A hero has fallen.
The father of Umtshezi politics, a visionary, a giant thinker, Councillor Dawood Vahed has passed on. Councillor Vahed was a former Mayor of Umtshezi in 1993. He served the council for 35 years until he succumbed to a long illness on January 15.
A very close friend of the late Vahed, Councillor Breen Suleiman Ally Buckus said, during a memorial service held at the Forderville Hall on Thursday, that he shared so much with him.
Some people called him Mkhulu, iNtshebe emhlophe etc. (white bearded) but he never took any offence. He always had a smile on his face.
“We have lost somebody who has been very dear to us.
He made sure that he attended all the ANC and council meetings while dragging his oxygen canister,” said Mr Buckus.
Councillor Magubane, who introduced the guests, said the late Vahed spoke without fear or favour.
Taking the audience through the life of this selfless servant, Umtshezi Municipal Manager Nonhlanhla Njoko said she knew him for eight years.
She said he was a knowledgeable councillor and a mentor in administration and council matters. “He knew his story,” said Ms Njoko.
Umtshezi Speaker of Council Cesar Nunes portrayed the late Vahed as an activist and a dedicated colleague.
Mr Nunes says Mr Vahed taught them to apply their minds and implement on behalf of the people. These were his words: “To hell with protocol, we want the job well done.”
On behalf of the family, the Mr Vahed’s niece, Mrs Fathima Haffejee said: “Our Creator grants each and every person a stipulated time.
We accept the will of the Creator and pray that he will be received in honour.”
The late Councillor Vahed was born in Johannesburg on September 24, 1941.
In 1949 he moved to Estcourt and joined the Liberal Party in the 1960’s.
Mr Vahed’s niece went on to say that he worked closely with the ANC.
A man with good moral values who worked selflessly regardless of race, gender or belief.
“He was a man of every talent. Those who were offended by him, please forgive him,” she said.
The ANC’s Ward Four Branch Chairperson, Ugan Chetty said there are very few figures in the community to mirror the late Comrade Vahed.
There were speakers from opposition parties such as the Democratic Alliance represented by Councillor LeRoy Gericke who said he knew the late Vahed from 1994.
He respected him for his integrity and respect.
Meanwhile, the IFP’s representative, Mthembeni Majola said: “We pray to the Mighty God to be with the family and the ANC during this time.”
The Mayor of Umtshezi, Bongani Dlamini was grateful for the presence of the ANC Provincial Deputy Chairperson, Mr Willies Mchunu.
He said Mr Vahed pushed them to do everything in the best interest of service delivery.
“To me, Cllr Vahed is a replica of Nelson Mandela,” the Mayor said.
“Dawood never discriminated or disrespected people and treated everybody equal.
His words were: ‘Angithengi ingulube isesakeni’ meaning that I cannot buy informal unfounded information, which is baseless,” added Mr Dlamini.
Deputy Chairperson of the ANC in KZN Mr Willies Mchunu who is also the MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison told the mourners that the ANC shares in the family’s pain, sorrow and agony.
He said that Mr Vahed personified the values and principles of the ANC.
He was a very humble person and his humanity ran into every part of his life.
Vahed’s life under the police Special Branch
Like Madiba who ran away from police, this was the life of Dawood Vahed in his 20’s, always on the other side of the apartheid laws.
His closest friend for 65 years and brother-in-law, Mr Osman Haffejee said the notorious police “Special Branch” used to raid the house of the late Vahed looking for banned ANC literature and anything to do with communism. He was often detained for no apparent reason.
Mr Haffejee said the late Cllr. Vahed was a very close friend of Comrade Peter Brown whom the off-ramp in Pietermaritzburg is named after.
Mr Vahed was also the Chairperson of Estcourt Mosque Madressa Trust from 2008 until he passed on.
He is survived by his two sisters and 16 nieces and nephews. May his soul rest in peace.