Community lauded for building schools
THE number of schools built by South Africa’s democratic government “pales in comparison” to those built with the assistance of the Indian community, says IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
He lauded the community for helping him fight apartheid by assisting him with finance to build schools for black people when he was the leader of the former KwaZulu government.
Addressing hundreds of his supporters during a Human Rights Day celebration in uMlazi, Buthelezi said members of the Indian community had made it possible for him to build schools for black people whose education needs were neglected by the apartheid government, an act which he said was a serious violation of human rights.
“I am very pleased that some descendants of Indians are here because some of the schools that I built were done with the assistance of his holiness Swami Sivananda of the Divine Life Society,” he said.
Buthelezi said that even though Indians were also oppressed, they sacrificed the little they had to help his government to build schools.
“Even when we talked about social cohesion, these things were underscored although the Indian people were oppressed just like us.”
The Divine Life Society of South Africa has been dedicated to the educational and spiritual upliftment of communities throughout its six-decade history in the country.
The Society began its African Education Projects in 1974, building more than 550 education, health and other projects over the ensuing decades.
The education projects include the establishment of about 400 classrooms, libraries, offices and staffrooms in various parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Quoting its spiritual head Pujya Swami Sahajananda, the Society describes on its website what sparked this initiative.
“The projects we started in about 1974 were ordained by our Divine Master (Sri Swami Sivananda). It happened like this. I went on a pilgrimage to India around 1974. In many places, like Chennai, I saw street children begging. I would buy some eatables for them. It was a pathetic sight to see these poor children. So I decided that when I returned to South Africa, I would send money to India to feed these children.
“On returning, when I began reflecting over the matter, I felt my Master telling me from within: ‘God in the form of the Africans is suffering in this country. Why not do something for them first instead of sending money to India?’
“It was not a voice that I heard. It was just a strong urge I felt coming from our Divine Master. So we decided to send R25 000 to Dr MG Buthelezi to have a school built in Mahlabatini. We had contact with him because his daughter, Mandisi, stayed at our Ashram for several months.
“Dr Buthelezi asked us to build the school ourselves, as the school committee might not use the funds properly. That is how we started our first project. Most of the material had to be transported by us from Durban to Mahlabatini, a distance of 300km.
“All enjoyed the work. Often we used to spend the night at Dr Buthelezi’s residence. We used to be treated with great hospitality. When Dr Buthelezi built a beautiful new home we used to spend the night there, receiving VIP treatment.
“People heard of our work and contributed funds. So, after building the first school we decided to continue our projects.”
Dr Mawalall Chatrooghoon, an official of the Society, said they appreciated the positive comments by Buthelezi on their work, “which is still continuing steadily”.