| Idaf chapter in International Brigade against Apartheid. Author HK 2021docx.docx |
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Enuga Reddy will be remembered for his extraordinary contribution as head of the United Nations Centre against Apartheid. In the 1980's he also served as a Trustee of IDAF.
I worked with him from 1976 onwards. What a hard worker! What a wonderful humanist! We stayed in touch until shortly before his death. May he rest in peace! South Africans owe him gratitude - lots of it. | ||
IDAF was banned in 1966 in the aftermath of the trial in which Bram Fischer was sentenced to life imprisonment. The prosecution alleged that Defence and Aid (in South Africa), the Christian Institute (Beyers Naudé specifically, and the Institute of Race Relations were linked to Fischer's communist party plans, something he denied.
Top row: 1 Tony Trew Serah ..., Tim Jenkins 2. Hyacinth and Trustee Baldwin Sjollema, 3. Horst and Al and party goers.
Second row: 1.HK, IDAF office, 2. Maud Henry 3.Afua Boaten
Third row: 1. Al Cook and Afua Boaten 2. IDAF Trustees Diana Collins, Baldwin Sjollema and Ernst Michanek at Westminster Abbey for memorial service for Bishop Trevor Huddleston, 3. A reception during an IDAF AGM.
Fourth row: Afua Boaten 2. Baldwin Sjollema, 3. Georg Tobias, Hyacinth, Baldwin Sjollema, Harlene Jassat, Al Cook profile and in foreground Maud Henry.
Fifth row: HK at IDAF event, 2. Gloria Pahad, Al Cook and HK at party at Gloria's. 3. Bishop Trevor Huddleston (Chair) and Ernst Michanek (Vice Chair) of the IDAF Board.
Bottom: Christine Crowley, Anna-Lena Wästberg, HK and Diana Collins.
Second row: 1.HK, IDAF office, 2. Maud Henry 3.Afua Boaten
Third row: 1. Al Cook and Afua Boaten 2. IDAF Trustees Diana Collins, Baldwin Sjollema and Ernst Michanek at Westminster Abbey for memorial service for Bishop Trevor Huddleston, 3. A reception during an IDAF AGM.
Fourth row: Afua Boaten 2. Baldwin Sjollema, 3. Georg Tobias, Hyacinth, Baldwin Sjollema, Harlene Jassat, Al Cook profile and in foreground Maud Henry.
Fifth row: HK at IDAF event, 2. Gloria Pahad, Al Cook and HK at party at Gloria's. 3. Bishop Trevor Huddleston (Chair) and Ernst Michanek (Vice Chair) of the IDAF Board.
Bottom: Christine Crowley, Anna-Lena Wästberg, HK and Diana Collins.
| Krish Naidoo book: 'Struggle Lawyer' - received IDAF funds..docx |
Clockwise (above): 1. IDAF's Diana Collins (Trustee), Phyllis Altman (General-Secretary), Reg Gore (Treasurer),
3. IDAF staff partaking in the London to Brighton cycle race.
4. IDAF staff of the hidden Legal and Family support programmes. Dorthy, ......, Mrs Dadoo, ..... Harlene Jassat, Hilary Rabkin, ........
3. IDAF staff partaking in the London to Brighton cycle race.
4. IDAF staff of the hidden Legal and Family support programmes. Dorthy, ......, Mrs Dadoo, ..... Harlene Jassat, Hilary Rabkin, ........
Above: Unsung and as yet uncelebrated heroes: Mr and Mrs Ramokgadi. Magalies Martin Ramokgadi was from Alexandra township, a shop owner. After spending 10 years on Robben Island and was sentenced to spend a further seven years on Robben Island. He told me that in the early 60's, when he was detained for furthering the aims of a banned organisation (ANC), he spent a weekend in a Pretoria prison cell the dead man, Looksmart Ngudle - the first detainee to be tortured to death by the SB's. He expected to be killed the following Monday. I met him in late 1975, after my release from detention at the home of the Naidoo family in Rocky Street. He recruited me to rent a series of cars for him. I asked no questions. Black people had a hard time to rent cars in those days. In April 1976 he said that he and I should leave SA immediately; he had been tipped-off that we stood to be arrested. The tented cars had been used to go to Swaziland and then drove to the Transkei - with arms in them. Under the command of Tokyo Sexwale the to-be 'independence' of the the first Bantustan was to be frustrated. Now all involved were arrested and the trail would soon lead to us. Magalies, at the last moment decided to go - yet again - into hiding. He survived about 8 months and then stood trial in what is known as the "Pretoria 12" trial. He was sentenced to seven years - again on Robben Island. During this time "Dr Death" - Wouter Basson - conducted medical experiments on him. It led to him attempting suicide. After his sentence IDAF arranged for him and his wife to come to London for medical care. We had also funded the trial costs of both trials he was involved in. His case was not raised at the TRC hearings. His first wife died during his first imprisonment, his second wife, above arranged a hospice in Houghton, Johannesburg for him when his cancer became unendurable. There his wife held left, and I his right hand when he died. I was at his funeral and walked with the cortege to the cemetery. His courage, integrity and selflessness deserves recognition. Such recognition is outstanding to date!
From my photo album: Was it the early 1990's when exiles first tried to find their feet back home? Here at Harlene and Charley Jassat's home in Johannesburg.
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The International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa (IDAF). I worked for it from 1979 until its dissolution in 1991. From 1983 until its closure I served as its Director.
INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE AND AID FUND FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA (IDAF).
From 1979 till 1991, when we shut IDAF down, its purpose having been served, I worked for IDAF, the last nine years as its Director.
The Board of IDAF comprised members from several countries whose Governments financially contributed to the organisation.
Renate Pratt was a prominent civil society activist in Canada and Board member of IDAF. She died on 10 March 2018. Visit https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-anti-apartheid-activist-renate-pratt-led-campaign-for-divestment-from/ to read her obituary.
Renate Pratt was a prominent civil society activist in Canada and Board member of IDAF. She died on 10 March 2018. Visit https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-anti-apartheid-activist-renate-pratt-led-campaign-for-divestment-from/ to read her obituary.
Dulcie September (left), then Janey Love, Ramni Dinat, Zodwa Dabengwa and Barry Feinberg at an IDAF staff party ca 1985 at the offices in Essex Rd., Islington, North London.
Dulcie moved on to become ANC Chief Representative in Paris. She was assassinated on 29 March 1988. Her apartheid assassins have never been identified.
| Dulcie September was assassinated by apartheid agents in Paris 29 March 1988. The French organisation Arcueil commemorated Dulcie's murder in 2018. |
Horst, 1979 representing IDAF at the Frankfurt International Book Fair, supported by West German Anti-Apartheid activist Doris Peschke. |
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