Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has wished the Tamil community in South Africa well in their commemoration of Valliamma Munuswami Mudliar on 22 February.
The President sent the wishes on behalf of government and South Africans on Wednesday, saying citizens pay tribute to her [Valliamma], content in the knowledge that her inspirational political journey constituted an important step in South Africa’s journey to freedom and democracy.
“She [Valliamma] remains a perennial source of inspiration not only for the Tamil community but for the youth and the population of South Africa.
“As we celebrate her, let us continue to imbibe many lessons from her life and hold her in the highest regard that she deserves,” said the President.
The President said Valliamma Munuswami Mudliar occupies a special place in the history of South Africa and of the Tamil community in particular, for the political role that she played at a tender age of 15 years when she joined women in the protests against unjust laws in 1913.
“Valliamma participated in various protests in the then Natal against discriminatory laws on the members of the Indian community, which included prohibition of marriages which were not conducted according to Christian rites, such as Hindu and Muslim,” the President said.
He said Valliamma, despite her age, participated in many protests with women among others in places such as Chatsworth, Dundee, Ladysmith, Pietermaritzburg, Tongaat and Durban in 1913, until their arrest at Volkrust in the then Eastern Transvaal on 22 December 1913.
He said Valliamma’s courage and selflessness in rejecting an offer of early release from prison, despite have taken ill during incarceration, distinguishes her as a rare child martyr whose heroic deeds must continue to resonate with deepest meaning today.
“This year’s 60th commemoration of the Freedom Charter, which espoused equal rights, freedom of religion, cultural and linguistic rights, resonates perfectly with the cause Valliamma dedicated her life to more than a hundred years ago,” the President said. - SAnews.gov.za
