Durban resident AV Mohamed at an exhibition commemorating the arrival of Indian indentured workers at the 1860 Heritage Centre. In the context of social cohesion and nation-building, it is important for us to keep emotions out of the equation when reflecting on the role and contribution of the Indian community in South Africa, says the writer. Picture: Sibusiso Ndlovu/African News Agency (ANA)
Prof. Bheki Mngomezulu
On November 16, 1860, SS Truro docked in Durban, carrying 342 Indians. This figure later increased exponentially to 16,300 between 1860 and 1911. These Indians had come to South Africa as indentured labourers who were going to work in the mines, plantations, and the railway sector.
The decision was necessitated by the fact that black people were self-sufficient since they had stock, and land to till. Therefore, they did not want to work in these areas.
Even after the tax laws were enacted forcing black people to pay in cash, they would work to raise that tax money and return home. As such, they were an unreliable labour force.
Britain had colonised both India and what became South Africa.
Britain oversaw and colonised the Cape Colony and Natal, while the Boers (later known as Afrikaners) were in control of the Free State and Transvaal – the Boer Republics.
The agreement was that these Indians were going to remain in South Africa for a period of five years. During this time, they were going to receive free food, accommodation, and medical services. Moreover, they would be paid ten shillings in their first year, eleven shillings in their second year, and twelve shillings in the third year.
Importantly, at the end of their contract, these Indians had the option to take free passage back to India or to become free citizens and continue to reside in South Africa. Some took the latter option and remained in South Africa. They later spread to other parts of the country but remained in large numbers in present-day KwaZulu-Natal.
This brief history explains why November 16, 2024, is said to have marked the 164th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in South Africa.
The key question becomes: what was the role or contribution of the Indian community in South Africa in different spheres of life?
There are conflicting views when addressing this question. One view is that Indians were racists. Those who advance this view cite the activities of Mahatma Gandhi who experienced racism against Indians first-hand and vowed to fight for them. They argue that instead of fighting for all the oppressed people (Indians, Africans, and coloureds), he chose to fight for his Indian compatriots.
Reports about the oppression of black people in Indian-owned businesses are also cited to sustain this narrative. The late Dr Mbongeni Ngema even composed a song about this.
Another point that is used to sustain this view is the adoption of the 1983 constitution which led to the Tricameral Parliament in 1984 which formalised the participation of Indians and coloureds in the white-led government.
Lastly, during the unrest which broke out in KZN and Gauteng in July 2021 following the incarceration of Former President Jacob Zuma, Indians were pitted against black people. This resulted in the deaths of many black people at the hands of their Indian counterparts.
However, a divergent view paints a positive picture of Indian communities in South Africa. On the economic front, they are credited for having contributed to the South African economy by creating jobs for many South Africans.
In terms of human rights issues, those who have a positive attitude towards Indians cite many episodes in South Africa’s beleaguered past to buttress their assertions.
For example, the same Gandhi who is dubbed a ‘racist’ is commended by this group for waging war against a racist system and fighting for the rights of the oppressed – in this case, the Indian community. It is for this reason that Gandhi’s name reverberates in the minds of many South Africans. Some liken him to Mandela in terms of fighting for justice.
Labour movements such as the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) are used to demonstrate the role played by Indians. Names such as those of Jayaseelan “Jay” Naidoo who was the founding General Secretary of COSATU get mentioned regularly.
In the realm of politics, they argue that Indians have been visible in this area too. In their assessment, Indians were part of the liberation struggle. Moreover, they played a critical role in the post-apartheid era and even occupied various ministerial positions.
Factually, and historically, all these views can be backed up by evidence. One thing worth mentioning is that Indians were not a homogeneous group. If some were seen as “bad”, others were not. For this reason, as we celebrate 164 years since the arrival of the Indian community in South Africa, emotions should not be part of the critical analysis.
A good starting point would be to see Indians as like all racial groups in South Africa. There are indeed Indians who despised black people in different historical contexts. But it is equally true that many of them served and protected the same black people to the extent of risking their own lives in the process. Others even died fighting for the rights of the oppressed masses. The same goes for black and coloured communities.
The fact that there are roads and other places named after some of the Indian community is testimony to their contribution to the social, economic, and political history of this country. Names such as Billy Nair, Yusuf Dadoo, Aziz Pahad, Ahmed Kathrada, Essop Pahad, and many others cannot be dissociated from the history of the liberation struggle in South Africa.
Against this backdrop, it is of cardinal importance to refrain from lumping all Indians in one cage as though they were a homogeneous group. The same goes for any racial group. Some were sellouts as much as there were liberation fighters. No racial group is immune from this reality.
Therefore, in the context of social cohesion and nation-building, it is important for us to keep emotions out of the equation when reflecting on the role and contribution of the Indian community in South Africa. Mixing facts with emotions will not give us an objective analysis.
* Prof. Bheki Mngomezulu is the Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Non-Racialism and Democracy at the Nelson Mandela University.
** The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The African.
