Deputy Speaker, I think hon Lekota certainly scored a hole-in- one with his last suggestion. [Laughter.]
Hon Deputy Speaker, it is a great honour for me to pay tribute today to the first Indians to arrive on South African shores exactly 150 years ago, on 16 November 1860. Amongst those I honour today is my grandfather who, as a 23-year-old, arrived on South Africa's shores from North India on 14 April 1897, when he disembarked from a ship called the SS Umzinto. Ironically, uMzinto is still in the area where I reside today.
The contribution of my grandfather and the many other Indian migrants between 1860 and 1911 is well documented but, I fear, the contribution of the Indian community to our country has not yet been fully assessed and not fully appreciated.
Amongst our country's unsung heroes and heroines are undoubtedly the first pilgrims from India who landed on our shores on board the SS Truro. The Indian migrants came searching for greener pastures, but for many these were the sugar cane fields of KwaZulu-Natal. My grandfather too found employment in this industry, and as a young man made a living working for a sugar cane company in Port Shepstone.
History records that from the many trials and tribulations of the Indian migrants emerged as many triumphs, and a sense of purpose too. Indian people lived cheek by jowl with their African brothers and sisters until 1966, when the Group Areas Act, which separated all South Africans, came into effect.
But, this did not dampen the fighting spirit of the Indian people. It was the South African Indian community who invested their originally very scarce resources in the education of their children and the upliftment of their social and economic conditions, so that each subsequent generation could surpass their father's one, not only in terms of economic prosperity, but also in terms of education, knowledge and awareness. This led to the establishment of almost 400 community-built schools, mainly in KwaZulu- Natal.
Deputy Speaker, the arrival of our Indian brothers and sisters in South Africa also led to a powerful relationship between India and South Africa. Today, we laud the role of India in shaping the political landscape of South Africa. India has left indelible imprints on the human race over the course of centuries. Today, India is not only a rising 21st century superpower, but the pace of change in the world's largest democracy, with its vibrant and open society, is simply inspiring. History records that we - South Africa and India - share a common past. Both of our countries were subjected to occupation by British imperialists, and our hardships and experiences during our colonial periods bear striking resemblances. I am proud that South Africa and India's special relationship was forged in the struggle against racial oppression and discrimination.
But, despite the commendable relationship between our two countries, the fact remains that, 150 years after the arrival of the first Indians to our shores, many challenges still remain for South Africa's Indian community.
The perception that all Indian people are rich businessmen and women is false, and has created, in my opinion, the myth that there are no poor Indians in South Africa. This is simply not true. A quick tour around KwaZulu-Natal, in particular, will reveal that some of the poorest inhabitants of KwaZulu-Natal are, in fact, people of Indian origin. It is with this in mind that I believe that there is an urgent need for government and NGOs to do more to assist those communities to access housing and other basic services.
In addition, clearly not enough has been done to preserve and honour the culture, religion and traditions of the Indian community. But, our constitutional imperatives are a great step forward. Currently, the state broadcaster - and I'm glad that the Minister of Communication will be participating in this debate - only flights 102 TV programmes of interest to the community per week, while there has been no concerted effort on the part of government to promote Eastern languages. More schools, for example, could offer Eastern languages as part of the curriculum. The issue of equal job opportunities for young graduates is also a matter of concern.
It is my firm belief that it is important that we take advantage of this moment in history to ensure the lasting and sustainable legacy of the community. There have been many calls for national monuments like at Curries Fountain in Durban and the Durban market, similar to the Afrikaner Voortrekker Monument.
Professor Ashwin Desai, an author, suggests that such a centre, like a memory bank or culture centre, should be constructed to bring together into a central place a collection of photographs and artefacts of the history of South Africans of Indian descent. Sadly, the only centre in Durban, the Durban Documentation Centre, was closed down recently.
Curry and rice and bunny chows are today two of KwaZulu-Natal's, and indeed South Africa's, most favourite dishes, but the legacy of the Indian community of South Africa is far greater than that of food alone. South Africans of Indian descent have greatly enriched our nation, especially so the province of KwaZulu-Natal.
I want to end with the words of the president of our party, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who has on numerous occasions paid tribute to South Africans of Indian descent, and is on record as saying, and I quote:
Simply and plainly put, without the blood, sweat, suffering and toil of the people of the Truro and the many more Indians who followed them, South Africa would not be what it is today and would not enjoy the levels of prosperity, development and stability which we now have, and which, albeit far below our intended goals and aspirations, are nonetheless superior to those enjoyed anywhere else in sub-Saharan Africa.
I also want to wish members of the Muslim community Eid Mubarak for tomorrow.
We all know that when you speak to an Indian he says, "Nothing for nothing," because nothing does come for nothing. I stand here today as a proud South African of the IFP, and also as a person who is proud of my heritage, roots and culture. Thank you very much, Deputy Speaker. [Applause.]