We have not forgotten, say victims
ALMOST 40 years since being displaced by the Inanda riots of August 1985, victims have vivid memories of the violence and the trauma they endured.
Many of them spoke about their experiences at the inaugural Inanda Remembrance Day held at the Earlington Secondary School hall in Phoenix on Saturday.
The event was scheduled to take place two years ago but it was postponed because of Covid-19 restrictions.
It was spearheaded by Pravesh Naipal and Narendh Ganesh. Naipal grew up in Inanda and Ganesh’s family were displaced in the violence.
Speakers said families scrambled to gather clothing, food, and personal documents from their wood-and-iron homes as some people from the African community descended on Inanda.
They said homes were looted and burnt, and that families who remained to protect their homes were killed – some were hacked or set alight. Others fled to Phoenix and were placed in community halls and schools.
Some of the former residents said the reason behind the riots was unknown and they wanted the government to investigate the cause.
“The riots were one of our darkest days in South Africa’s history,” said Ganesh.
“The Indian community was displaced and given R400 shopping vouchers for the ordeal. There was no inquiry or investigations as to what caused the violence.”
He said the government needed to tell the committee why the residents were uprooted.
“The government must compensate the families for what they lost. How was a R400 voucher going to help them when their homes were lost? The riots were racial. It was African on Indian. During the July 2021 unrest, they wanted to make it racial again. I intend writing to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office about an inquiry and compensation.“
Phaljith Dulapram, 60, a retired teacher, lived in Inanda with his parents, four siblings and a sister-in-law.
“Our home was made from wood, iron and partial bricks. We had a pit toilet outside and there was no running water or electricity. Prior to the violence, I heard about buses being set alight. We did not think much of it.
“Suddenly on August 7, 1985, I heard a war cry drawing closer and closer to our home. The next moment, chaos broke out. Neighbours began to scream that their homes were set alight.”
Dulapram said his family gathered some of their belongings and drove to an aunt’s house in Whetstone, Phoenix. They returned the following day. Their home, he said, was still intact.
“I was packing food in my car and my brother was loading other items in
his vehicle when we heard a crowd.
“My brother, his wife, our parents and our siblings fled. I was about to leave when I saw my uncle and aunt. They were waiting for their daughter-inlaw to pick them up. She could not get to them because the police had blocked the roads.
“The mob was getting closer, and they were chanting and screaming.”
He said he made space for his aunt and uncle in his car, and they managed to drive off. “I cannot explain to you how frightening this was.”
A few days later when the family returned, they found their home had been destroyed.
“We found some kitchenware and a piece from a dressing table. The government gave us a home in Phoenix but we have not forgotten what we have lost.”
Dulapram believes the riots were politically motivated.
“There seemed to be no other reason for such violence. We lived together with the African community. The attack was out of the blue. Back then the rumour was that there was a political link.”
Sham Gangerpersad, a businessman, his wife and children lived in a Verulam school for six months after they were displaced.
“Inanda was once a peaceful place, but during the riots it was like a war zone. Rocks and boulders were used to destroy homes. Cars, houses and even people were set alight. I cried that night.”
After fleeing their home, the family was taken to Greenbury Hall in Phoenix.
“We were given mattresses. Community organisations donated food, water and clothing. Our lives were turned upside down. We sat in that hall knowing that the place we called home was no more.”
His family and others were then moved to a school in Verulam.
“We had to adapt to this life. Our children went to school from that hall. It was an emotional time for us. We still carry that fear from the riots.”
He said housing was thereafter provided for those who were displaced.
Babs Sookhdeo, 60, who lived with nine siblings, said people jumped into trucks to flee the mobs.
“Many who lived in Inanda came from poor backgrounds but we tried to build a life for ourselves. This was all taken away from us.”
Sookhdeo said a rioter tried to stab his brother, Lal, who is now late.
“We asked him why he tried to stab my brother because we all lived nicely together but he could not answer. We managed to get away.
“Nobody speaks about what happened to us. This part of our history is ignored. We are now going on 37 years and not once did the government speak out about what happened. We hear about Sharpeville and Marikana but the Inanda riots are forgotten. Where is the fairness in that? Where is democracy?”