Richard Naidoo showing off the painting at the Durban Country Club.
Image: Supplied
A painting depicting Papwa Sewgolum at the 1963 Natal Open golf tournament at the Durban Country Club, where he was eventually allowed to play during apartheid and won, now graces the walls of the club's main dining hall.
Businessman Richard Naidoo purchased the artwork, created by artist Nanda Soobbeen, two years ago during a fundraising auction. Initially intended for the Papwa Sewgolum Golf Club, where Naidoo was vice president at the time, the painting was temporarily kept in his possession due to uncertainties surrounding the club's lease agreement. However, a conversation with Desiree Stone, the General Manager of the Durban Country Club, transformed the painting's fate.
When Naidoo, now a member of the Durban Country Club, visited the establishment on Thursday, he was escorted to the dining hall to see the painting displayed prominently.
“It looked absolutely gorgeous in its rightful place,” he said.
Valued at around R120,000, Naidoo said the painting served as both an artistic representation and a reminder of Sewgolum's struggles against racial discrimination.
An inscription on the painting's plaque reads: “... Despite humiliating treatment, Sewgolum did the seemingly impossible and won the tournament only to receive the winner's trophy outside in the rain because of the Apartheid Laws.”
Naidoo said these words encapsulate the dual legacy of triumph and adversity that defined Sewgolum's journey.
"The story of Papwa Sewgolum transcends mere athletic achievement. It is woven into the very fabric of South Africa's history. His victory at the Natal Open was not only a personal milestone but also a monumental act during a period characterised by oppressive racial segregation.
"By placing this painting in a central location within the club, the Durban Country Club honours Sewgolum’s legacy and acknowledges the difficult truths of its past. The painting's placement serves as both a reminder of the struggles endured and a celebration of the progress made."
Nisharlan Sewgolum, the grandson of Papwa Sewgolum and a golf professional at Saudi Aramco, said his grandfather's place in history deserved every bit of recognition, especially on the course where he beat Gary Player.
"It’s a reminder that believing in your capabilities can earn you the greatest titles. As a grandson and PGA pro, I’m always honoured to see paintings of grandad as they serve as great inspiration. Thanks to Richard for keeping this masterpiece. Nanda Soobben always does wonders bringing life and history to artwork."
Soobben took to social media writing: "At last, after 60 years Papwa will be allowed to go into the main hall and dining area of the Durban Country Club. When he beat Gary Player, he wasn't allowed into the premises. He had to eat and change in someone's car. And he received the trophy in the pouring rain, hence the umbrella over the trophy. The painting, which I donated to be auctioned to raise funds for ABH, has now been acquired by the Durban Country Club..."