An inspirational innings

MICHAEL Doman was more than just a wonderfully talented cricketer, cricket writer and sports editor (for Independent Media). He was also a true patriot who put dignity before personal gain in the dark years of apartheid.

It meant putting aside personal ambitions that every talented youngster anywhere in the world has: representing their country. But it was something he was prepared to do unquestioningly.

Deemed good enough to be chosen for the Sacos-affiliated Western Province Cricket Board at the age of 17 years and 17 days, Doman knew – and accepted – that the bigger, more important, fight was for a non-racial, democratic South Africa.

And so he joined the fight that would eventually result in the defeat of apartheid.

In the early 1980s, when chronic back problems forced him to quit the game, he joined the Cape Herald newspaper. But it was not in sport that he first made an impact. Working out of the newsroom, he became a member of a team of “unrest” reporters who produced some of the most compelling stories of the struggle against apartheid by the disaffected poor in townships around the Cape Metropolitan area during two states of emergency.

Doman and his colleagues readily admitted to being scared sh*tless during those troubled times. But day in, and day out, they snuck into the townships to write about what was happening there.

It was dangerous. Not a day went by when they did not run the risk of being shot at or arrested by the police in places such as Bonteheuwel, Manenberg, Lotus River and Athlone.

But through it all, Doman was regarded by his colleagues as the “wise one”, the “unflustered one”, the one who never panicked, the one who always came up with the best plan of action in highly dangerous situations.

Greatness should never be measured by the standing in society of people, by how loud they shout or by which organisations they belong to.

Doman will be remembered for his quiet contribution to the fight for freedom, for his ability to inspire and, after the advent of democracy, for his willingness to mentor new entrants to journalism.

The Cape Times is proud to have travelled part of his journey with him.

Hamba Kahle, Michael Doman.