETING. MS WARARA KAKAZA IS SEATED)

(MR COASTAL GOVENDER - ONE OF THE FORMER ACTIVISTS AT THE MEETING)

(MS ELA GANDHI SIGNING HER PLEDGE IN SUPPORT OF MINISTER GORDHAN) One of the co-chairpersons of the Durban meeting, Ms Warara Kakaza, told the people that they were not against anyone. “We want to save our country,” she said. “We don’t want to be selfish and not save the country for generations to come. We are here to say that we love this country so much and this country has so much potential that we can give to the future generations. We must save the country not only for the future generations of South Africa but the whole world.” Another proponent of the Activists Citizens Movement, Yusuf Vawda, said the charges against Gordhan, Ivan Pillay and Oupa Magashula were groundless. “What is happening against our three comrades is a national crisis. The charges are groundless. We must do everything in our power to show our solidarity for Pravin and Ivan and Oupa,” he said.

SOME METRO COUNCILLORS AND MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS MUST SHED THEIR COLONIAL MENTALITY OVER THEIR FAILURE TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREA OF OTTAWA, NEAR VERULAM

THE RESIDENTIAL AREA OF OTTAWA, NEAR VERULAM, IS BEING DESTROYED BY THE ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY ALLOWING THE GROWTH OF MOTOR SCRAP YARDS, HEAVY TRUCKS PARKING, CONTAINER DEPOTS, PANEL BEATING SHOPS AND OTHER HEAVY INDUSTRIES

ETHEKWINI IS ALLOWING THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR RESIDENTIAL AREAS BY IGNORING HEAVY INDUSTRIES SUCH AS MOTOR SCRAP YARDS, PANEL BEATING SHOPS, HEAVY TRUCKING PARKING, CONTAINER DEPOTS AND GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION OF OHLANGA RIVER By Subry Govender

For some time I have been concerned about whether our councillors and officials in our new non-racial and democratically-elected Ethekwini Municipality have shed their “colonial mentality”. This mental state of our councillors and municipal officials clearly comes to the fore when one drives through the length and breadth of the residential areas and small towns that make up the Ethekwini Metro. I have been reluctant to make this assertion for some time because I was under the impression that 22 years into our new democracy, the “colonial mentality” of the past would no longer, linger-on in the minds of our councillors and municipal officials.

But last week on October 4, I was once again propelled into reality when one of my former colleagues in the journalist world, Thami Mazwai, wrote about the need to shed the "colonial mentality” of the past in order to ensure that black people advance as entrepreneurs and business people. In his column, “Empower Yourself”, published in the Business Report on October 4, Mazwai wrote that “many in our intelligentsia and civil service must shed the colonial mentality they have”.

He wrote: “Black people have internalised decades of colonialism that told them they are inferior.” In this regard in so far as our councillors and municipal officials are concerned, I firmly believe most of them are still affected by the “colonial mentality” that those citizens who live in former disadvantaged residential areas do not deserve to live in tidy, litter-free, clean, neat and environmentally-friendly residential areas.

One just has to drive through residential areas such as Tongaat, Verulam, Ottawa, Inanda, KwaMashu, Phoenix, Red Hill, Avoca, Reservoir Hills, Claire Estate, Sydenham, Chatsworth, Lamontville, Umlazi, Isipingo, Chesterville, Merebank, Wentworth and other former disadvantaged residential areas to witness for themselves the degeneration, degradation, pollution, filth, litter and rubbish that have engulfed these areas. To demonstrate my point, I would like to take you to the residential area of Ottawa, which is situated near Mount Edgecombe to the south and Verulam to the North. Over the decades, the people of Ottawa have advanced from their wood and iron houses to well-constructed brick and tile houses. This development is visible from Munn, Riverview, and School roads in the former area known as “Tin Town”, to Maharaj and Jungbahadur roads, formerly known as Central, to Kissoon and Gazard roads, formerly known as Uplands. The area between the Old North Coast Road and the railway line has also seen the same development over the past few decades.

With the emergence of our new, free country and municipality, the residents, while welcoming and embracing the post-apartheid social, political and economic developments, had not for-seen the general degeneration that have become the order of the day in their residential areas.

Over the past few years almost every road has seen the development of vehicle scrap yards, container depots, panel beating shops, heavy trucks parking lots, and the general damage caused to roads, telephone lines and electricity poles by huge trucks. Their once pristine and over-flowing Ohlanga River has now also been totally destroyed by trucking companies and other environmentally-ignorant people dumping dirt, filth, and sand into the river. At one time this river used to be the source of food for the many, many people. One company has even set up an animal business on the river itself after dumping tons of sand near the old Ottawa bridge.

In the very latest developments, a company has set up a container depot at the far end of Riverview Road, while another businessman is setting up a panel beating shop at the corner of School and Munn Roads.

The area between the Old North Coast Road and the railway line has at least three vehicle scrap yards in operation and one huge trucking business. There’s also one huge vehicle scrap yard next to the shops, formerly owned by the Latiff and Hoosen families. The residents are now concerned their residential area will suffer the same fate as the once historical village of Clairwood, south of Durban, where trucking companies, container depots and other heavy industries have destroyed the residential nature of the suburb. The irony of all this is that most of those who are operating these heavy industries in the former disadvantaged residential areas do not reside in these areas. Most of them have migrated and now live in plush residential areas in the former privileged suburbs. The residents of Ottawa and other former disadvantaged residential areas are now looking to the newly-elected Mayor, Zandile Gumede, and her fellow councillors to shake off their “colonial mentality” and to introduce measures that will ensure that former disadvantaged residential areas are not destroyed through general degradation and degeneration. I am certain that all residents and ratepayers, whether in former advantaged or disadvantaged areas, look forward to Mayor Gumede keeping to her promise that she will not only fight corruption but also serve the people “with respect and humility and conduct all Council affairs in an honest and transparent manner”.

In her message, she emphasised: “We made a commitment to radically improve the lives of our people and indeed, we will continue to seek innovative solutions to bring service delivery right to the doorsteps of our people.” She added: “We made it clear from day one that we will work around the clock to create a City that our ratepayers and the community at large can be proud of.

“We are a City in motion and call on each and every person in eThekwini to not only be champions of change but also take an active interest in our city. Working together we can achieve far greater things.” Mayor Gumede must be commended for making this promise to “serve the people” and to work in the interests of ratepayers and residents. BUT for residents of former disadvantaged areas such as KwaMashu, Phoenix, Chatsworth, Umlazi, Verulam, Tongaat, Ottawa and other areas they would only be satisfied once Mayor Gumede and her councillors shake off their “colonial mentality” and ensure that their residential areas are saved from further destruction. How is it possible that these so-called councillors and municipal officials of our new democratic order can allow the filth, rubbish, and litter and vehicle scrap yards, panel beating shops, trucks and container depots to proliferate and destroy the former disadvantaged residential areas? Or have most of these so-called councillors and municipal officials also migrated to former advantaged areas that they don’t see the general degeneration and degradation of residential areas they once grew up in? THE MUNICIPALITY HAS SAID THAT THEY WANT TO REZONE OTTAWA BUT THEY HAVE NOT CONSULTED THE RATEPAYERS AND RESIDENTS OF THE AREA. WHAT ARE THEY UP TO? ends - subrygovender@gmail.com Oct 10 2016

64-YEAR-OLD GRAND-MOTHER ACHIEVES THE MOST DESIRABLE IN GOLF – A HOLE-IN-ONE

By Subry Govender

A 64-year-old grand-mother, who has been playing golf for the past 16 years, has achieved the most desirable – a hole-in-one – when playing in a competition at the Mount Edgecombe Golf Course on Wednesday, Oct 5. Mrs Kistamma Subramoney was playing in a ladies’ medal competition when she achieved the feat at the par 3, hole 15.

“The green is situated over a dam and it is not easy to get the ball over the water, let alone onto the green”, she said. “But on Wednesday, I took a seven iron and just hit what I felt was a smooth shot. I was worried whether it would get over the water but when it dropped on the green, I bent down to pick up my tee. “As I was picking up my tee, my two colleagues, Carol Hubert and Vanessa Colby, started shouting: “It’s going into the hole, it’s going into the hole. Thyna you have a hole-in-one. “I was over the moon as they congratulated and gave me the high five.” Mrs Subramoney said she never thought that at her age she would achieve the feat. She said golfers only hear of other golfers and professionals scoring hole-in-ones.

She joined the Mount Edgecombe Golf Club as a bunny or new entrant in golf in the year 2 000. “I have been playing golf for the past 16 years and have come very close over the years to scoring a hole-in-one. Achieving this feat just after my 64th birthday is a fantastic feeling”, she said. During prize presentation at the end of the competition she had to buy drinks for her fellow members. “My fellow players and the club members in general were really thrilled at my achievement.”

Mrs Subramoney has won a number of competitions at the club and also when playing in charity tournaments and in the Wild Coast and Mercury Million tournaments over the past 10 years. She finished as the “Best Lady Golfer” in the Wild Coast Sun tournament in 2015. Mrs Carol Hubert, the club captain who played alongside Mrs Subramoney when the hole-in-one was achieved, said Mrs Subramoney would be presented with a special certificate. She said Mrs Subramoney was the second lady out of a total of 13 players who scored hole-in-ones since January this year. The other lady was 83-year-old Winnie Everett who achieved the feat two months ago on the Mount Edgecombe Course Two. “Thyna’s achievement was really great because she had to hit the ball over the dam and then onto the green. We are proud of Thyna. I know the feeling because I too scored a hole-in-one two years ago at the Durban Royal Golf Course.” Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com Oct 7 2016

HISTORICAL DURBAN MENS' CHOIR WANTS TO SPREAD SOUTH AFRICA'S CULTURAL DIVERSITY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

(BY SUBRY GOVENDER) One of Durban’s historical musical institutions, the Durban Mens’ Choir, which is observing its 45th anniversary, is planning to showcase South Africa’s wonderful cultural diversity to audiences throughout the country and the world.

Dr John Pauw (Founder of the Choir) The Choir, which was established in January 1971 by Dr John Pauw, performs mainly at churches, schools in partnership with school choirs, and at special events during Easter, Christmas and other important occasions. The Choir first undertook an overseas tour to Europe in 1976 and then to the United States in 1984. The Choir undertook its second tour to Europe in 1989. This was the last tour out of the country that the Choir had undertaken. Since its inception the Choir has undertaken tours to a number of cities and towns outside KwaZulu-Natal. These included tours to the Free State and Cape Provinces and performances at the Cape Town City Hall. The Choir had also travelled to Johannesburg, Pretoria and Bloemfontein on several occasions and performed at a number of towns during its trip. In Durban, the Choir has performed in concerts at the Durban City Hall and the Playhouse. It has also travelled to all parts of KwaZulu-Natal, performing in towns such as Richards Bay on the North Coast, Margate on the South Coast and Howick in the Midlands.

Mr Trevor Llewellyn “We believe that through the medium of music, the one universal language, we will play our part in bringing peace and harmony to many communities in our country and to the people across the globe,” said Mr Trevor Llewellyn, a spokesperson for the Choir. The Choir had not been able to undertake another tour outside the country since 1989 because of financial constraints. Although financial constraints are still a problem, the Choir members want to renew contacts with counterparts in other parts of the world. “With our special brand of music and choral singing in particular we want to endeavour to encourage business and cultural links with other countries,” said Mr Llewellyn. “Inside the country we want to expand our horizons and achieve what we have done in KwaZulu-Natal.” The Choir, which is popularly known as “The Singing Men of Durban”, practices at the Umbilo Methodist Church every Tuesday evening.

Barry Tatton (who joined late in 1987), John Murphy (who joined at the beginning of 1987), Peter Spence, (who joined in 1977) and Iain Laing who joined in 1984). A senior member and official of the Choir, Mr John Murphy, said the Choir had its origins in the Durban Male Voice Choir which was started in the 1960s by a musical couple, Bill and Jill Randall. “The men’s section was directed by Dr John Pauw and, singing with the young voices meant that the men were limited to singing the Tenor and Bass parts. Accordingly, with the agreement of Bill and Jill Randall, the Durban Mens’ Choir was formed in January 1971 with the boy’s forming the Durban Boys’ Choir which, unfortunately no longer exists”, he said. Over the years the Choir had sung with Ge Korsten, Mimi Coetzee, Rina Hugo, Virginia Davids and, locally, with Colleen Philp. It had also sung with the erstwhile Durban Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Edgar Cree) and the Durban Philharmonic Orchestra. “Unfortunately none of the original members of the Choir were still members. Dr. John Pauw retired as Musical Director of the Choir at the end of 1999 and the current Musical Director is Miss Norraine Swanby, who took over at the beginning of 2000. “The longest serving member is Mr Peter Spence who joined the Choir in 1977. Our oldest member joined the Choir in 1985 and is now 85-years-old. “Because of the circumstances in the early 1960s and 1970s, the Choir started with only white members, but since 1990 the Choir attracted a number of members of other race groups.”

Miss Norraine Swanby Mr Murphy said the Choir raised its funds through membership fees and special fund-raising events. “The Choir charges a fee to sing at concerts during the year and each year, in November or early December, arranges a three-night Supper Theatre concert where the Choir members themselves and their wives run the event, including selling the tickets, cooking the supper, waiting on tables and running a properly licensed bar as well as singing a full concert. These concerts provide the main source of income. The Choir members pay an annual subscription to belong to the Choir. “When the Choir sings away from the Durban area, such as to Richards Bay, Margate, and Howick the fee is increased to cover some of the travelling costs. Any shortfall is covered by the members themselves.

“The Choir will be delighted, first of all, to recruit more committed members. The Choir members are either fully employed or retired and belonging to the Choir requires extreme commitment. Our goal is to increase the membership of the Choir to, at least, forty committed members. At present we have about twenty-six members who attend, sometimes erratically, practices and concerts,” he said. Mr Murphy said the Choir every year conducts concerts at retirement homes and raises funds for charity. “The Choir sings at no cost at retirement homes at least three times a year. The one regular free concert which we sing at is a Christmas concert at the Ray Hullett Centre in Acutt Street in Durban. On the Choir’s 40th anniversary in 2011, the Choir arranged a concert which was held in the Glenwood High School Hall and all the proceeds are donated to the Open Air School in Glenwood with the Choir bearing the costs.” Despite the challenging economic times, the Choir wants to do more to encourage school children and young people to foster the love for music generally and choir singing in particular. “We want to expand our horizons and contribute, through our music, peace, harmony and development of our communities and societies,” said Mr Murphy.

NO ACTION BEING TAKEN TO STOP THE ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE OTTAWA RESIDENTIAL AREA

ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY FAILS THE RATEPAYERS AND RESIDENTS OF OTTAWA, NEAR MOUNT EDGECOMBE

(SOME ONE SETTING UP WHAT RESIDENTS SAY A PANEL BEATING SHOP IN SCHOOL ROAD, OTTAWA)

(SCRAP YARD IN MAHARAJ ROAD, OTTAWA) By Subry Govender The residents of the small village of Ottawa, near Verulam on the North Coast, are up arms over the failure of authorities to take action to put a stop to the general degeneration and degradation of their residential area. Their main concerns are the use of residential land for heavy industries such as vehicle scrap yards, container depots, panel beating shops, parking for heavy trucks and the general damage caused to roads, telephone lines, and electricity poles by huge trucks. The residents are also perturbed at the destruction of the Ohlanga River by trucking companies that dump dirt, filth and sand into the river. One company set up a business on the river itself after dumping tons of sand near the old Ottawa bridge. In the latest developments, a company has set up a container depot in one of the residential roads and another businessman has started preparations to set up a panel beating shop in another road.

(TRUCKS DUMPING SAND INTO A PROPERTY AT THE END OF RIVERVIEW ROAD. THIS PROPERTY HAS NOW BEEN CONVERTED INTO A CONTAINER DEPOT) The facilitator of the Ottawa Environmental Forum, Ms Andisha Maharaj, said they had repeatedly taken up their concerns with the municipality over the past few years but nothing had been done to rectify the situation. She said they had submitted another plea to the municipality on September 27 after the residents held a meeting to highlight their anger at the general degeneration of their residential area. They had also taken up their concerns with the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Agriculture.

(TRUCKS PARKED IN RIVERVIEW ROAD, OTTAWA) “These issues have been raised with various departments telephonically and in writing by several residents of this area on many occasions over the past few years,” she said. “However, actions by the relevant departments to address these issues have been minimal. The residents of Munn Road and Riverview Road have become increasingly frustrated by the lack of appropriate action. As a result, we have decided collectively to demand immediate action by the relevant departments to address our concerns.” Ms Maharaj said they were also concerned about the poor standard of repair work carried out on damaged roads. “An area repaired mid-last year is now sinking. It is, therefore, assumed that eThekwini Municipality has no quality control measures in place to hold contractors accountable and liable for poor workmanship. “There is either not many inspectors to perform such check and balance or it is a case of lack of interest on the part of Municipality side to check on the guarantee of remedial work performed. “The shoddy work practice means another contractor will be summoned and more tax payers’ monies wasted to repair the repaired work. All very illogical and a waste of resources.”

(THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OHLANGE RIVER NEAR THE OTTAWA BRIDGE BY A BUSINESSMAN) She said the municipality’s Parks and Gardens had set up a small garden at the entrance to School Road but had failed to maintain the garden. “Failures at these basic levels is disconcerting. Unless a resident telephones to complain about road verge overgrowth – no one from the Municipality bothers to follow up on a routine basis. “It must, therefore, be asked: ‘What are people in the Municipality getting paid for?’” She said officials of the municipality’s planning department and the building department had acknowledged their latest petitions and she hoped that action would be taken to save their residential area from destruction and degeneration.

One of the residents, Dr Atom Dilraj, whose forefathers had first moved to Ottawa in the early 1900s, said like other residents he was deeply disturbed at the failure of authorities to protect the residential nature of the area. “We pay our rates and taxes but yet we only see filth, rubbish, air pollution, destruction of our river, heavy trucks and illegal heavy industries causing degradation of the area,” said Dr Dilraj. “This sort of destruction of the environment and a residential area cannot be allowed, especially in our new democratic order.” Ends –subrygovender@gmail.com Oct 6 2016

STRUGGLE JOURNALIST ZWELIKE SISULU - WHO PASSED ON ON OCTOBER 4 2012 - REMEMBERED

A TRIBUTE TO ZWELIKE SISULU WRITTEN ON OCTOBER 4 2012 WHEN HE HAD PASSED ON

(Written on Oct 4 2012) ZWELIKE SISULU - STRUGGLE JOURNALIST EXTRA-ORDINAIRE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAMBE KAHLE COMRADE My wife, Thyna, and I were driving on the N3 from Durban to Johannesburg early on Thursday, October 4 when we began recalling all the colleagues who were struggle journalists of outstanding qualities in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. We recalled the names of Thami Mazwai, Joe Thloloe, Charles Nqakula, Philip Mthimkulu, Rashid Seria, Zuby Mayet, Zubeida Jaffer, and others whose names we had forgotten. But then Thyna reminded me that we forgot about Zwelike Sisulu. I told her that it was such a great tragedy that those of us who had used our profession to promote the liberation struggles in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s rarely kept in touch with one another and it was many years ago that we actually had met and talked about our early days. I remember that it was about six or seven years ago, while I was still with the SABC, that all the people I had mentioned, except Zubeida Jaffer and Zwelike, had the opportunity of meeting in Sandton, Johannesburg when SANEF had recognised us for our work during the struggle years. Zwelike, who was also given an award, was unable to attend because of work commitments. But I had the opportunity of talking to Zwelike when he chaired a commission hearing into our colleague and news head at the SABC, Snuki Zikalala, a few years ago. He mentioned that it was a great pity that we don't meet and also don't keep in touch. He gave me his calling card and said we should keep in touch. But due to our work commitments, we rarely kept in touch. After Thyna and I arrived in Johannesburg, I was shocked to learn when I heard on SAFM that our dear struggle journalist comrade, Zwelike, had passed away early on Thursday, October 4.

I don't know what it was but it must have been some preminition to talk about Zwelike on the day he passed away. Zwelike has been a struggle comrade extra-ordinaire. He arrived on the scene after the Soweto uprisings in June 1976, when we got together and launched the Union of Black Journalists(UBJ). But barely a year later, the UBJ was banned along with dozens of other black consciousness organisations and some church groups with the aim of crushing us. But we were determined as ever and organised a meeting in Port Elizabeth for the launch of another organisation to replace the UBJ. Zwelike was one of the leaders. But the apartheid regime had other ideas and banned us from meeting in Port Elizabeth. This did not deter us at all. We got around this ban by informing our colleagues that the venue had been changed to Verulam and the same weekend we managed to get all our people there for the launch of the Media Workers Association of SA(MWASA). We held our meeting despite the security police keeping a watch at the venue.

' It was Charles Nqakula who took over the leadership and after he was banned it fell on the shoulders of Zwelike. Despite the odds against us we managed to operate and held several meetings with journalists around the country. The ever fearful apartheid regime once again carried out a series of arrests, detentions and bannings in the early 1980s. Most of us - Zwelike, Joe, Philip, Zuby, this correspondent and others were banned and house-arrested. Zwelike and Joe detained for more than two years each as well. During the banning period we were warned that the security police would be keeping a watch on us but the ever resourceful Zwelike arranged for us to meet at a secret venue in Johannesburg. It was here we discussed the establishment of alternative newspapers and that's how the New Nation was born in Johannesburg under the editorship of Zwelike; the Call in Cape Town under the editorship of Rashid; and Ukusa in Durban under my editorship. There were also other alternative publications around the country. Zwelike and this correspondent discussed how we should work together to promote the overthrow of racist minority regime through our work. We secretly had the support of the ANC in exile.

The New Nation became a formidable title under Zwelike, while Ukuza and others fell under the constant harrassment of the security police. Zwelike was also regularly detained and harrassed by the regime's secret police while editing the New Nation. Despite the long periods of detentions, harrassment, and bannings, Zwelike kept alive the fires of freedom and once again came to the fore in the early 1990s when he was appointed the first black CEO of the SABC. He only remained there for a few years before embarking on a business career. We were not only struggle journalist comrades but we also had the chance of knowing each other's families. I remember after one of our meetings in Johannesburg in the late 1970s that Zwelike took me to Soweto to stay the night at his house. There I met his wife, Zodwa, and his son who about three years old was the age of my daughter, Seshini. Zwelike along with Phlip also visited and stayed at my place in Mimosa Road, Verulam. My son, Kennedy, Seshini and Thyna also had come to know Zwelike very well.

To Zodwa and the children, I want to extend our sincere condolences and want to say that we – Thyna, Kennedy and Seshini - are with you at this time of the loss of Zwelike. It was a great tragedy that our different work commitments after the advent of our new South Africa had prevented us from keeping in close contact. Hambhe Kahle Zwelike. You played your role and you will not be forgotten.