PIETERMARITZBURG lost one of its oldest struggle stalwarts and most active citizens with the death last week of Ramaswami Munsami (Bandy) Govender.
Govender (88) took part in the 1946 protests against the “Pegging Act”, the precursor to the Group Areas Act.
He belonged to over 20 political, religious and civic organisations in Pietermaritzburg.
However, he was most proud of the fact that he attended the historic Freedom Charter Congress in Kliptown in 1955.
He died last Friday, a week after he was admitted to hospital.
In tributes at his funeral, speakers recalled that he remained active in community affairs right until the weekend he fell ill. This included attending meetings of the African National Congress (ANC) and doing his voluntary work at the Siva Soobramoniar and Marriamem temples.
uMgungundlovu District Mayor Yusuf Bhamjee said that Govender was one of those activists who preferred being a footsoldier for the struggle.
In all his years he never missed a meeting and was always available to be a driver, hand out pamphlets or help with the preparations for rallies.
Bhamjee said Govender was very proud of his congress links and remained a committed member of the ANC. He had worked closely with stalwarts like Dr Chota Motala and A.S. Chetty and would often drive them and other congress members to and from covert meetings. It was his driving that turned him into an activist. In 1946 he started off transporting passive resistors from Pietermaritzburg to Durban to take part in the sit-in on a vacant piece of land in Umbilo Road. He was arrested for being part of that protest and imprisoned for three months.
Govender grew up in Pietermaritzburg, a member of the pioneer, P.M. Govender family. He once said he learnt about civic responsibility through being a member of the Cubs and Boy Scouts. Later he was a volunteer for both the St John’s Ambulance and the Red Cross Society.
He described as his claim to fame winning the Silver Star award from the Pietermaritzburg mayor for skilled driving after he managed to avoid crushing a man to death.
The man was running from the magistrate’s court when he fell in front of Govender’s vehicle, who managed to stop in the nick of time.
Govender has been honoured over the years for his work in various organisations, including the Siva Soobramoniar and Marriammen temples, the Deepavali Cheer Society, the Aryan Benevolent Home, Sunlit Gardens Home, the Natal Indian Congress, the ANC, the Tamil Eisteddfod Committee, the Child Welfare Society, the PMB Mental Health Society and the Friends of the Sick Association and the Gandhi Memorial Committee.
He leaves his wife, three sons, daughter-in-law, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
• nalini@witness.co.za
