TRIBUTE: Dass Moodley leaves remarkable legacy
Messages of sympathy have poured in from around the world.
Dass Moodley, extremely well-known and popular among the Marburg and Albersville communities in particular, has died after a lengthy illness. Described as a humble man, he died last week aged 89, eight months shy of his 90th birthday.
His funeral was held at the Andhra Sabha hall and attended by hundreds of mourners, some who travelled from all parts of country to pay their final respects to a humble giant and respected community elder. Over and above the many local messages received, messages of sympathy were received from families and friends from all over the world, including New Zealand, Australia, Turkey and the United States.
His two grandchildren, Meshen Moodley and Nerosha Moodley, delivered emotional tributes highlighting the great influence their grandfather had on their lives. Close family friends Soma Nadasen and Johnny Rajoo, in their tributes, traced his remarkable sporting accomplishments in the face of the challenges endured before the 1994 democratic era.
Dass worked at the old Lower South Coast Regional Water Board (now Ugu). He was one of the founding members of the Umzimkulu Angling Club in the 1960s, where he served as both treasurer and secretary.
He became well known for his angling expertise and perfected angling and fishing techniques when technology was non-existent. His crowning glory came in the 1990s when he was called upon to represent the KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Union and Province in the South African National Championships, held at Jeffreys Bay. On merit alone, he obtained his provincial colours in the 1990s – a rare achievement, then, for non-whites during the Apartheid era.
Dass was a man of many talents, representing the Port Shepstone District Cricket Union, both as a player and umpire. In football, during the late 1960s and 1970s, he was a player and referee for the Port Shepstone District Soccer Association.
But fishing, one could argue, was his passion – and he was prolific, especially during his retirement years. His close confidant and family member, Brigadier Morris Moodley, accompanied him on numerous fishing expeditions throughout the Southern African eastern coastline.
He gave praise to a remarkable man. “Uncle Dass left an amazing legacy, was a true legend, a respected senior citizen and community elder and head of the Moodley family, who overcame great challenges to succeed in life.”
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