Ex-QDMS
A reader asks how the ANC explain discontent directed at Minority Front�s Amichand Rajbansi and not the NNP
Wendy Jasson da Costa and Leanne Jansen
‘RIP Tiger!” That was one of hundreds of tributes which poured in yesterday following the death of Amichand Rajbansi, the Minority Front leader and one of the country’s most colourful politicians.
Hailed as a master of poli-tical reinvention and “quite a character”, Rajbansi, 69, known for his trademark toupee, died after a lengthy stay in hospital yesterday morning.
His wife, Shameen Thakur Rajbansi, who served as MPL with him in the KwaZulu- Natal legislature, said he died in his sleep at Umhlanga Hospital.
“We lost Mr Rajbansi at 10.10am… He was still in ICU. His blood pressure just dropped; there was nothing we could do,” she said.
The Raj, or Bengal Tiger as he was affectionately known, was first admitted to hospital with bronchial pneumonia in October, and had subsequently picked up a hospital-acquired infection.
wife of Rajbans.Picture Zanele Zulu,29/12/2011
INLSA
Ironically, over the past few months he had boasted that palm readers had predicted he would be in politics for another 20 years.
As news of Rajbansi’s death spread, his Facebook page was flooded with messages of condolence and disbelief.
ANC provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala said Rajbansi had had a “long and remarkable” career in politics.
“Being from separate political parties, we were not always in agreement. However, we appreciated his efforts to position his party within the framework of our new and democratic SA.”
Rajbansi had served as Sport and Recreation MEC in the ANC-led provincial cabinet from 2004-2009 as a result of a coalition agreement between the MF and ANC.
Sociologist Aswin Desai said Rajbansi had turned a “staid” portfolio into something vibrant. Rajbani was a “larger-than-life figure” who could say some of the most outrageous things at a time when politicians were rather boring, sticking to their parties’ political scripts.
“He had incredible endurance… Lazarus only got up once, Rajbansi got up 20 times,” Desai said, referring to Rajbansi’s long political career.
He said Rajbansi had the gift of being able to speak for himself, but of making it sound as if he spoke for the entire Indian community.
Former ANC councillor Visvin Reddy, who together with Rajbansi had launched the MF, said he was happy that they had managed to resolve their differences before he died.
Reddy said their relationship had soured when he left the MF to join the ANC.
He said Rajbansi had mastered the art of making himself seem indispensable – “that without him there is no Minority Front”.
IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said he and Rajbansi had developed a strong working relationship as members of the Black Alliance at the height of apartheid.
“He would always disagree, without being disagreeable. Like many politicians, he was both revered and reviled,” said Buthelezi.
Conveying her condolences to Rajbansi’s wife and supporters, DA leader Helen Zille said he was “one of the people who introduced the idea of “coalition politics” to SA by strategically aligning his party with others to achieve his objectives.
Last year, when other parties were gearing up to campaign for the local government elections, Rajbansi said he had completed his electioneering as it occurred every week when he attended the christenings, weddings and funerals of his supporters.
Ethekwini mayor James Nxumalo said Rajbansi was an early pioneer of democracy in SA, having played a prominent role in the Codesa negotiations in the 1990s.
Nxumalo said SA politics would not be the same without him.
Heart-rending sobbing could be heard from Rajbansi’s Chatsworth home, where family and friends gathered in the hours after his death yesterday.
Several officials, including councillors, and representatives of the premier’s office and the Indian consulate, came to pay their respects.
Despite the sombre mood, Sharen Singh, who had served as head of the ministry when Rajbansi was a Sport and Recreation MEC, broke into a smile when speaking of his former boss.
“He ran the ministry with military precision. He was a hard taskmaster and demanded the best of us, but remained a father figure… He celebrated the birthdays of all his staff… He never forgot your humanity or who you were, and like a father he forgave your errors,” Singh said.
Thakur Rajbansi briefly ventured outside to express her gratitude for the support received during her husband’s prolonged stay in hospital. As always, she referred to him as “Mr Rajbansi”.
“I lived with the hope that he would make a dramatic turnaround,” she said in a soft but steady voice.
She said his condition had deteriorated at 1.30am yesterday morning and he died at 10.10am. His departure, had left a “huge void” within both his family and the party, she said.
Tomorrow, a private funeral ceremony would be held for Rajbansi at his late residence, after which the procession would make its way to the nearby Hare Krishna temple for a special prayer.
Rajbansi’s body would lie at the Chatsworth stadium for viewing from 10.30am to 4pm, after which he would be cremated. 8P27
