Nurturing the spirit of non-racism, unity
HE 70th anniversary of the Joint Declaration of Co- operation, better known as the Three Doctors’ Pact, was the theme of the annual Dr Phyllis Naidoo Memorial Lecture hosted by the Gandhi Luthuli Documentation Centre at the University of KwaZulu- Natal’s Westville campus on Thursday.
Among the topics discussed were the importance of a clean government and building unity across gender, race and class.
The pact was signed on March 9, 1947, by doctors Alfred Bitini Xuma, Yusuf Dadoo and Monty Naicker representing the ANC, Transvaal Indian Congress and Natal Indian Congress.
Mthetheli Raymond Xuma represented his grandfather on the panel, while Dr Kreesan Naicker and Roshan Dadoo represented their fathers.
They were joined by ANC treasurer- general, Dr Zweli Mkhize, who paid tribute to Phyllis Naidoo and gave an overview of the joint declaration.
The overall thrust of the lecture was about advancing a platform of non- racism.
Reflecting on the significance of the joint declaration, Mkhize stressed that it was important for South Africans to continue to cherish the contributions made by the veterans, adding that the country owed them a huge debt of gratitude.
“We must continue to deepen the unity of all the people of South Africa and non- racialism and the fight for a just society, clean government; we must fight corruption and create an environment in which all our children can look to the future of a South Africa of opportunities.
“All of us have to say that South Africa needs to continue on the path that was chartered so many years ago towards full democracy and non- racism and ensure that we create a prosperous, caring South Africa.”
Mkhize’s views were echoed by Xuma: “Since the dawn of democracy, the people of this country have showed unity and developed trust among themselves . . . the preamble of the Freedom Charter and the constitution of the Republic of South Africa states that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity. We should live together in peace, respect and harmony.”
Naicker picked up the discussion, pointing out: “The spirit of non- racial co- operation was nurtured throughout the 1950s and many have noted that the pact was a catalyst to many important events that followed, notably the 1952 Defiance Campaign, the Women’s Charter of 1954 and the 1955 Congress of the People, which adopted the Freedom Charter.”
Dadoo said non- racism was about building unity across gender, race and class.
“The spirit of the activists, including our fathers and grandfathers who brought this about during apartheid, was amazing given the oppression and brutality with which the regime tried to keep people apart.”
She added that it was important now, more than ever, that South Africans tried to find ways to rekindle that spirit of unity.
“It comes out of action. You unite with people when you have a common purpose. We do have a common purpose and in the short term that is to fight corruption.”
Her father was a tremendously influential man in shaping the ANC and SACP in exile.
“What I learnt from my father was that your conscience dictated your politics and that had to drive where you put your energy and what you envisioned,” she said.
The audience grew to almost 100 struggle activists, academics, students and politicians, including the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Ravi Pillay.
The opportunity to ask questions at the end of the presentation was eagerly taken up.
Mkhize was left to field most of the questions, which covered corruption, the assault case against the former deputy minister of Higher Education and Training, Mduduzi Manana, and land issues.
Eddie Naidu, a community activity from Puntan’s Hill, asked questions on the lack of action from eThekwini Municipality in dealing with land invasion by informal dwellers in his area.
Mkhize spared deputy mayor Fawzia Peer addressing the sensitive issue, saying it was the duty of landowners to use the law to protect their property.
He stressed that the Prevention of Illegal Eviction Act was designed to prevent farm workers from being illegally pushed off land that they had lived or worked on for long periods.
Evictions had to be dealt with in terms of the law, said Mkhize.
Senzo Mkhize, of Morningside, was emotional about land that had been stolen from the Embo community and challenged the ANC treasurer- general on it.
Dr Zweli Mkhize in turn recalled that his grandfather had farmed that vast area with 10- span oxen, enabling them to grow crops and keep livestock.
His grandfather’s grave was still in the area, but their family had been forced off the land.
Sunil Brijmohan, of Isipingo, asked about young people being engaged in politics – to which Mkhize threw back the challenge to work on local committees.
Gandhi Luthuli Documentation Centre board member Zandile Qono- Reserve, who chaired the lecture, said she was pleased with the turnout and audience participation.
“We need to have more gatherings like this for people to talk about topical issues that affect our nation.” A REMARKABLE newsman, an adoring father and husband and an exceptional human being – a fitting description for the late Ameen Akhalwaya.
Akhalwaya died on February 2, 1998, shortly after being diagnosed with colon cancer.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of his death according to the Islamic calendar.
His eldest daughter, Zaytoon Akhalwaya Abed, said to commemorate his death, his family decided to celebrate his work and achievements by publishing a book he never finished, Comrades and Memsahibs.
“We felt that a lot of his articles (published in the 1970s and 1990s) are relevant to the turmoil our country is experiencing. Through his works and experiences my dad, even in death, can still give hope to journalists who are going through similar pain and media blackouts he experienced during apartheid,” she said.
Abed said her father had begun the book before he fell ill. It was to have been about sportsmen and women.
But during the family’s move from Cape Town to Johannesburg in 1997, most of his research went missing.
“It was only after he died that his friend, Quraysh Patel, and Joe Thloloe (director in the Press Council), with the consent of our family, decided to source his best articles over a period of 20 years.
“(Articles from) the Rand Daily Mail, POST, The Indicator, The Star and many others were collated and compiled into a book.”
Thloloe wrote the foreword for the book and described how Akhalwaya’s articles “provide us with a fascinating perspective of our society”.
Akhalwaya was born on October 4, 1945 in Fordsburg, Johannesburg.
He was the eldest of five children born to Ayesha and Abdul Hay Akhalwaya.
He married Farida Bibi Mamdoo in 1970 and they adopted three children: Zaytoon, 41, Zain, 38, and Zaheer, 35.
While her father made his mark as a hard-hitting journalist, Abed remembers the other side of him – a caring and loving dad.
“He was my life, my safety net. Like for most daughters, Dad was my hero. My favourite story about him is the one my mother told me of how he decided on my name.
“One night, while lying in his bed, he started reading a verse from the Qur’an. He came across a line that had both our names in it – Ameen and Zaytoon.
“Mum says he scared the daylights out of her when he jumped up and said, ‘I found her name – Zaytoon’. I absolutely adored his sense of humour. He was a tough journalist, but also a soft-hearted, loving and spiritual dad,” she said.
For enquiries, call Zaytoon Akhalwaya Abed on 073 059 4732 or e-mail zaytoon. abed@yahoo.co.uk