Reliving the days of the Goodwill Lounge and the West End Hotel
A brave hero fooled thugs and the cops
IN his recently launched book, ‘Goodwill Lounge’, former Durban journalist FAROOK KHAN sheds light on Soobrey Pillay, who made even hardened gangsters shiver with fear.
SOOBRAMONEY Pillay, also known as Soobrey, was a giant among men known for his fairness. Often, he was called to settle family disputes and act as a character reference, especially when it came to arranged marriages. Yet he was a soft-spoken, humble man — he wore very ordinary clothes and often walked around the Casbah to keep appointments or social visits.
He was the barman at the West End Hotel, which was directly opposite Peter’s Lounge in Grey Street. Often, Soobrey and Peter Naidoo met and conferred about many issues, especially when it came to community matters.
Soobrey ran a pub in what was the toughest neighbourhood in the Casbah. On Sundays, the bars for Indians and coloureds were open from noon to 2pm. They had to buy a meal and only then could they purchase drinks. That was the law.
During the Fifties, when the Crimson League and the Salots ran riot in the streets of Durban, no place was safe. In fact, the Crimson League tried to take over the West End Bar and met with resistance which saw the king-
The security police were regularly raiding the West End. Soobrey had to be alert to make sure activists did not leave any leaflets, posters or even their notes at the bar
pins of the underworld retreat humbled.
In those days, Soobrey stood close to 2m, a musclepacked 100kg. He went to boxing school, where some of the best pugs of the day traded secrets with the aspiring fighter. Soobrey had no desire to become a boxer; all he wanted was to be able to defend himself. One punch from Soobrey was enough to deck the toughest thugs in those days and many of them ended up unceremoniously on the pavement outside.
An epic event was when Lighty Salot and two of his henchmen tried to take on Soobrey. The incident happened in Victoria Street. Soobrey and his family left the cinema to find their car hemmed in by two cars.
Soobrey saw Lighty and two henchmen sitting in one car. He walked up to them, greeted them and politely asked them to move their car so he could get out.
Lighty’s response was short, crude and abusive. Soobrey did not respond. He walked away and let the matter rest until the next day.
It was around midday when Soobrey left the bar. He walked to the corner of Victoria and Grey streets, where Lighty was parked in his taxi. Soobrey made straight for him.
“Last night, you swore and insulted me. I did not retaliate because my family was present. Come out of the car and face me. Say those things you said last night. Let me see what you can do one on one,” said Soobrey.
Lighty did not re- spond; in fact, he made as if he did not hear Soobrey. Neither did his henchmen dare to look at Soobrey. None of them dared to step out of the car and Soobrey was ready to take on all three. Instead, they mumbled an apology and Soobrey was persuaded to let the matter rest.
Soobrey protected his younger brother, Vic, who was the manager of Aces United Football Club. This team had a wide range of followers including the Crimson League, the Style Gang, the Handsome Brothers and a host of two-bit hangers-on.
Once, when Vic took Aces to play a match in Johannesburg, a hanger-on known as Lamumba, a regular among the Crimson League, insulted and berated Vic.
Vic, being the diplomat, was quiet, and on their return to Durban told his brother about the insolence of Lamumba.
Soobrey went to the Victoria Market, where Lamumba hung out with the other thugs, and confronted him.
The other thugs froze with fear and gaped as Soobrey taunted Lamumba and then set about beating him into a senseless mess.
By 1960, every single thug kept his distance from Soobrey; in fact they greeted him when they saw him. Even those who came in for a drink could have been mistaken for passive resisters.
But Soobrey had other concerns as well during the Fifties. The West End was right next to Lodson House in Grey Street. It was in this building that the ANC had its offices. Various trade unions and anti-apartheid groups were also housed there.
Across in Saville Street, the Natal Indian Congress was housed — which meant that this part of the city was always under surveillance. Towards the right-hand side was Red Square — an open piece of ground where political rallies were held.
This meant that the security police were regularly raiding the West End.
Soobrey had to be alert to make sure that activists did not leave any leaflets, posters, or even their notes at the bar. On one occasion, the police were hunting for Dr Yusuf Dadoo of the Transvaal Indian Congress.
The cops wanted to nab him before a public meeting at which he was going to deliver the keynote address. His great friend, Vassa Pillay, who was a policeman, tipped off Soobrey. And Soobrey tipped off Dadoo.
That called for a change of plan. Dr Dadoo had to get his message across and used what was then a recent innovation: the tape recorder. The tape and a loudspeaker were placed on the roof, but out of view from the general public.
At the appointed time, the switch was thrown and Dr Dadoo was able to deliver his speech without being present. The perplexed cops ran into Lodson House, but their search was fruitless.
Once the recording was over, Soobrey removed the equipment. Mission accomplished.
Goodwill Lounge is available at bookstores or at farook@mweb.co.za. This is an edited extract.