Ladysmith Pioneer Indians
Edmond Morewood is credited with the introduction of sugar cane farming to Natal where in 1846 he was granted a farm on the outskirts of the Port Natal-Durban settlement.
Morewood sailed to Mauritius and Reunion seeking advice on growing sugar cane and he returned with hardy new and knowledge. In his absence the new government expropriated his farm however he renegotiated and was allocated a new stretch of land further to the north, that he aptly named Compensation.
With the expansion of his project, labour to grow and harvest the crop was becoming an important issue and began agitating the authorities to institute the indentured system that Morewood had seen in action on his travels to the Indian Ocean islands. There were anti-indentured labour lobbies on the grounds that an adequate work-force existed, or that the Colony’s white settlers should not be further outnumbered by the introduction of more non- Europeans. Luckily for Morewood the Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir George Gray, instructed the local Government Colonial Secretary to write to the Government of India, asking that the Natal Colony be included among approved destinations for emigrant labour. India had already experienced abuses of the system and exacerbated by rumours of Hindus are forced to eat beef and Muslims forced to eat pork therefore the position of Protector was created in Natal. The Protector regulated conditions of transport from India, pay conditions equal to those in Mauritius and generally to look after the Indian emigrants welfare.
Local laws were implemented whereas a prospective employer was required to officially requisition labour and agree to pay passage costs and other related expenses. In addition only a licensed authority could introduce immigrants into the Colony and the local Protector had power to inspect a ship before allowing its passengers to disembark. The Master had a duty to provide rations for up to two days after docking, all immigrants had to be registered and heavy fines could be imposed for poorly feeding or ill-treatment. The first shiploads of immigrants were indentured for ten years reduced five years. The wage scale was 10 shillings a month for the first year, 11 shillings a month for the second year and so on.
Conditions were established for labourers to re-indenture themselves or to buy themselves out for three Pounds after three years service. So-called Free Indians those who had served out their indenture or were to arrive under their own volition were free to negotiate their own terms with employers. On the contract’s completion, it was possible to commute the price of a free return passage, the pay-out enabling purchase of Crown land in 15-acre plots. This proved incentive enough for many, particularly those of peasant families whose prospects were dismal indeed in the India of that particular juncture.
Initially two ships were chartered, the Belvedere out of Calcutta, and the Truro from Madras, each carried 342 passengers, and were the first of 384 vessels destined to ply this route during the coming half century. The Belvedere was first to embark, leaving Calcutta on 4 October 1860 and followed by the Truro ex Madras a week later. No records exist, but it’s highly unlikely that any fanfare accompanied their departure, indentured emigration having already slipped from the front pages of India’s newspapers. The Truro, a paddle steamer, took a shorter route and arrived off Port Natal-Durban on 16 November 1860, with the Belvedere arriving ten days later.
Under the less than jubilant banner headline The Coolies Here, the Natal Mercury reported that the planter’s pet project has been realised and described the swarthy hordes pouring out of the boat’s hold as a queer, comical, foreign-looking and very Oriental-like crowd. The newspaper accurately reported that the complement included bankers, carpenters,
accountants and mechanics in its number. Of the Truro’s 342 passengers, 190 were adult males over 16 years of age, 80 adult females, 36 boys aged 15 and under and 36 girls.
Christian Indians accounted for 95 of these, while Muslims totalled 23 and Hindus 163. The remaining Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Pharsis and Sufis were not classified. Between 1860 and 1911 approximately 152,000 Indians came to Natal with 60% hailing from the Indian port of Madras. This in effect meant that most of the indentured labourers were either Tamil or Telegu speaking. Other groups, mainly Muslims came as traders from Northern Indian, arriving twenty years later.
For the remainder of the 19th century Indian integration into South Africa has been documented in numerous books and newspaper articles and can be found in almost all central libraries and museums.
The first record of Indians in the district is in 1877, when one Indian was in the employ of Bauboo Naidoo and, in 1878, there were five Indians, four being employed by W.J. Boyd. In 1882, the Resident Magistrate for the Klip River division reported that there were many complaints from both masters and servants and thus no satisfaction was achieved by either party.
An example was a letter written by W Bloy to the resident magistrate of Ladysmith reporting the disappearance of `coolies’ Royappan and Sowryammah. He then wrote to the Protector of Immigrants stating that the `coolies’ had not returned to him and that they were being harboured by someone in Ladysmith. When contacted by the Protector of Immigrants about the case, the resident magistrate reported that the Indians had been jailed for fourteen days for refusing to return to their employer. In 1883, T Bauboo Naidoo, who was employed as Indian interpreter in Ladysmith gave power of attorney to Walton Tatham to collect £2 10 shillings per month on his behalf, from the clerk of court in Ladysmith.
In 1882, no one in Ladysmith spoke Tamilso which gives evidence there must have been Indians in town. In 1886, the resident magistrate reported the number of Indians in Ladysmith as 100 and in the whole district as 350 and, by the 1891 census, there were 607 Indians in Ladysmith. The reason for Klip River having such a high concentration of Indian Railway may perhaps be attributed to the fact that Indian labour was more reliable than Black labour and JB Brain stated:
“…..Black labour was unwilling to work for long periods at a time, either because of the need to return to their homes to plough and plant, or because they were target workers, then it would not be surprising that employers tended to prefer the more stable Indian as overseer and for similar tasks requiring continuity.”
Ladysmith Indians come from a variety of religious backgrounds such as Muslim, Tamil, Hindu and others which can be seen from the temples that have been erected over the years. These religious centres not only served as places of prayer but also to promote cultural and educational activities and, adjoining most of these religious centres were halls where functions could be held. In 1898, the first Mosque, also of wood and iron, was built by Hazruth Soofie Sahoeb on the site of the present Soofie Mosque in 1898.
The National Archive marriage register has several Indian marriages recorded before 1900. In 1891, COOPPOO aged 41 years married NOONAINAH, aged 17 years; in 1893, JEEUN aged 19 years married JANKI aged 13 years; in 1896, BILATHOOSEW aged 38 years married BHAGEC aged 14 3/4 years; in 1898, MUNGRA married SOOKNEE aged 13.
The Indians, whether free or indentured, had established themselves firmly in Ladysmith however, they faced the same crippling legislation and anti?Indian sentiment, sometimes as in the case of traders, even more in Ladysmith. In the famous case of Vinden versus the Ladysmith Local Board, Jessie Vinden, the local Indian school teacher and wife of the Indian court
interpreter in Ladysmith, took the Ladysmith Local Board to court for wrongful arrest. She was arrested by the local Native Police as a ‘Coloured’ person. This case was heard by Sir Walter Wragg, who ruled in favour of Mrs Vinden who had been jailed after being asked for her pass by a Native constable.
Anti-trader legislation in Ladysmith was very keenly felt in the 1900′s when trade licences were refused to Indian storekeepers and, in 1903, Cassim Mahomed, who had been trading for three years on a farm near Ladysmith, was not allowed to renew his licence. Cassim Mahomed had been the only trader in the area until a European opened a store but discovered that
Mahomed held a monopoly on all the trade in the area. Mahomed lodge several appeals and it was only later, after further investigation, it was learned that the Public Prosecutor in the case, a police sergeant, was a sleeping partner in the European firm that had Mahomed convicted.
News more interesting than this case is that of MA Goga, who was refused a licence on the grounds that he was unable to keep books in English. Representing Goga was one of the leading advocates of Natal, Wylie, KC and Goga’s appeal was upheld. Not so with two other cases, where the appeals were turned down because they weren’t in a position to afford legal counsel. In the case of Benne, the Licensing officer justified his decision by saying that the appellant was incapable and getting old. He went on to say that Benne was of the labouring class and ought to be on a farm and not keeping a store. In the case of Goga, his father had been trading in Ladysmith from 1880 and, on his death Goga had taken over the business. The premises did not belong to Goga but to a White man in Newcastle and was later purchased by Goga. In 1902, the town council made Goga erect a building costing £5,000 before they would renew his licence. This meant that the value of the town and the amount of rates that the council would collect would be increased at the expense of Goga.
On the 1902 Ladysmith Land Valuation Roll the Following Indians owned land:
H Nullamea, Moono Maharaj, David Vinden, Ebram Abdoola, Mohamed Esack, Ajam Hoosen, Esop Suleman, Hirjee Valjee, Hoosen E Chupty, China Narsoo, Abdool Kassim, Samuel Nadan, Himmunchal, Moonsamy Naidoo, Kharwa, Goga, AM Omar, Moola M Amod, Ramaan Panday, Kader Khan.
LADYSMITH PIONEER FAMILIES
Cassim Suleman Asmal was born in Surat City Bombay in 1871 and arrived in Durban in 1893. A doyen of Indian traders, he came in the same year that also saw Gandhi arrive to this country. Cassim proceeded immediately to Ladysmith where he joined his uncle, HE Chupty, a general dealer, becoming a partner in 1900. It was also the time when at the age of 21 years, Cassim attended Mrs. Vinden’s school. He admitted regret that he did not learn much when he left school after a year’s attendance, understandably when one considers his age and the handicap of adjusting to the demands of the English language as well as being amongst a class of children younger then him.
In 1902, after his brother arrived, they started their own business at Bergville, but in 1905, Cassim transferred his interests to Ladysmith where his store CS Asmal, general dealer was located in his property called Surat House in Murchison Street, a well maintained building in the main street still prominently there today. Cassim was not only famous for his achievements in the field of entrepreneurship. He made valuable contributions to the community. He was a great patron of sports, representing his province in both soccer & cricket and was a forerunner in establishing the Klip River District Indian Football Association. The period 1900 to 1910 was marked by cruel and unjustified malice from the Ladysmith Town Council that was metered out to all Indian businessmen but despite these obstacles, the Asmal spirit of free enterprise burnt very strongly and they would not be denied their place in the commercial life of Ladysmith. Cassim Asmal was the disciple of Hazrath Soofi Sahib, a saint who built the Soofi Mosque at Ladysmith circa 1906. The saint relocated to Durban in 1911 leaving the property in the care of Shah Goolam Mia, also a disciple of Hazrath Soofi Sahib but who in 1920 left for India leaving the keys of the mosque to Cassim Asmal who for the next thirty years maintained the mosque with the help of the Ladysmith Mosque Trust. He took an active part in the passive resistance movement of 1913 under Gandhi.
Of his sixteen sons from two marriages, some joined in the family business of CS Asmal, while others established their own stores and service stations in other towns such as Bergville, Winterton and Sundays River. Of his many grandchildren, numbering over sixty, many are in business, the medical fraternity, engineers, teachers, journalists, and other professional fields.
The surviving progeny of Cassim Suliman Asmal are, Abdool Kader ’Shorty’, Abbas and four daughters, Fathima Ismail Moola, Juleka GH Chupty,, Hajra Ismail Vawda, Rassool Saleh. Cassim Suliman Asmal passed away at Ladysmith in 1978.
Essack Mahomed Asvat: His 35 year old father, Mahomed Suliman Asvat and mother, 25 year old Hafface Asvat nee Hattia from Surat, India first went to Reunion and from there came to South Africa in 1890 and to Ladysmith where he set up a business at 78 Albert Street, Ladysmith trading under the name of Mahomed Suliman and lived on premises behind the store where 15 other families also lived. A Natal Harbour Department Certificate of Domicile No. 62 dated 20 November 1897 describes Mahomed Suliman, storekeeper as being 5ft 2in with a scar over the left ear and back of neck. The four children of Mahomed Suliman Asvat were sons Essack born in Ladysmith 4 April 1898 who in 1916 married Mariam BiBi Ahmed Panchbhaya at Luwara in Gujerat State, India and Goolam Hoosen born 1900 who married Rassool Sidyot of Port Shepstone; the two daughters Rassul Pochee born 1904 married Ebrahim Pochee of Charlestown and had one daughter Bheree. Assoo Desai born 1906 married Mohammed Desai of Port Shepstone and had a son and daughter.
Al-Haj Essack Asvat married the daughter of Maulana Ahmed Panchbhaya that yielded five children, sons Ahmed & Abdool Cader and daughters Amina, Khatija and Maymoona. Abdool Cader married Fathima Moola and they had four sons and one daughter. Son Mohammed, born 1965, is Deputy Head, Department of Health, Uthukela District Office. He Matriculated at Windsor
Secondary, played soccer, cricket and was Secretary of Northern Natal Cricket Board. He is an active Community worker involved with ‘Operation Winter Warmth’ and South African National Zakah Fund (Ladysmith). Mohamed holds a MBA degree in Business Administration, married Ruwaida Jhetam a radiographer and Ultra-Sound tech in 1994 and they have one daughter, Raeesa. Abdool Cader’s daughter Shaheda is a high profiled foreign exchange executive at a local bank.
Ismail Panchbhaya, a Muslim cleric from Luwara, India at the invitation of his brother-in-law, Essack Asvat arrived in Ladysmith with his spouse Hawa BiBi nee Methar in 1933 where he was appointed to serve at the local mosque as a teacher and Imaam. Ismail Panchbhaya who died in 1943 had three children. The Ladysmith born children were daughter Saffeia Bibi born 1935 and son Abdool Khaleck born 1937 and Port Shepstone born Ahmed Saed born 1940. The daughter was married to Yacoob Mayet, Ahmed Saed resides in the United Kingdom, while son Abdool Khaleck, a journalist, Commissioner of Oaths and historiographer married Aysha Dhoda. Essack Asvat passed away in 1943. It is Abdool Khaleck Panchbhaya who researched and edited most of the personal data used in this project.
Mahomed Ismail Deen: was born in Ladysmith on the 12 March 1895. After education in the town, Mahomed was in private employment then in 1928, he started his own business in fresh produce. Mahomed’s son Ayoub married Khatija and they had two sons and one daughter. Son Ismail born 8 May 1960, matriculated at Windsor in 1977, played soccer for Young Callies F.C, currently in business as Khaya Ama Veg in Forbes Street. Married to Sameera Mungroo they have one daughter. Ismail is also an IT Technician and businessman and is welfare conscious, distributing free Fruit and vegetable weekly to areas Ezakheni, Khumbane and Watersmeet.
The Domun family settled in Ladysmith in 1893 when Dulam Domun, aged 33, arrived in South Africa on 30 March 1893 and was assigned to Thomas Newton’s farm, which was in the Klip River District. In 1906, he completed his indenture period and the certificate of his freedom is dated 6 April 1906. He then was employed by the railways and lived in Umbulwana.
In 1918 he moved to Dewdrop, a farm near Ladysmith and began farming with a White farmer, probably George Wright who farmed that area at the time. From there he moved to Orange Grove farm where he died in 1945 at the age of 85. His son Jack Domun remembers his father relating to him how they were besieged in the town during the Boer war without food or
water. Jack Domun started work at an early age and until 1940, working for a Van Nierkerk as a taxi driver after which he began work in the ammunition factory in Ladysmith, making bombs for the army during the World war. In 1947 he joined the firm of Clarences where he worked for 33 years. In 1948 he bought three acres of land for £300 in Leonard Road where he built his present home. Jack Domun gives an illuminating example of the generosity of people in the early days. From the three acres that he bought he gave each of his younger brothers half an acre each and was left with half an acre for himself. He then bought a further two acres in Mosque Road and gave these to his bother and brother?in?law (wife’s brother). None of these properties were sold, simply given to those that he felt were less fortunate than him. Jack Domun suffered great losses during all the floods, but despite all the setbacks he went on to educate all his children, four of whom are qualified teachers. Information kindly supplied by Sue Gadjadhur.
Mahomed Ahmed Goga was born Surat, India, 1865; Arrived in Durban together with spouse Momin in 1885 and moved directly on to Ladysmith where he established the firm of MA Goga, Bombay House in Murchison Street which also incorporated a small clothing factory. His further business venture led him into a partnership with AM Kharva wherein the property between Pendy’s Theatre and McNamees Furniture was acquired by them.
The family consisted of four sons, Abdullah, Ahmed, Ismail and Essop and five daughters. Abdullah established a business in the Transkei with special consent from the authority of the day but after some years moved to Port Shepstone. Abdullah’s one son is a medical practitioner. Ahmed had four sons of which two, Mehmood and Mahomed joined in the business of MA Goga while Hassim and Cassim ventured into different fields of commerce. His two daughters married in the prominent family of the Seedats in Ladysmith while one in the Amla family at Rookdale. The other two married in the Jadwat family at Newcastle. The progeny of Essop include Ismail, an orthopedic surgeon, Suliman, a dentist, Yacoob, an optometrist, two attorneys Ebrahim (deceased) and Hassen and two businessman, Goolam Hoosen (deceased) and Mahomed. Ismail moved to Newcastle many years ago where with sons Abdool Kader, Hoosen, Abbas and Ahmed established a business. Most of Ismail’s grandchildren are now professionals that include, doctors, dentists, an accountant, a bank consultant and a chemist.
A volunteer during Gandhi’s passive resistance campaign, this father of four sons and five daughters lost one arm after an injury sustained fighting a fire at the premises of MM Amod & Company in 1926. A person of benevolent disposition, he performed Haj in 1929 but passed away on board ship between Jeddah and Aden in 1929 while returning home and interned at sea.
Mohamed Ahmed Goga (Junior) a grandson of Goga Mahomed Ahmed was born in Ladysmith 1931, the second in family of five daughters and four sons to Ahmed Goga. Educated at the Indian School in Forbes Street where in 1948 he completed his standard eight. Played football for Stars Football Club and participated in athletics, one of the fastest in short distance races. Married Amina Peer in 1955 and they have four children. His son Farouk is a chemist while Ahmed is in business with his father.
Essop Ebrahim Dhoda was a neighbour to M.A.Goga six years later in 1891 after the latter arrived in 1885. Essop Dhoda, his spouse and one son arrived from Surat India and resided at Omar Yard owned by Amod Moosajee Omar, a local businessman in the 1890s who relocated to Volksrust in the 1920s. Essop was a hawker who called on various produce farmers in the districts for vegetables as well as frequenting a small market set up by Council behind what was later a post office. Both Essop Dhoda and son Moosa pushed barrows as a mode of transport to move produce to be sold at numerous points on the somewhat crude streets in those years. By the time, Essop Dhoda passed away in 1934, his family had grown to eight sons and five daughters. Except for Moosa, Ahmed and Cassim, the other sons had relocated to Pietermaritzburg. The daughters had all married. Dhodas Fruiterers in Church Street, African Fruit Orchard, Mini Market and Dhodas Transport still thrive in that city today, a legacy started by the first Dhoda in Ladysmith hundred years ago.
Cassim Essop Dhoda: was born at Ladysmith in 1911 and educated at the Indian school attaining a Standard Four pass. He was barely twelve when he joined his dad and brothers pushing barrows to the market. With his brother Ahmed, they established a fruit and vegetable business circa 1938 in Murchsion Street next to C.S.Asmal. He married his spouse Mariam BiBi at Barberton in 1939. Their progeny were daughters Fathima, Aysha, Zubeida and Rasheeda. Cassim
distinguished himself as a sportsman who played football, cricket and tennis. He was also a member of the Crescent Country Club. Cassim passed away at Ladysmith in 1996.
Shreen Gangat was born at Nelspruit in December 1963 first in a family of three children to Abdul Hamid and Fathima Vawda. A chartered account and social worker, she was first in a family of three children to Abdul Hamid and Fathima Vawda and a granddaughter of Cassim Dhoda. Matriculating at Valencia Secondary School in 1981, Shreen graduated with Unisa attaining a B. Comp. degree in 1985, completing honours in 1987 and qualifying as a Chartered Account in 2004. She participated in swimming and athletics in her school days, she is a member and treasurer of Uthando House Orphangae at Hazyview and involved in many HIV projects. She is a member of the Board and Treasurer of Childlife at its Mpumulanga office in Nelspruit and renders honorary services to non-profit Islamic organizations. Married Dr. Rafique Gangat in 1995, they have one daughter Sameera and is widely travelled.
Zaheda Ebrahim: A granddaughter of Cassim Dhoda, Zaheda was born on the 3 May 1973 at Ladysmith, the second in a family of three to Abdool Khaleck and Aysha Panchbhaya. She attended Windsor Secondary at Ladysmith were she matriculated in 1990; Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in law at the University of Natal in 1993; Hold diplomas in IT technology; Manageress of Topics, Ladysmith branch as well as in its Human Resources Department; Married Dr. Ashraf Isaq
Ebrahim in 2000; Has two daughters, Mariam age three and Ayesha, age thirteen months. The Ebrahims reside at Melbourne, Australia.
The Hari family came to Ladysmith in 1886, as railway workers. Originally, Hari came as a child with his mother who worked on the sugar-cane fields in Umkomaas. B Hari, his son, was born in Ladysmith in 1922, and remembers that at the Railway barracks all the Hindus, Tamils and Moslems lived in harmony. The people built a small temple at the barracks where his father taught Hindi. During the depression all the Indians were moved to Durban and only six Indian families were left. B Hari, contributed significantly to preserving the Hindu culture in Ladysmith, conducting Hindi examinations for students, was a voluntary Hindi teacher and served as secretary of the Young Hindu Cultural Group. He also played cricket for the Northern District Cricket Union and soccer for the Klip River District. He is the recipient of the Civic Citation awarded to deserving citizens in Ladysmith. He also received the Hindi Ratna Award from the Hindi Siksha Sung of South Africa. Information by Sue Gadjadhur
HARRIBHAI: Hirjie Valjee was born in 1863 in Thoyana Kathiwar and came to South Africa in 1894, first in Durban then to Ladysmith in 1896 and traded as a hawker selling fancy goods and Jewellery. He was issued a Hawkers license by the Colony of Natal on 3rd October 1898 and, much to his surprise and shock, the renewal was refused on 9 June 1899. Not withstanding this setback Mr Harisbhai built his own store in Murchison Street in 1902. The shop remains today although Harribhai Jewellers no longer exists but Harrisons which operates from the Pick & Pay Centre.
Hirjee’s son Naginlala and his wife Leelawathie had three sons, one of whom, Kirtichand born 26 September 1959, runs the Jewellers. Kirtichand was the youngest in family of three brothers, educated Ladysmith Madressa Primary School and Windsor where he matriculated, also Chairman of Ramakrishna Centre and member of Nambithi Rotary. He married Meena Ramnath in 1984 and they have two children.
Iqbal Mohamed Khan, is the great grandson of Soojat Khan, whose wife Hajra, established a fruiterer’s in Ladysmith during the Boer War. Iqbal’s grandfather Osman Soojat, the eldest son, was born in 1897 in Durban and joined his mother at the age of twelve before he went into employment. At the same time Soojat was at Talana near Dundee where he had a similar business. Mohamed Iqbal was born in Vrededorp Johannesburg 29 August 1947 to Ebrahim & Fathema BiBi Khan in family of five children. He matriculated at Windsor Secondary in 1969.
He was President of Klip River District Football Association for five years, Secretary of Northern Natal Soccer Board for ten years, and undertook many other sporting rolls. A writer, he was Secretary of Ladysmith Indian Child Welfare Society and married Hasina in 1975 and they have two boys and two girls.
Osman Ebrahim Khan was born Ladysmith July 25, 1940, the eighth in the family of ten born to Ebrahim & Fathima Khan. Osman’s great grandfather Jhundu Duffadur Khan, was born in 1849 in Punjab India and came to Natal in 1882, during the First Anglo Boer war, with the 2nd Artillery and Gunners. He fought at the Battle of Majuba and in the Second Boer war was in Ladysmith during the siege. He remained in Ladysmith after the war where he retired.
Jhundu’s eldest son, Khader Khan was born in Durban in 1885 and joined the NGR as a conductor in charge of Indian and Native passengers. He resigned in 1907 and started a bookkeeping agency, serving as an interpreter during the Boer War.
Khader’s daughter Fathima married Ebrahim Khan and had eight children of whom, Osman, was born Ladysmith
July 25, 1940. Osman attained Standard Seven at Windsor Secondary, played soccer for Hillview and Dynamos FC and Cricket for Monarchs. He married Zohra BiBi Valli in 1982 and they have one son and one daughter.
Habib Mall Khan, a relative of Osman Khan through their grandfather Jhundu KHAN. Habib was born Ladysmith January 16th 1936 to Mall and Fathima Khan, fifth in a family of five brothers and five sisters. Educated at Windsor Secondary completing Standard Seven, played soccer for Hillview FC, cricket for Monarch CC and was on Exco of Klip River District Football Association for both juniors and seniors. An executive member of the Ladysmith Mosque and Madressa Trust and he is currently a funds collector. Married Khatija Sahib in May, 1961 and they have two sons and one daughter.
Sayed Abdool Karrim was born in Jallisar India in 1867 and came to South Africa in 1877. After various experiences, including joining the diamond rush at Kimberley, Sayed Abdool settled in Ladysmith prior to the Boer war but left prior to the siege. On his return he started farming at Umbulwane, coming back into Ladysmith proper in 1912 where he commenced business. Abdool had seven children, two daughters Ayesha and Zainab with sons:
Abdul Aziz conducted a business in Illing Road trading as Karrims Supply Store (Bhegaphezulu). His sons were Ismail, Bhaijaan, Samad, Moosa and Sadeck. Two of his grandchildren, a boy and a girl are doctors. Bhaijaan now lives in retirement with his son, a businessman in Johannesburg. Samad a spares dealer is also retired and lives in Durban. Two sons, Sadeck and Moosa are deceased.
Abdul Hamid with his dad was a wood & coal merchant and conducted a bus transport. His sons were Dawood, Khaleck, Yusuf and
Mehmood. Abdul Hamid’s family still maintain the transport business as well as being dealers in building material.
Abdul Sathar was a storekeeper (with son Essack) at Sunday’s River as well as being a farmer. They bought the farm where the store was situated. The store was originally run by Moosa & Essop Vawda. Later it was taken over by Dawood Vorajee. Abdool Sathar’s other son Ebrahim left Ladysmith many years ago for Johannesburg where he was an accountant for the firm of Mias and his youngest son,
Mahomed lived in the United Kingdom for forty years before returning to South Africa were he subsequently died under tragic
circumstances.
Abdul Rahim was also linked to his father’s business in the early years. He eventually lost his sight and passed away in Mecca whilst on pilgrimage. His son Sayed Ahmed (SAR) was in the transport business. His sons were Iqbal, Basheer and Shabeer. He also had four daughters. Abdul Rahim’s other son Mahomed was a building contractor and father of two sons, Maulana Salim and Abed and two daughters, one a teacher.
Goolam Rasool was Ladysmith’s first Indian doctor qualified in 1946 and set up practice in Durban. His son Jaleel was the only of-spring.
Grandson, Abdool Khaleck Hamid, was born in Ladysmith 18 December 1947 fourth in a family of six children. He was educated at Windsor Secondary, played soccer and cricket and joined the family transport in the wood and coal business trading as Hamid Karrim’s Cartage. When his father died Abdool opened his own business now known Karrim’s Transport, currently operated by his son, Mohammed Shiraz. Abdool married Zarina Khan in 1974 and they have three children.
Amod Essop Moola was born in Ladysmith 15 July 1903, the son of Essop Amojee Moola. Educated at the Government Indian School in Ladysmith he went on to join the firm of MM Amod & Co. When in 1930 the company was floated he became a Director.
His eldest son Mohamed, first of four brothers and two sisters, was born Newcastle, April 26, 1923 and educated at Ladysmith Secondary Indian School and matriculated at Sastri College, Durban. He also joined MM Amod & Co., later formed Johnson’s, also acquiring Matiwaneskop Trading Company. He married cousin Khathija Moola and they had three sons and one daughter. He was Secretary Klip River District Football Association; Chairman Ladysmith Child Welfare Society (1975-1981). He passed away 20 November 2008.
Moola Mahomed Amod was born in Ladysmith 18 December 1902, eldest son of Mahomed Amod Moola. Educated in Ladysmith and on leaving School joined the firm of MM Amod & Co and, when business was reconstructed in 1930, he became Managing Director. He was also director of many other local companies as well as President of The Ladysmith Muslim Public Library.
Yusuf was born Ladysmith 5 April 1935, the seventh of nine children, born to Mahomed Amod MOOLA. Yusuf is a specialist paediatrician having graduated Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland. Doctor Moola married Zakiiyah Siddique, they have a daughter Nasiba and he is currently practicing in Durban.
Moola Ebrahim Mahomed was born in Ladysmith in October 1901, only son of Mahomed Amojee Moola, one of the founders of MM Amod in Ladysmith in 1889, in the wood and iron dwelling that was behind the shop of MM Amod. In the South African Who’s Who it talks of his business acumen and efficiency that paved the way forward in the 1930s that saw the firm of M M Amod & Company thrive to a degree, as one of the most modern and largest departmental store in Northern Natal. In 1905 they moved to a Tin and iron store opposite the Town gardens, now Municipal Offices and they, like other Indian businessmen, had their share of agitation and costly appeals to survive and in 1907 their license renewal was refused. Ebrahim joined the company at age 20 and he was appointed Director in 1930. It has been said that one of the secrets of his success was found in his policy of placing quality, value and service before prices.
He was President of the School’s FC and founder of Siegetown Tennis Club.This acumen and proficiency quite ‘naturally’ was inherited by his four sons the eldest of whom, Sadeck, who passed on at the age of 74, was later a director of the company of which his father was once a director.
The second son of Ebrahim, Abdool Kader, the third of seven children, was born Ladysmith 21 January 1935. He matriculated at Windsor School and was one of Ladysmith’s finest sportsmen, playing Table Tennis for Northern Districts Table Tennis Union, played for Northern Districts in Inter-Provincial tournament at Pietermaritzburg & Durban, played soccer and cricket. Abdool married Sarah Ahmed Saeed of Richmond and they have two sons and two daughters and is currently a director of companies and a senior director of AK’s OK Grocer in town and, at 74, seems no nearer to retirement. Hassim once conducted business at Matiwaneskop trading as Matiwaneskop Trading Company. Both Mehmood and Hoosen Mia were also linked to the business house of MM Amod & Company and in other employment whilst the only daughter, Khatija married Ebrahim (Bill) Mahomed Moola, son of MM Amod. Their children, grandchildren of Moola Ebrahim, include a magistrate, Fathima, Omar an accountant living in Cape Town and Abed a pharmacist in Sydney, Australia. The other grandchildren of Moola Ebrahim include the sons of AK Moola – Ebrahim, who is a director of companies and industrialist Idris who owns a soap factory in Durban. Of the two daughters, Rizwana is deceased while Aneesa married Yusuf Asmal. The legacy of success and determination left behind by Moola Ebrahim Mahomed is set to continue well into the years to come.
Mulla Mohamed Ismail, a Surgeon, Mohamed, was born Ladysmith January 09, 1959 to parents Ismail & Zohra BiBi Mulla in a family of three, matriculating at Windsor High in 1975. Qualifying as a surgeon in 1989 at the University of Natal Medical School, he then spent a year between July 1990 & 1991 at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in Scotland. He represented high school at cricket and football, played socially at university, has completed five Comrades and twice Two Oceans Marathons. Mohamed is a member of Muslim Youth Movement, Muslim Students Association, Islamic Educational Centre and a relief worker for Operation Winter Warmth.
Hoosen Ebrahim Sader was born in Kharod India in 1878 and came to South Africa in 1894, living first in Durban then at Ladysmith in 1897. He was first employed in the private sector then opened his own business, Ameer & Hoosen in 1899. The progeny of Hoosen and spouse Hawaboo consisted of six sons and five daughters. The daughters were Mariam (Motala) Amina (Gangat) Fathima (Dawood) Ayesha (Asvat) and Khatija (Jogiat).The profiles of the sons were:
Ebrahim, born in 1916, businessman and farmer married to Hawa Bibi Dawood of Shakaskraal. Sons Mahomed; Hoosen an attorney whose one son also an Attorney; Abdool Kader (deceased); Cassim a B.A. in Human Resources and his one son is an attorney; Omar Farouk, Hassan and Ebrahim both (deceased).
Ahmed born 1919 a medical doctor, educated at Ladysmith and Sastri College, Graduated at Birmingham University in 1947 with a M.R.C.S.- L.R.C.P. Political activist. Daughter Fathima and son Mohammed both doctors; Son Shiraz in business; Faisal, a businessman now deceased; Dr. Sader passed away in 1994.
MEHMOOD: Born 1924; educated Ladysmith; Joined father’s business; Married Ayesha Karodia of Dannhauser; Member of Sansar Club; Player and Manager, Stars FC; Daughter Rashida, born 1948, a medical doctor married to Dr. Iqbal Ebrahim of Pietersburg; 3 Sons, 1 daughter of whom 2 are doctors. Son Ahmed Sadeck born 1950; Retired; Married Fawzia Abed; 3 Sons (2 accountants and one a chemist) 1 Daughter a dentist; Rehana; Medical doctor married to Dr. Fazle Ahmed Khan; 2 sons, one a dentist and the other an engineer; two daughters, both doctors. Daughter Rukhaya who passed away under tragic circumstances was married to attorney Shoib Mathir. Son Abdool Haq; Born 1955; Son Muneer an account; Mohammed a B.Comm graduate; Two daughters still in studies. Daughter Rooksana is married to Ahmed Saleem Sader; Daughters Arifa is an attorney; Adila a Psychologist; Rookaya holds a B.Com Degree; Son Arshad is a medical doctor. Rabia a teacher spent eight years in Qatar with practising spouse Dr. Ismail Dawood.
ESSOP: Born 1926; Educated Ladysmith; Joined father’s business, Ameer and Hoosen; Played for Stars FC; Married first to Rasool Rawat in 1949; Son Yunus a businessman married Razia Nana; Son Ahmed Saleem married Rooksana Sader; Daughter Shaheeda married Cassim Sader; In his second marriage to Ayesha Rawat the progeny included Fathima married to Riaz Asvat(Australia); Son Ismail is a livestock dealer; Daughter Rubana is married to Dr. Akhalwaya. Essop passed away in 2004.
ISMAIL: Medical doctor; Educated Ladysmith and Sastri College, Durban. Graduated in Dublin, Ireland in 1952 with a M.B.Ch.B & B.A.O. Married Dr. Mariam Jeewa in 1956; Daughter Shaeena is married to M.Pandor in Vryheid & Daughter Aneesa is married to Dr. Saad; Played cricket and was a member of the Local Indian Affairs; Passed away in 1983.
Doctor Ebrahim Mahomed MOTALA, Medical Practitioner and son of Mahomed Adam and Mariam Motala was born in Umvoti Poort on 19 March 1933, the third in a family of eight. Educated at Ladysmith Secondary Indian School and matriculated at Dundee High in 1950 he graduated with a MB.Ch.B at University of Witwatersrand in 1959. He played table tennis for Northern District Table Tennis Union, played in Cape Town for ‘Champion of Champions’ tournament, also played soccer for Ottomans FC. Married Dr. Farida Dawood in 1976 and have six children.
Sader Suleman Hoosen, born in Ladysmith 3 December 1930, eleventh in family of twelve brothers & sisters.educated to Standard Six at Ladysmith Secondary Indian School, played football for Young Sansar and Cricket for Parkhil, founder member of Northern Natal Table Tennis Union & Ladysmith Muslim Institute. He married Julekha Panchbhai in 1953 and they have one son and five daughters.
Related to Ebrahim Mohamed Motala, through same grandfather Hoosen Ebrahim Sader.
Amod Cassim Moola (Hajee) who came to South Africa in 1896 was born in1883 in Surat, India which he again visited in 1904 returning to commence work first as an employee with Mahomed Mamoojee Amod (MM Amod) then acquiring partnership in 1906. Though there are no indications where in South Africa he landed in 1896, the likelihood is Ladysmith as MM Amod was his family. Hajee Amod Cassim Moola was the father of Ismail Amod Moola who is the grandfather of Dr. Mulla, the surgeon. Suliman Amod Moola is also the son Hajee Amod Cassim.
Ismail Amod Moola was born at Ladysmith in 1905 and educated at the local Indian school. After leaving school he joined the firm of MM Amod eventually becoming secretary of the frim. One time the youngest President of the KRDIFA, he was secretary of the Mercantile Tennis Club and a Commissioner for Oaths.
Suliman Amod Moola was born Ladysmith 14 March 1927, youngest of four children born to Ahmed & Khatija Moola. He completed Standard Six at Ladysmith Secondary Indian School; Joined firm of MM Amod & Company and played Cricket for Ottomans Cricket Club. Married Fathima Mulla in 1948 and they have two daughters.
Abdulla Amod Sardiwalla was born in Ladysmith in 1906, educated in Ladysmith and private study. On leaving school he joined his fathers business in Waschbank, later entering his uncle’s firm in Ladysmith, becoming Managing Director. He was President of the Schools FC which through his interest gained premier position in 1933. Abdulla had eleven children and his sons were:
Mahomed conducted business in a tiny general dealers shop in Illing Road years ago. He was married in the Seedat family. His son Cassim is an attorney in Durban and Ahmed Saeed an electrician. He also has a daughter married to Farouk Dawjee.
Ebrahim was a bookkeeper in town in the early days but has since moved to Pietermaritzburg. His son Ismail is a surgeon, a daughter Rukaya a chemist and Rehana, a daughter who is married.
Yusuf was a teacher who left for the United Kingdom many years ago now retired and lives in Durban Yacoob first went into practice as an accountant with Suleman Badat. then together with his spouse, he went into business and now in retirement with his family in Johannesburg.
Moosa is the proprietor of Klip River Islamic Butchery, a business originally conducted by his dad. The firm then relocated to the Plaza in town because of the Group Areas. Moosa also opened Hyper Halaal Meats, a processed meat manufacturer in Centenary Road. His son, Asif is in the business with him. His other son Imtiaz is a dentist practicing in town. His daughter is married in the family.
Dawood was born 6 February 1951, a Doctor who qualified at the University of Natal Medical School in 1974, played cricket for Shades and Leeds Cricket Club, is Secretary of NAMDA (medical association) and founder member of LIPA (medical association). Dawood married Fawzia Gangat in 1974 and they have three children.
Doctor Sardiwalla’s wife Fawzia Ismail Gangat can also claim to be descendent from a Ladysmith Pioneer. Her great-grandfather Hasinjee Dawjee Desai was in Ladysmith at the time of his son, Mahomed Kara’s, birth on 16 October 1903. Mahomed Kara left Ladysmith to be educated in Stanger and after Stanger relocated to Port Shepstone.
Fawzia Ismail Gangat was born in Port Shepstone 20 January 1950, matriculated at Windsor and Springfield College of Education and married Dr. Dawood Sardiwalla in 1974.
Ahmed, the youngest is in human resources after previously being in the butcher business with his brother Moosa. Ahmed attended the university at Salisbury Island for studies and his son holds a BSc in Meteorology. Daughter Nasreen is a psychologist living in Durban. Abdullah Sardiwalla’s first daughter died but his second daughter lives with her spouse Hanif Badat, in Middleburg.
Hajee Mahomed Ebrahim Seedat was born in Surat India in 1872, came to South Africa in 1894 and settled in Ladysmith in 1990 and opened a business in the name of Ismail Moosajee. After ten years the name was changed to Ismail Mahomed & Co. in Murchison Street that included brother Ismail E. Seedat. SM Seedat, a son of Mahomed Ebrahim Seedat was responsible for the building of the ‘new’ Soofi Mosque. Construction commenced in 1965 and completed in 1969.
Ahmed Cassim Seedat is the grandson of Mahomed Ebrahim Seedat. He was born to Cassim and Amina Seedat. An
electronic technician specialising in radio and television, Ahmed was born in Ladysmith in 1951, matriculated at Windsor Secondary School, Ladysmith in 1969, married Firoza Bhamjee with three daughters.
Mahomed Ismail Seedat, a son of Ismail Ebrahim Seedat was born in Ladysmith in December 1901 and was educated in both Ladysmith and Toorawa School in Surat India and eventually joined the family business. He was a member of the
Muslim Library, actively associated with sport, representing Natal in South African football tournament in 1926, represented Klip River in inter-town soccer and cricket. He was President of Ottoman FC and CC and its captain for many years. He later joined his brothers, Abdullah and Ahmed in the firm of Seedat’s Bazaar.
Dawood Mohamed Seedat, director, Deeum’s Curtains Ladysmith, 2nd son of Mohammed Ismail Seedat; Born Ladysmith 1925 in family of four brothers; Educated Ladysmith Secondary Indian Schoo. Secretary of Ladysmith Mosque & Madressa Trust for 21 years; Played Cricket for Natal; was Captain and Manager; First non-white to achieve a cricket double in South Africa; Played football for Stars Football Club; Was member of both Sansar & Riverview Social Clubs; Member of South African Indian Council and Local Indian Affairs Committee; Married Mariam Chupty 1961(second marriage); Two sons, Ahmed and Mohammed and daughter Khudeija. His first marriage yielded four daughters. Dawood was a member of Ladysmith Child Welfare Society, endeavoured to secure Khandahar Avenue sports ground for the community, passed away in 1997.
The OR Singh family history in Ladysmith began in 1890, when Raghoonath Singh came to South Africa and joined the railways. He held the position of Sirdar in the Ladysmith railways and was soon promoted to position of conductor. He visited India in 1910 and on his return resigned from the railways and started his own general dealers business. During the passive resistance movement under Gandhi in 1913, he was one of the leaders of the strikers in northern Natal. He was also a prominent member of the Natal Indian Congress and represented Natal at the South African Indian conferences held at various centres in the Union. He was a stalwart of the Arya Samaj and founded the Ladysmith branch in 1916 serving as president for nine years. He was a keen sportsman and was a founder member of the Klip River District Indian Football Association and an official of a number of sporting clubs. He was also a notable donor to the Sastri College Building Fund, and to a number of other charitable institutions. In recognition of his notable services he was appointed a Commissioner of Oaths in 1935. Mr Singh visited Mauritius in 1936 and while there was instrumental in bringing about an amicable settlement amongst certain sections of the Hindus who were in conflict.
Oudaraj Raghoonath Singh was born in Ladysmith 10 September 1910 and educated in the town. On leaving school he joined his father’s business. His public work included Vice-President Arya Samaj Ladysmith, founder member of the SARCC and keenly interested in all movements of the community.
Jayraj Oudaraj Singh, third son of Oudaraj and now head of the huge business empire started by his grandfather and father and built up to its present status by himself and his brothers. Jayraj Oudaraj Singh was born Ladysmith May 16, 1936, sixth in family of 10 children, matriculating at Windsor Sec. School. JO played soccer for Wolves FC, which he founded, Tennis for Comrades TC, a very keen golfer, member of Arya Samaj and of Hindi Yuvak Sabha of which he is Vice President He married Rita Doorga of Durban in 1967 and they have one son and two daughters. OJ still runs the family business of OR Singh Transport and Scrap Dealers and is ever ready to help local charities.
JO has an interesting story to relate about his grandfather. After his grandfather came to Natal and when he had saved enough money he sent for his wife from India to join him. At the same time a Raghoonath Singh from Natal in South America also sent for his wife from India. Some confusion seems to have taken place and Jay’s grandmother disembarked at South America instead of South Africa. The Singh family of South America took care of his grandmother and wrote to Raghoonath Singh informing him of the mix up. The two families maintained close ties and Jay’s sister married into the family in South America. Information by Sue Gadjadhur
SINGH JR, son of Paremaswar Singh, another pioneer in Ladysmith, remembers his maternal grandfather, Ramchuran Pancham Singh. He served as a soldier, and travelled throughout the world, being well versed in several languages. His uncle Johnny Pancham, served as a waiter in the British army at Ladysmith, during the siege. His father, Paremaswar Singh, came to Ladysmith as a railway employee and was employed as fireman. He lived at the railway barracks in Umbulwane but during the siege moved to the barracks at the mosque. JR Singh recalls his father telling him, that when the Boers fired a cannon from Umbulwana hill, one shell went through the fig tree of the yard of the mosque. He was then asked to leave but would not. Subsequently, another cannon shell landed on the bed in the room next to his grandfathers’, but did not explode. He was then removed by force but not before he hid his money in a coffee tin which he buried in the ground. After the siege he returned for his money but it was nowhere to be found. The family then moved to the Albert Street barracks where his father died in 1923. The family was made up of five brothers and one sister and their mother, who then married Madava Nair, who worked in the Railway hospital as a male nurse. A new addition to the family was a brother CM Nair, who was the only child of Nair. M Nair then bought land in Illing Road and built a house there and the whole family moved to the new premises. Here again there was the extended family system, in that all the brothers, their wives and children lived with their parents. The eldest son HR Singh, born in 105, started employment as a waiter and later opened a retail store in Illing Road. KR Singh, was born in 1912, and started the first transport business in Ladysmith. His career however, came to a sudden end when he died at the young age of 38. JR Singh, first worked as a shop assistant and then a bowser boy. He then went on to become a teacher and today at the age of seventy six, he is still active in the religious and cultural spheres. His community involvement and his achievements in his aim to preserve the Hindi culture is outlined in the chapter on religion. Here again the Group Areas Act forced the family to move to Forbes Street where they rented.
Ahmed Mahomed Kharva was one of the town’s first businessman, arriving in 1887 and establishing a business under the style of Amod Mahomed. His son Ismail Amod Kharva arrived in 1893 to join his father. When his father passed away in 1915, Ismail took over the business and was in sole charge. He performed pilgrimage in 1908 which makes him one of the earliest in Ladysmith to have done so. His grandson, Ahmed Mahomed Kharva (Junior) was born at Ladysmith on the 24 November 1936 to Mahomed and Khatija Kharva in a family of two children and educated at Windsor Secondary School. Ahmed commenced playing cricket from the age of sixteen and continued playing for the next 40 years during which time he headed Northern Natal Cricket Union for eleven years, played cricket for Wanderers Cricket Club, was Sports administrator connected to the South African Cricket Board (SACBOC) and Natal Cricket Board (NCB). Ahmed was Vice President of Ladysmith Child Welfare Society. He served on the Flood Disaster Relief Committee and the Quedusizi Dam Committee. Married in 1958 to Hawa BiBi Kharva, they have three daughters.
Vithal Deepak Bhagvandas. The Vithal family came to Ladysmith just after the siege was lifted. Lala Gopal arrived in South Africa in 1895 with his seven year old son Vithal Lala who was born in the Kadod district of Surat in 1888. He started a shoe repair business with Magan Jivan and Trikam Riga. Vithal Lala will be remembered for his devotion to the cause of promoting Indian culture and his dedication to the teaching of the vernacular for which his services were voluntary. He was the founder of the Hindi Gujerati School. He died on 4 August 1972 at the age of eighty four and was survived by his children Dhanubhen and Bhagwandas. Bhagwandas Vithal recalls his father and the firm of MV Riga & Company, the M standing for Magan and the V for Vithal, after completing his Junior Certificate he joined the firm of MV Riga. In 1942 the business was dissolved and each partner took over the section for which he was responsible. Information by Sue Gadjadhur
Deepak Bhagvandas Vithal: Educator; grandson of Lallabhai Vithalbhai; son of Bhagvandas & Jaya; born Ladysmith June 8th 1957; Matriculated Windsor Secondary; Graduated as a teacher with Unisa; An Aryaj Samajist serving as secretary and vice chairman; Has two children.
Harkishan Gopal Magan is the grandson of Jivan and was born Ladysmith. April 24th 1940. Third in a family of eight of Gopal and Manibhan Magan, he matriculated at Windsor and graduated with an M.B. Ch.B degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1964; Bowls player and golfer; Ladysmith Country Club; Aryaj Samajist; Member of Cripple Care (Physically Disabled) and Club 21st. Married Padma Nana in April 1964 with three children.
Chupty Hoosen E: Cassim Suleman Asmal who, on arrival at Ladysmith in 1893, joined the firm of H E Chupty, General Dealers, Hoosen Chupty was an uncle to Cassim Asmal. Records also indicate that in 1919, Hoosen Chupty was one of the first trustees of the Ladysmith Mosque Trust.
In 1900, Cassim Asmal became a partner in the business of H E Chupty and, in 1905, became sole owner. The progeny of H E Chupty included three daughters, Rassul BibI Seedat, Fathima Hansa, Ayesha Chupty and sons were;
Ahmed H CHUPTY, once worked at Asmals and Seedats. His son Goolam Hoosen worked for Seedats Bazaar and played soccer for Stars FC as well as being a member of Sansar Club. Goolam Hoosen was married to Juleka Asmal and they have a son Mohammed, an electronic technician. Daughters Fathima married to Saleem Khan, Zohra married to Yusuf Moola, and Rabia married at the Salehs in Roshnee.
Ebrahim H Chupty also woked for C S Asmal and played soccer. His children are two daughters Amina Rajah and Ayesha Moolla. Sons Mohammed (RAF), who married Mariam Amra and parents to Rooksana and Fathima and who once worked at C S Asmals and Ismail (Fuzzy) who was married to Fathima Amla. He played cricket for Parkhill and soccer for Stars.
Essop, who also worked for Asmals and Kharvas, was married to Ayesha Kharva and the father of Sadeck, Suliman and Fathima.
Ladoo Maharaj: Documentary evidence suggests that Ladoo Maharaj whose birth is recorded as 1874 was the son
Jiwanram Singh from Chippla, Jaipur, India. Ladoo arrived on board the ‘Congella’ from Calcutta Accession
(number 1393/86) in 1895 and was seconded to Colenso on a farm owned by a Mr. Mattison to serve his term as an
indentured labourer. In 1897, he settled in Ladysmith purchasing five acres of land near what is now the Soofi Mosque.
He was the first settler in this then farmland a few months before Mahomed Warasally, later his close friend who arrived and established a farm in the neighbourhood being the second person in the area. Ladoo married Kalispathy and they had ten children. Kalispathy passed on in 1938 and the only surviving son, Harilal (Harry), still lives on the very ground at 27 Mosque Road were his father once lived.
The descendents of Ladoo Maharaj number forty grandchildren, sixty great-grandchildren and comprise doctors, physiotherapist, financial consultants and attorneys. Grandson Arvind, a popular financial planner with a major bank, was born in Ladysmith and is married to Sandhya Maharajh (Sandy) a librarian. They have four children, a son who is still studying; a daughter who is a teacher; another a physiotherapist and the third studying law at KZN University (Pietermaritzburg) campus. It is interesting to note that a Ladoo Road exists in Ladysmith, an honour bestowed by the then council to one of early pioneers, who as a farmer transported his produce, largely Potatoes, to market as far afield as Stanger in a horse cart, a few days journey to be sure. Ladoo Maharaj passed away in 1961.
* An Indian Rajput soldier, Parbha Singh, who was trapped in Ladysmith during the siege and, after the offer of his services to the army in Ladysmith had been rejected, he made it his duty to help the residents of Ladysmith. He achieved this by exposing himself to harm by standing, for many hours every day, on top of a large pile of stores, which had been covered by canvas. Whenever he observed smoke from the Boer guns, he would vigorously wave a flag and shout. A friend would vigorously ring the Town hall bell to alert the residence to the danger of an incoming shell and thereby contributed to the saving of many lives. The wife of the Viceroy of India, Lady Curzon, commissioned the manufacture of a embroidered, ceremonial robe of honour for this plucky Indian and this robe plus money, medals and a return ticket to India were dispatched to Durban. These were all collected at the harbour by a DLI escort-detail and delivered to the Mayor’s parlour. On 11th October 1900, the Mayor of Durban, Mr J Nicol, robed Parbhodum Singh and he was presented with the medals and money – the letter was augmented by local contributions.
He never used the return ticket to India, for he took a job with the railways to inspect the railway line and he was stationed near Ennersdale, living in a wooden shack next to the line. He would travel to Ladysmith at the end of each month in his uniform, to collect his war pension as well as his award of a bottle of brandy, after which he invariably played cards and gambled. After returning home after one of these sessions, he was surprised by the arrival at his shack of a young woman and a 7-year-old girl – the woman had been sent to him by her husband to honour a gambling debt to Parbhu. Although instantly amused but nonetheless shocked, he allowed the woman to remain at his home – they lived happily ever after and had more children! Ref. Ganes Pillay.
* Ladysmith resident, Mrs Henderson remembers her indentured Indian cook Pastoo, as being not only an excellent chef but also part of the family.
On Christmas 1903, he entertained the family performing cartwheels and other tricks to the delight of the gathering.
So impressive was his performance that his master gave him half a crown. This generosity, however, turned to fury when it was discovered that his performance had been inspired by the consumption of his master’s precious bottle of whisky!
Sadly, on termination of his contract, Pastoo returned to India where, on arriving at Bombay docks he was so excited and impatient that he tried to leap from the ship to the docks, missed his footing and fell into the water and drowned.
My sincere thanks go to Abdool Khaleck Panchbhaya who Kindly researched and edited the majority of these family histories.
Also to Ladysmith resident Sue Gadjadur and the Ladysmith museum archives.