Commemorating the selfless struggle of Reggie Vandeyar

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation offered its condolences to the family and friends of struggle veteran‚ Reggie Vandeyar (84)‚ who passed away on Thursday.

The struggle stalwart was amongst the first Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) operatives to be jailed on Robben Island‚ along with Shirish Nanabhai and Indres Naidoo. They remained incarcerated on the island for 10 years.

Vandeyar‚ described as a “rank and file revolutionary”‚ was a member of the Transvaal Indian Congress (TIC)‚ the South African Communist Party (SACP)‚ the African National Congress (ANC) and MK.

In recent years‚ he received the National Order of Mendi for Bravery (in silver) “for his remarkable bravery during the struggle against apartheid and for striving for a free and democratic South Africa”.

The foundation’s director‚ Neeshan Balton‚ said that Vandeyar’s legacy was something that young people needed to learn about.

“Reggie came from an extremely poor background and was employed as a waiter. He continued his political work throughout his life without asking for recognition‚ or any reward for his contribution.”

Balton said that he was concerned around media reports on statements allegedly made by the ANC Youth League secretary-general‚ Njabulo Nzuza‚ that struggle activists fought to share the same toilets and drink the same whisky as whites.

“If the media reports are indeed true‚ we would like the ANCYL to measure up this assertion against the life of Comrade Reggie Vandeyar. I think they will find that they are sorely mistaken.

“We would advise the ANCYL to read about the lives of many of our liberation heroes‚ before underplaying the contribution of these veterans.”

Speaking from his Johannesburg home‚ struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada praised Vandeyar’s lifelong dedication to the struggle. Vandeyar had become politically active in the SACP at the age of 14.

“Reggie is one of those comrades who became involved in politics when he was young and was active before‚ during and after imprisonment. I had a close political relationship‚ and personal friendship‚ with him and his family.

“My partner‚ Barbara Hogan‚ and I would like to extend our condolences to Reggie’s wife‚ Assoo‚ his family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.”

His sentiments were echoed by Laloo Chiba‚ who served with Vandeyar in MK.

“It is with a deep sense of shock that I learnt of the unexpected and tragic death this morning of comrade Reggie. These are indeed extremely difficult times for the family‚ but I am confident‚ that they have the courage to rise above this sad occasion and cross these troubled waters with courage‚ grace and dignity.”

Chiba also shared his most vivid memory of Vandeyar‚ recalling the night of 16th December 1961‚ when MK was launched.

“A four person group of saboteurs‚ headed by Comrade Wolfie Kodesh‚ and including Reggie‚ Paul Joseph and myself‚ successfully carried out three acts of sabotage. They were directed against the white section of the post office in Fordsburg‚ the Bantu Commissioner’s Office in Newtown and the Pass Offices in Central Johannesburg.”

But it is Nanabhai‚ who was arrested with Vandeyar on April 17 1963‚ who provided an account of his colleague’s torture in detention.

While targeting a railway signal site near Riverlea‚ the pair‚ together with Indres Naidoo‚ were given up by a fellow unit member‚ Gammat Jardien.

“I met Reggie in 1955 during the Congress of the People. It was him who approached me later to join MK‚” says Nanabhai.

“We were tortured following our arrest - beaten up. Reggie could not walk properly after the torture and his arm was broken. He suffered with this problem throughout his prison years and thereafter. His bone grew incorrectly‚ and he had difficulty lifting up things.”

Vandeyar had several years ago himself described the torture inflicted upon him by an apartheid police officer: “He sat on my back and started twisting my arm and I could hear the crunch of my muscles tearing on my shoulders. I couldn’t bear it…The beatings (in detention) didn’t seem like an overnight thing; it seemed like days of torture; you don’t know day from night‚ you don’t know hour from hour.”

After being sentenced‚ Vandeyar and his comrades were transferred from Leeukop Prison to Robben Island. While the conditions on the island were bleak‚ Nanabhai said that it was the food that really troubled Vandeyar. “Reggie was a top chef‚ so he knew what good food was. He couldn’t take prison food.”

Following his release from prison‚ Vandeyar was served with a five year banning order.

“But on a number of occasions‚ we would meet clandestinely‚” said Nanabhai.

Despite the personal and political difficulties following his release‚ Vandeyar was central to regrouping activists‚ laying the groundwork for anti-apartheid action throughout the 1980s. He was amongst a group of islanders released from prison that rebuilt the democratic movement in South Africa‚ including the ANC underground structures.

After the expiry of his second five-year banning order‚ he was elected as one of the vice-presidents of the TIC.

He was later part of the historic meeting between the Transvaal and Natal Indian Congresses and the banned ANC leadership in Lusaka.

Vandeyar is survived by his wife‚ Assoo‚ and children‚ Karuna and Sushila. He will be laid to rest on Sunday‚ September 20. Details around the funeral are yet to be finalised.

RDM News Wire.