Natoo Babenia, a South African who actively participated and was jailed during both the Indian and South African struggles, passed away on Friday, 1 January 1999, aged 75. He was a member of the ANC, SACP and our glorious people's army, Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK). In 1995, Babenia released his biography, which was aptly titled "Memoirs of a Saboteur".
NATOO BABENIA - PART OF THE MAJORITY
During the last festive season, the ANC in KwaZulu Natal suffered two great losses. Dorothy Nomzansi "Mam D" Nyembe passed away in her sleep on December 17, a night after the Day of Reconciliation. On New Year's Day Natoo Babenia's eyes were closed forever. Perhaps a conspiracy of the elders!
As per custom, the remains of this great soldier with a stout heart were cremated the following day. His remains may be no more but his memory lives on among us. He was born on the 28th of March 1924 in Coedmore Road, Bellair in Durban. He grew up among Indians and Africans. From a young age, he knew no difference between an Indian and an African. Yet even at that age he could understand that national oppression was common among them. It was at that time that he was affectionately known as "Thukela" (the biggest river criss-crossing KwaZulu Natal) among most Africans in the area.
Indeed, Natoo Babenia lived the life of uThukela song:
"In my womb lie the dead sediments of the past, In my womb lie the worms to devour the poison past, In my womb lie the pride to unite, In my womb lie the seeds of unity."
In 1936 Babenia and his family left for India after experiencing economic difficulties as a result of racial discrimination in South Africa. The quest for national liberation in India was reaching its apex. The young Babenia still at a primary school found himself an active role in the Congress movement of India. Even at that age, Babenia endeared peace. But he did not use that quest for peace as an excuse not to take arms against British colonialism. In 1942 after the British colonialists had arrested most leaders, including Mahatma Ghandi, of the All India National Congress, he was part of the "Quit India" campaign aimed at forcing British colonialism out of India through armed struggle.
In 1949 Natoo Babenia arrived back to South Africa. India had received its independence in 1947. In South Africa a party whose leaders had thrown bombs in support of Nazism, the National Party, had assumed office with the ticket of apartheid. How was it possible for a man like Babenia who had occupied the forward trenches in the independence struggle of India to leave that liberated country to apartheid South Africa? Would it not be better to remain in India and bask in the glory of being a hero of the Indian liberation struggle? To many this would have been an option.
But Babenia was different. Nobody knew more than he did that freedom is indivisible. Freedom for India without freedom for South Africa and that of the world as a whole was unimaginable for Babenia. When he arrived in South Africa he became part of the Congress Movement led by the ANC. He also joined the Communist Party. He had no problem in loyally serving both organisations individually and collectively.
In 1960 the ANC and other organisations were banned. The state of emergency was declared. Mass detention and torture of leaders and activists took place. It became clear that the time had come for South Africa when there remained only two choices - submit or fight. Comrade Babenia and thousands more had no choice but to fight back with everything at their disposal.
Babenia found himself in the ranks of the pioneers of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed offshoot of the ANC. He worked with such stalwarts as Curnick "Mthakathi" Ndlovu, Jacob Zuma, Billy Nair, Ebrahim Ebrahim, Ronnie Kasrils, Sonny "Bobby" Singh, Eric "Khehla" Mtshali and Ms Maud Mfusi. He specialised as a saboteur and was a disciplined underground worker who successfully operated under the very nose of fascism.
Butthe apartheid network of spies was flung wide and with the draconian powers of torture and detention without trial already enjoyed by the apartheid state, Babenia and some of his colleagues were finally arrested. Babenia was sentenced to sixteen years on Robben Island. As revolutionaries we belong to a school of thought that says history is made by the people and not by individuals. Yet we are all agreed that there are individuals in every society and epoch whose actions and contributions help guide the masses and give the tone of march. Comrade Babenia belonged to that company. Perhaps one of our humblest leaders and yet one of our unsung heroes. His life is documented in his book "Memoirs of a Saboteur" which is a must to every youth who wants to lead a meaningful life. Comrade Babenia never regarded himself as an outcast in his own country that he fought for so long and so hard. He was a proud member of the South African family in its magnificent variety. He lived the life of the majority be they Indian, coloured, African and white. He fought in the front columns of the oppressed and democratic majority. He was part of the majority.
The African National Congress dips its revolutionary banner to this great patriot and colossus. He may rest in peace for victory is certain.