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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Many a Durbanite would have sat on the small stone wall that runs along the promenade on Addington Beach, completely unaware of its historical significance. The wall was built by Zulu prisoners captured during the Bambatha Rebellion that took place in 1906. The war that broke out between Zulu speakers and the Natal government in the early 1900s […]
This year marks 70 years since the signing of the historic Joint Declaration of Cooperation. Commonly referred to as ‘The Three Doctors’ Pact’, the agreement was signed on the 9th March 1947 by Dr Monty Naicker, Dr Yusuf Dadoo, and the then leader of the ANC, Dr Alfred Xuma. The Joint Meeting, which was attended by members of the […]
As we’re about to ring in the New Year it seems an appropriate time to tell the story of Donald Woods’ dramatic escape from South Africa some thirty years ago. Woods, editor at the time of the East London-based newspaper, Daily Dispatch, had been issued with a five year banning order after being arrested at the airport trying […]