E-Paper
South Africa: Gaining a political ground
Asians in South Africa constitute two per cent of the country's population, and most of them are of Indian origin. Starting from 1860, over 152,000 Indians arrived here until 1911.
Asians in South Africa constitute two per cent of the country's population, and most of them are of Indian origin. Commencing in 1860, over 152,000 Indians arrived in South Africa until 1911 when the Indenture System came to an end.
Most Asians in South Africa have descended from indentured Indian labourers who were brought by the British from India in the 19th century, mostly to work in what is now the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
The first batch came on board the Truro in 1860. The rest descended from Indian traders who migrated to South Africa at around the same time, many from Gujarat. KZN's largest city, Durban, has the largest Asian population in sub-Saharan Africa.
Most are either Hindu or Muslim, and while a few still speak Indian languages like Telugu, Tamil and Gujarati, which have constitutional protection, most younger Indians speak English exclusively, and use Afrikaans or Zulu as their second language.
Discriminated against by Apartheid legislation like the Group Areas Act, Indians were forcibly moved into Indian townships, and had their movements restricted.
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First batch of Indians arrive in Durban |
They were not allowed to reside in the Orange Free State, and needed special permission to enter that province.
Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi worked as a lawyer in the city in the early 1900s.
They were also, as a matter of state policy, given an inferior education compared to white South Africans.
The University of Durban-Westville (now part of the University of KwaZulu-Natal) was created for Indian students in the 1970s.
Indians in South Africa were commonly referred to by the racial epithet coolie by white racists.
In the first free and democratic South African Parliament, four Indians took their seats as Cabinet Ministers in 1994.
The Minister of Justice was Dullah Omar, Mac Maharaj was the Transport Minister, Kader Asmal was the Minister of Water Affairs and Jay Naidoo was the Minister of Post and Telecommunications.
Valli Moosa was the Deputy Minister of Local Government and another, Aziz Pahad, was the Deputy Foreign Minister. In addition to many other Indian parliamentarians, Frene Ginwala was the Speaker of the House.
Taking into consideration that Indians compose a mere 3 per cent of the population of South Africa, the proportion of the seats held by them in Parliament has been acknowledged as a unique achievement in world politics and an affirmation of the important role played by Indians in the struggle for freedom in the country.
