Sod turning ceremony for Addington Beach indenture monument

THIS week marks 156 years since Indentured Indian laborers arrived in Durban’s Port Natal on the SS Truro (16 November 1860) with 341 immigrants, the Belvedere and other ships followed with hundreds more Indians bonded by indenture.

Indenture, another name for slavery had the labourers adjust to the adverse conditions and turn them into advantage over the years, emerging today, to have produced a legacy leaders, in all facets of South Africa’s rainbow nation.

Today, Durban is home to the most number of people of Indian origin outside of India.

On Tuesday, the KZN Premier Willies Mchunu, together with leadership from eThekwini municipality, members of Parliament, community leaders and ordinary members of society gathered for a sod turning ceremony near Addington Beach, the site earmarked for the erection of a monument commemorating the arrival of the indentured labourers in South Africa.

“We remain indebted to the Indian indentured labourers for their contribution, especially in terms of establishing the agricultural potential of Kwa-Zulu Natal making it the world renowned region of the sugar industry. By working towards the erection of the monument, we are expressing our deep appreciation to our fellow brothers and sisters from India who unequivocally declared South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal in particular, their preferred place to live in.”

At the celebratory sod turning ceremony, Vic Pillay, an 87-year-old former football administrator spoke about life in the bad old days of apartheid for Indians after being set free from indenture.

Satish Dhupelia, of the 1860 Legacy Foundation told Berea Mail the sod turning ceremony for the site of a monument marking the arrival of Indians in South Africa was an important occasion. “Indenture is another word for slavery and in doing this (the monument) honours the forefathers. It is always important to understand where we came from as a community. While India may be close to many of our hearts, ultimately we are South Africans, our allegiance is to South Africa, we invest in this country and put back into it!”

Dhupelia said he was happy with the process of the monument which will have community consultation before anything goes up. “It will definitely be good for social cohesion, people are drifting apart as South Africans, we come together when we need to, but we definitely need to come together again,” he said.