Tag Archives: liberation heritage route

Michael Hathorn’s Detention Diary

One of the sites that make up the Durban Liberation Heritage Route is Durban Central Prison, or more specifically one of its boundary walls, as the prison itself was destroyed some years back. Surprisingly though if you look for images online of the prison before it was demolished, you’ll find very few photographs. One of […]

Inside Apartheid’s Prison

First published in 2001, Inside Apartheid’s Prison by Raymond Suttner, was rereleased at the end of last year. Suttner, an academic, was one of a small number of white South Africans who were imprisoned for their efforts to overthrow the government during apartheid. He was first arrested in 1975, serving eight years for his underground activities […]

Charlotte Mannya Maxeke (1871-1939)

Bronze statue of Charlotte Maxeke, The Long March to Freedom National Heritage Monument, Pretoria

While apartheid is considered officially to have begun in 1948 with the National Party’s ascension to power, racial segregation had long been practised in South Africa prior to this date. Apartheid simply formalised ‘separateness’ through a long list of laws, that were constantly being added to, and amended. As a former British colony, South Africa was […]

Cato Manor & Apartheid Town Planning

Recently we spoke about the role that music played in telling the story of apartheid, and helping to raise awareness around what was happening in the country at the time. KwaZulu-Natal guitar wonder, Madala Kunene, is another artist that has used music as both a political and cathartic instrument. The title of his 2015 album, […]

Joseph Mdluli & the Fisher Street Security Branch

Picket by ANC and anti-apartheid supporters outside South Africa House protesting the death of Joseph Mdluli, 9th April 1976

The horrific tale of Joseph Mdluli and the Fisher Street Security Branch is an example the power of the judiciary system, and the essential role that the courts play in upholding the law of the land. A member of the ANC, until its banning in 1960, and an MK operative, Joseph Mdluli was taken from his home on the […]

I-Three Doctors’ Pact

Dr. G.M. Naicker, Dr. A.B. Xuma and Dr. Y.M. Dadoo signing the Joint Declaration of Cooperation

Lona ngunyaka wama-70 kwasayinwa ingqophamlando yesivumelwano sokusebenzisana phakathi kwamadoda amathathu abalulekile emlandweni. Lesi sivumelwano esaziwa nge “The Three Doctors’ Pact” sasayinwa nguDkt Monty Naicker, Dkt Yusuf Dadoo nowayengumholi we-ANC, uDkt Alfred Xuma. Kulo mhlangano owawethanyelwe ngamalungu e-ANC, yi-Transvall Indian Congress neNatal Indian Congress (NIC) kwawusinyathelo sokumelana nemizamo kahulumeni wobandlululo yokuhlukanisa phakathi nokuqhatha izinhlanga zabebala ngemithetho […]

I-Durban City Hall: Ibhilidi elinomlando onothile

Anti-xenophobia protest outside Durban City Hall, April 2015

Ukwakhiwa kwalesi sakhiwo kwaphothukwa cishe eminyakeni eyikhulu edlule futhi ngenxa yalokhu ukube siwumuntu ngabe siwufakazi oqanda ikhanda wawo wonke umlando weTheku nowezwe lonke, njengoba iNingizimu Afrika iqale ngokuba ngamakoloni amane aseBhrithani yadlulela ekubeni yiNingizimu Afrika eBumbeno (Union of South Africa) kwaze kwafika lesi sikhathi lapho isiyiRiphabhlikhi yaseNingizimu Afrika. Belikhona leli hholo izwe lisabuswa ngamaNgisi, laba […]

Cricket During Apartheid

Protesters in London during South Africa's Test visit, 1965

With society closing ranks and excluding members of the Durban Indian community from everything from sport clubs to hotels, the Surat Hindu Association was established in the early 1900s in an effort to protect the rights of Indian people. The association assisted with a variety of issues, from procuring Gujarati teachers direct from India, to religious guidance […]

The Long Walk to Freedom

Durban’s Liberation Heritage Route is part of a larger National Heritage Route which seeks to identify, and in some cases develop sites that are of particularly historical significance to South Africa. Groenkloof Nature Reserve in Pretoria is now home to the impressive National Heritage Monument, aptly entitled The Long Walk to Freedom. The Monument forms part […]