By Edwin Naidu
The Natal Indian Congress recently celebrated its 130th anniversary at Sastri College in Durban. It was a gathering of stalwarts who reminisced about the good old days while also expressing concerns about the broad ANC church, which it believes offers the country the best hope of salvation.
Indeed, this highlights the need for frank conversations about the future South Africa we want and deserve. Former Transport Minister Mac Maharaj admitted the ANC had lost its way but reminded South Africa about the importance of the Constitution and the Freedom Charter, saying South Africa belongs to all who live in it.
Indians and their place in South Africa, particularly the treatment they received at the hands of the British after arriving as indentured labourers in 1860, saw Mahatma Gandhi form the NIC in 1894 to defend Indian nationals against discrimination. The hallmark of Gandhis resistance was mobilisation.
Under the leadership of Dr Monty Naicker, the NIC transitioned from Gandhis resistance campaign in the 1940s to become a pivotal force in the anti-apartheid struggle. This evolution, coupled with the unity of the NIC, the Transvaal Indian Congress, and the ANC under Yusuf Dadoo and AB Xuma, was a testament to the power of collective action against racial oppression.
