As the world prepares to mark Nelson Mandela International Day on 18th July, communities across South Africa will celebrate the legendary leader by making a tangible difference. Among them is Tongaat, a town with a unique and significant connection to Mandela through its erstwhile son, Gopalall Hurbans.
According to Tholsi Mudly, Chairperson of the oThongathi Museum Committee, Mandela worked closely with Gopalall Hurbans, then vice-president of the Natal Indian Congress, in the 1950s and when Chief Albert Luthuli, the then leader of the ANC, was under banning orders, clandestine meetings were held in Tongaat.
In his autobiography, Long Walk To Freedom, Mandela vividly recalled the time he spent in Tongaat while being pursued by the apartheid police. Nelson Mandela found refuge for about two weeks on a sugar cane plantation, residing in a hostel on the farm and posing as an agricultural demonstrator. The Hurbans Family owned farms in Frasers and Esenembe. Mandela remembered enjoying his time with the labourers and their families.
Mandela also recounted that despite numerous vehicles visiting the farm, and occasionally seeing local politicians like Chief Albert Luthuli arriving to meet him at night, the community exercised remarkable discretion. They refrained from asking questions and continued with their daily lives, thereby ensuring that Mandela and other activists could freely discuss strategies for a democratic South Africa.
During his underground activities, Madiba frequently employed disguises or altered his gait to remain inconspicuous. An extract from his writings reveals: “My most frequent disguise was as a chauffeur, chef or garden boy, I would wear blue overalls of the field –worker and often wore round, rimless glasses known as Mazzawatee tea-glasses. I had a car and I wore a chauffeur’s cap.”
Mudly noted that this elusiveness earned Mandela the nickname, “The Black Pimpernel.” In 1989, the Tongaat Civic Association awarded Nelson Mandela the Freedom of the Town of Tongaat. As Mandela was still imprisoned, his daughter accepted the award on his behalf.
Following his election as the first democratic president of South Africa in 1994, Mandela was invited by the Tongaat Civic Association to receive this award once more at its 25th Anniversary celebration. The event took place at the Tongaat Town Hall on 21st October 1994, with Logie Naidoo, the then chairman of the TCA, presenting the award.
“Tongaat came alive on this day, the citizens celebrated this momentous occasion. Mandela in his speech heaped great praise on TCA and the community of Tongaat. Mr Mandela was also most elated for the then Town Council of Tongaat which was going to be dissolved had also attended this historical event,” said Mudly.
According to Mudly, at the 1994 function, Mandela reminisced about his time in Tongaat, stating, “When I was forced to work underground, Tongaat often granted me safe refuge.” Mandela also met with Mrs Unpoon Hurbans, the wife of the late Gopalall Hurbans.
