Let's pay tribute to real heroes

IT IS TIME the real heroes in the community were celebrated by preserving their names for posterity, political sociologist Professor Ashwin Desai, said.

Professor Desai who is Director of the Centre for Social Change at the University of Johannesburg and a prolific author who wrote “We are the Poors” about the struggles of the community of Chatsworth in post-apartheid South Africa, said the late Professor Fatima Meer should be venerated in Chatsworth.

He was speaking at the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Umhlatuzana Township, south of Durban. Umhlatuzana was the first developed township for Indians under the Group Areas Act.

“Professor Meer was the first person to stand up, after spending time among the poor people in Chatsworth, and boldly state that she was appalled at the way the ANC treated the people living there.

“Professor Meer’s experiences in Chatsworth convinced her to make a break from the ANC as she was convinced that this party will never be able to deal with poverty.

“She called out that pantheon of heroes who turned their back on poverty and inequity.

“So, instead of suggesting that so-called activists such as one who even botched a hand grenade throw, be memorialised, we should revere and idolise the real heroes such as Fathima Meer, by naming a community hall, library or clinic after her,” said Professor Desai.

He said there was a growing momentum among the populace to hold the government to account given the poor state of service delivery, rising levels of crime and rampant corruption in the corridors of power.

He said Umhlatuzana was formed around the same time that the legendary golfer Papwa Sewgolum was enduring heartbreaking injustice and became a symbol of resistance against apartheid-era racism in South Africa’s sporting world.

“Papwa won the Dutch Open three times and famously defeated Gary Player to win the1965 Natal Open. Despite his victories, Papwa was denied access to clubhouses and forced to receive trophies outside in the rain, while white players celebrated indoors.

“I urge the Umhlatuzana Civic Association to petition the city fathers to rename Higginson Highway that runs through Chatsworth after Papwa Sewgolum who justly deserves due recognition for his legacy among golfing greats,” said Desai.

Earlier at the same event, Les Govender, Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, who delivered the keynote address, said civic associations that are confronted by pointless regulations that stifle structured development are urged to collaborate with the National Council of Provinces(NCOP) to see how best to eliminate the legal barriers.

Govender said the NCOP ensures that provincial interests are considered in national legislation and can advocate for the removal or amendment of national laws that unnecessarily burden local development efforts.

“The NCOP provides a platform for communities, businesses, and local governments to voice concerns about overregulation. This feedback loop is essential for identifying and eliminating outdated or obstructive rules.

“The NCOP has the power to propose amendments to bills, especially those affecting provinces. It can use this authority to simplify or repeal regulations that hinder economic activity,” he said.

Govender paid tribute to the pioneering families that settled in Umhlatuzana when they were uprooted from settled communities such as in Cavendish, Clairwood, Rossburgh, Malvern,Hillary and Bellair.

He said compared to longer established former white-only settlements, Umhlatuzana may be just under eight decades old, but it has spawned two or three generations of families in a peaceful and family-friendly neighbourhood.

“This township has been a haven of stability and comfort for a solid, stable, close-knit community with a powerful sense of security. Thank you to the Umhlatuzana Civic Association for being the heartbeat of neighbourhood and forcing us to remember the heritage and legacy of Umhlatuzana.

“This voluntary group of residents has come together for more than seven decades to improve their community, speaking up for what matters and rolling up sleeves to make it happen,” Govender said, adding the chairman of the association, Vin Naidoo, must be commended for his philanthropic contributions to upkeep Umhlatuzana.

“It is rare to find individuals of his calibre and we are blessed that he is a part of our community,” said Govender.

Dr GK Nair, the retired educationist who served as an Executive Director for the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department, said restoring South Africa’s education system to a place of excellence - especially after the decline post-Mandela - is a complex but achievable mission.

“It requires bold reforms, cultural shifts, and a recommitment to foundational principles.“There is need to restore the culture of learning by reigniting respect for education throughcommunity involvement and national campaigns,” Dr Nair said.

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