Mac Maharaj
Encyclopedia
Sathyandranath Ragunanan "Mac" Maharaj (born 22 April 1935 in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal
, South Africa) is a South African politician affiliated to the African National Congress
, academic and businessman of Indian origin.
Maharaj was a political activist and member of the South African Communist Party
, who worked closely on anti-apartheid
activities with Nelson Mandela
, with whom he was incarcerated following the Little Rivonia Trial
on Robben Island
. In prison he secretly transcribed Mandela's memoir Long Walk to Freedom and smuggled it out of the prison in 1976.
From 1988 to 1990 he commanded Operation Vula, an underground program of armed resistance. In this high profile and controversial trial, his fellow accused were Pravin Gordhan
, Billy Nair
, Siphiwe Nyanda
, Dipak Teps Patel, Dipuo Mvelase and three others.
He was democratic South Africa's first Minister of Transport, a post he took on 11 May 1994 and kept until 1999.
Thereafter he was a director of First Rand Bank. He resigned in 2003 when allegations of corruption during his tenure as Minister of Transport surfaced.
In 2005 he joined the faculty of Bennington College
in Vermont
, USA.
On 6 July 2011 he was appointed by President Jacob Zuma
as his Spokesperson with immediate effect.
Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal
Newcastle is the third largest city and urban center in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Newcastle is located in the North West corner of the province along the Ncandu River and is moderately industrial....
, South Africa) is a South African politician affiliated to the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
, academic and businessman of Indian origin.
Maharaj was a political activist and member of the South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party
South African Communist Party is a political party in South Africa. It was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa by the joining together of the International Socialist League and others under the leadership of Willam H...
, who worked closely on anti-apartheid
History of South Africa in the apartheid era
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation enforced by the National Party governments of South Africa between 1948 and 1994, under which the rights of the majority 'non-white' inhabitants of South Africa were curtailed and white supremacy and Afrikaner minority rule was maintained...
activities with Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, with whom he was incarcerated following the Little Rivonia Trial
Little Rivonia Trial
The Little Rivonia Trial was a South African apartheid-era court case in which several members of the armed resistance group Umkhonto we Sizwe faced charges of sabotage. The accused were: Laloo Chiba, Dave Kitson, Mac Maharaj, John Matthews and Wilton Mkwayi...
on Robben Island
Robben Island
Robben Island is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 km west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa. The name is Dutch for "seal island". Robben Island is roughly oval in shape, 3.3 km long north-south, and 1.9 km wide, with an area of 5.07 km². It is flat and only a...
. In prison he secretly transcribed Mandela's memoir Long Walk to Freedom and smuggled it out of the prison in 1976.
From 1988 to 1990 he commanded Operation Vula, an underground program of armed resistance. In this high profile and controversial trial, his fellow accused were Pravin Gordhan
Pravin Gordhan
Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan is a South African political figure, serving as Minister of Finance since May 2009. He was previously the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service from 1999 to 2009. From 1991 and 1994, he chaired the Convention for a Democratic South Africa...
, Billy Nair
Billy Nair
Billy Nair was a South African politician, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa, an anti-apartheid activist and a political prisoner in Robben Island....
, Siphiwe Nyanda
Siphiwe Nyanda
General Siphiwe Nyanda SSA SBS CSL DMG MMS MMM is a South African politician, former minister of communications from 2009 - 2010.He was a South African military commander...
, Dipak Teps Patel, Dipuo Mvelase and three others.
He was democratic South Africa's first Minister of Transport, a post he took on 11 May 1994 and kept until 1999.
Thereafter he was a director of First Rand Bank. He resigned in 2003 when allegations of corruption during his tenure as Minister of Transport surfaced.
In 2005 he joined the faculty of Bennington College
Bennington College
Bennington College is a liberal arts college located in Bennington, Vermont, USA. The college was founded in 1932 as a women's college and became co-educational in 1969.-History:-Early years:...
in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, USA.
On 6 July 2011 he was appointed by President Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
as his Spokesperson with immediate effect.
Quotes
- "You don't have to carry a gun to be a freedom fighter."
- "Revenge should not be our motivation."