ANC denies Indians’ role

THIS week’s picture of Robben Island veterans refers: It is clearly evident that Indians played a pivotal role in the”struggle”. We definitely contributed more than three percent yet the incumbent government seems to almost deny our significant and crucial contribution to the struggle.

As a background, we Indians were the first to commence protests against the colonists. The first martyrs in the struggle, four Indians who were shot in the back in Blackburn, were Pachiappen Ragavan, Selvan Guruvadu, Soubrayen Gounden and a fourth unnamed hero.

The Natal Indian Congress was formed in 1894 whilst the SANNC was formed some 18 years later in 1912 and became the ANC in 1923.

Indians have played an essential and indispensable role in society, providing services to the downtrodden during the dark days of apartheid. We have provided thousands of doctors, many of whom were trained abroad at a substantial cost to their families, because the majority of the seats were reserved for whites.

They then returned to work in the rural areas tending to the needy because most whites, who trained at the expense of the state, opted for lucrative private practices or jobs abroad .Many Indians sacrificed all for the struggle, their lives, their promising careers etc. Many Indians have done sterling work and continue to do so in disadvantaged communities, building schools, houses, clinics, day care centres etc.

This government treats Indians as a threat, using affirmative action to restrict very deserving and capable individuals who could have provided excellent service to the community: doctors, managers, lecturers, policemen etc are being demoted or transferred to make place for affirmative action employees, much to the detriment of the people as these appointees are often incapable or inexperienced and unable to deliver. The ANC is using this political tool to pay for being voted into power, to surround themselves with beneficiaries who will ensure their political tenure.

It is sad that after 18 years of being in government, the ANC has to resort to such methods to protect the almost 90 percent black majority that has complete control of the government and economy, against three percent of Indians who stood by them, fought with them and for them, provided services to their communities and continue to do so. What adds to this indignity is that many self-serving Indian ANC cadres, both former and present, sit idly by whilst this injustice is being perpetuated. SATYAM Verulam