Indian-Origin Anti-Apartheid Activist Dies in South Africa

Johannesburg: Indian-origin veteran anti-apartheid activist in South Africa, Reggie Vandeyar has died at the age of 84.

Mr Vandeyar, who died yesterday, was a member of the Transvaal Indian Congress (TIC) the South African Communist Party (SACP) the  African National Congress (ANC) and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK).

Condoling his demise, ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said, "In Comrade Reggie we have lost a veteran whose legacy inspired many generations to liberate our country."

Mr Kodwa called for Mr Vandeyar's legacy to be preserved and protected.

"Vandeyar was a rare calibre of activist and leaders who remained modest despite their mammoth contributions," said Mr Kodwa.

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Mr Vandeyar was born into a poor family in 1931 after his father came to South Africa from India, lured by the promise of golds and diamonds, only to find racial prejudice amid the predominance of the minority white apartheid government.

After several bad experiences at the hands of white students and leaders, a young Mr Vandeyar was inspired by leaders of the Communist Party and TIC to join the resistance movements.

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By 1961, Mr Vandeyar had become one of the first combatants in Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the ANC, but was soon arrested alongside Shirish Nanabhai and Indres Naidoo.

The three became the first Indian-South Africans to be arrested for activities of MK in the then Transvaal province.

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In 1964, Mr Vandeyar was sentenced to ten years imprisonment on Robben Island alongside Jacob Zuma, who is President of South Africa today. Mr Vandeyar is survived by his wife and 2 children.