Bux family helped Justice Zondo

IT IS no doubt the story of how the family of Deputy Chief Justice Ray Zondo and more so his mother and siblings was helped by a relatively young trader in his early 30s (Mr Suleiman Bux is now 75).

Many may not realise this, but in terms of risk profile and credit assessment Mr Bux literally made up his mind in seconds and this could have been a make or break decision (though you can be assured Justice Zondo would have professed in life).

And this was done every month – not a once-off and no issues or excuses were made.

In a family business environment to have made this decision and account to family members clearly shows an environment of consciousness and guts on the part of Mr Bux and his family.

Bear in mind this was the height of apartheid, reeling from the 1976 riots, Black Consciousness and even the Bux family who were trading outside the main central business district due to the Group Areas Act.

This determined where you could trade, live, go to school and even holiday.

Strange as it may seem in the days of apartheid, you had two parallel trading towns, the white and the Indian.

In many areas the Indian side, though far away from the CBD (post office, banks), flourished through simply treating customers with better prices and courtesy, all in a very informal anything-goes environment.

One may have even asked what career prospects were available for the young lad Mr Zondo (who no doubt made an impression) being African and choosing law as a career.

However, such wasted strength of Mr Zondo’s personality that Mr Bux said yes, I will help, and very importantly kept to his word and so did Justice Zondo who later came back to repay the loan and all this was forgotten until today.

This must have been multiplied in many ways by the Bux family. Of interest was that no interest was charged, discussed, nor any collateral asked – just a verbal agreement which has long proscribed.

Would Mr Bux fall foul of the credit regulations today for reckless lending? Ramadaan is a time when many Muslims’ patience and fatigue levels are tested, but more so their wallets and contributions to charity (be it the compulsory 2.5% on all net liquid assets – in four years it’s 10% or general charity).

Helping a person/family in need is no strange issue and part of many people’s upbringing. These were values instilled a long time ago in Mr Bux’s DNA.

The honest and touching revelation by Justice Zondo and the generosity of the Bux family (must have been big bucks) who were long established pioneers who had their own battles but saw an opportunity to help one young guy who had this bright idea made a difference and touched so many lives. Even 40 years later it shows no good deed done sincerely goes unrewarded.

These were values instilled in Mr Bux’s DNA

Durban North