Pooja Society finally opens a temple
AFTER 100 years spent looking for their own place to pray, the Clare Estate Pooja Society has finally opened a temple, thanks to dedicated devotees and officials from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education.
Society chairperson Rajen Rajpal said that over a century ago, the community of Sydenham and Kennedy Road, led by the Chotoo and Dukhi families and a Mr Masuden, prayed for rain due to a drought.
The community, said Rajpal, began praying on a regular basis and the need for a meeting place arose.
“They used a vacant piece of municipal land and erected a tent where prayers and services were conducted but the environment had changed and informal settlers began building next to them.
“Kennedy Road had become an informal dwelling area and the formal residents were faced with challenges. Worshippers were being robbed and the tent was vandalised.”
Rajpal said the land was turned into a dumping site and the tent was used as a toilet.
The organisation tried to buy the land, said Rajpal, but were unable to do so due to the dynamics of the area.
Lionel Pillay, who worshipped at the makeshift temple, had a vacant family plot at nearby Cuppuma Place in Clare Road and he accommodated the devotees for three years until his family sold the land.
He further accommodated them at a second property for three years, also in Cuppuma Place.
The society later began running feeding schemes at the SM Jhavary Primary School, in Clare Road, which will now house the new temple.
The school had a cabin structure, which was used for additional classes, but the structure had, over the years, become dilapidated and the education department wanted it removed in 2014.
“We saw an opportunity and took it from there,” said Rajpal.
He explained that the society offered to remove the structure and clean up the area.
On February 18, after overcoming numerous obstacles, the temple consecration was held.
The Maha havan ceremony was held the following day. RETIRED high court judge Essa Moosa, who died of cancer on Sunday at the age of 81, had compassion for victims of human rights atrocities because he was one, according to fellow judge Siraj Desai.
“He was the most decent man I knew. I knew him from the uprising of 1976. He had outstanding passion and dedication and his door was always open to anyone who needed help,” said Judge Desai.
“He was kicked out of District Six and spent his life fighting for justice. He was a sterling example of a lawyer.”
The Cape Town-based former struggle activist’s funeral on Sunday was attended by a string of dignitaries, who paid tribute to the man and his legacy.
They included former finance minister Trevor Manuel, former Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool, ANC provincial leaders Faiz Jacobs and Cameron Dugmore, Father Peter John Pearson and senior Hawks members with whom Moosa had worked closely.
Moosa first worked as a bookkeeper after matriculating from Athlone High School in 1954.
He studied law at the University of Cape Town in 1957 and graduated in 1960.
Moosa then worked in District Six in 1966 until the Group Areas Act entailed his forcible removal in 1969.
Political cases
He started his own law firm, E Moosa and Associates, in 1979 and took on several highprofile political cases in the 1980s.
Moosa was appointed a judge in the Cape High Court in the late 1990s.
After retiring in 2011, he was appointed to lead a unit that would investigate members of the Hawks, formally known as the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation.
Human rights lawyer Gadija Vallie said Moosa fought tirelessly for justice during apartheid.
“He was always available to help and often worked for no money. He was a giant among giants and left big shoes to fill. His life was love and justice for all. He had humility, he had compassion and was generous.”
Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille tweeted: “So sad to hear of the passing of one of our country’s great human rights activists, Judge Essa Moosa. May his soul rest in peace.”
Dr Iqbal Survé, Sekunjalo and Independent Media executive chairman, said he was overcome with grief.
“During the eighties we knew who to turn to in times of struggle, we knew that if the security police were hunting us, if activists went missing, if people were being held in detention without trial, that our struggle lawyer Essa Moosa would be there. He not only provided legal counsel, but also gave some of himself to many of us.”
Survé added: “We not only salute him for the work he did during the dark days of apartheid, but also for helping usher in a new, just South Africa.
“When I visited him last week, I thanked him on behalf of all South Africans and for his guidance to so many of us who fought for political and social justice.
“Our condolences to Judge Moosa’s family. We thank you for sharing such a great man with us. Thank you for opening your home and hearts to us for so many decades.”