‘We will never forget our roots’

ONE of Durban’s long-standing communities is to look back at the past in order to glimpse the future.

The Mount Edgecombe and Estates is set to launch its reunion committee at the end of this month. It will be tasked with co-ordinating a celebration in 2020 commemorating 160 years since the arrival of their ancestors in Mount Edgecombe, north of Durban.

The launch will see members over the age of 65 coming together and discussing historical events, landmarks, the old days and heritage.

“I will be focusing on Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church; it is a landmark,” said Kenny Manickum, the general secretary.

The church, which was established in 1908, is said to hold significant value in the community.

All the information will be compiled into one body of work which will be disseminated to the public. This is to remind residents of the heritage and history of the area.

“We need all the possible support from the community and its various institutions,” said Manickum.

When you recall the history of South African Indians, 1860 was not a time of affluence but was undoubtedly characterised by the hardships endured under indentured labour. The Indian labourers were brought to the country to be slaves for sugar barons.

“They worked in the sugar mills, ploughed and harvested fields, all for very little,” said Selvan Naicker, the reunion committee chairperson. “They were swindled with promises of greener pastures and of a prosperous land filled with milk and honey.”

Throughout their hardships, they retained their resolve and heritage.

The sugar mill is what brought the people to the country and it has been seen as a symbol of their survival.

“The Shri Mariamman Temple is a historic and religious landmark,” said Naicker.

It has always been a pillar of strength for the community throughout the area’s history.

Music and sports, these were their escapes from the drudgery of their daily existence, their attempts to gain a semblance of peace and happiness, said Naicker.

Music and football continue to be key roleplayers in the community.

Naicker said that the Mount Edgecombe Springbok football club has been a recreational enabler and jewel of the community.

“During the days of apartheid, we had our music, football, religion and each other,” he said.

The event is a way to remind everyone what their ancestors endured and that the community remained strong despite those trying circumstances.

“We will celebrate our ancestors and the struggles of our parents. We will never forget our roots,” added Naicker.