Swami Gounden

OLS
Born
Swaminathan Karuppa Gounden

1927 (1927)
Durban, Natal Province
Union of South Africa
Died(2021-11-30)30 November 2021 (aged 93)
Political partyAfrican National Congress
Other political
affiliations		Natal Indian Congress
South African Communist Party

Swaminathan Karuppa "Swami" Gounden (1927 – 30 November 2021) was a South African trade unionist and anti-apartheid activist from Natal.

Life and activism

Born in 1927 in Durban,[1] Gounden entered politics through the trade union movement and joined the Communist Party of South Africa at Magazine Barracks in 1944.[2] The following year, he was a member of the progressive faction of the Natal Indian Congress that installed Monty Naicker at the head of the congress, ousting its conservative incumbent leadership.[2] He was active in the congress's passive resistance campaign against the so-called Ghetto Act.[1]

He joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1950 and participated in the 1952 Defiance Campaign and 1955 Congress of the People.[1] Over the next five decades, he was active in civic organisations in Natal, notably residents' associations in Asherville and the United Democratic Front.[1] In 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa awarded him the Order of Luthuli in Silver, "For his life-long and courageous fight against apartheid oppression".[3]

He died on 30 November 2021, aged 93,[4] and was granted an official provincial funeral, at which KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala delivered the eulogy.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Mr Swaminathan 'Swami' Karuppa Gounden". The Presidency. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Self-isolating KZN premier pays tribute to Freedom Charter stalwart Swaminathan Gounden". Sunday Times. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Presidency announces recipients of National Orders". Dispatch. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  4. ↑ Monama, Tebogo (30 November 2021). "Anti-apartheid activist Swaminathan 'Swami' Gounden has died". News24. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
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