Mandela Day: Reverend Danny Chetty on meeting ‘the greatest man on earth’

Former Port Shepstone resident, anti-apartheid activist, a dedicated, brave and committed man of the cloth and a fierce defender of the people, Reverend Danny Chetty says that his first meeting with president Mandela was during his visit to KZN, after 27 years in prison.

“The big celebration was held in Durban, where more than 50 000 people arrived to welcome him. I was privileged to be invited by the organising committee at that time to briefly meet him. I was so shaken with both emotion, fear and excitement that with trembling hands I managed to get a hand shake which lasted only a few seconds and barely got a word out, as I moved on to allow others behind me to meet the great man,” explained Rev Chetty.

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He pointed out that he still recalls Mr Mandela’s very stern instructions demanding that we ‘throw all our weapons, pangas and sticks into the sea’.

I heard loud noises of rejection and disapproval but Mr Mandela bravely looked at us as we stood in the searing heat and I understood that his call was a non-negotiable instruction but, at that point, as a peace maker and director of Practical Ministries, my admiration for this great leader grew in leaps and bounds. I came back to Port Shepstone feeling a sense of great relief, as the man himself spoke like a true giant.

“Early one morning, in March 1993, my office alerted me that Tata Madiba was wanting to speak to me. I treated this as a joke because never in my wildest imagination did I expect a call from one of the greatest men on earth, although I had spoken to world leaders before including presidents and heads of state, this call was too much for me to accept, so I ignored it.”

Rev Chetty then got an urgent call from Shirley Mabusela, activist and close friend of Mr Mandela.

“She confirmed that Mr Mandela was going to honour me at a reception at the Sandton Sun Hotel, Johannesburg. With the elections already upon us and violence erupting in various areas, I now had to make one of the hardest decisions –  how do I accept one of the greatest honours bestowed on me and the organisations I represented, without compromising my impartiality?”

The Reverend mentioned that his close friends and advisors rallied around to provide the best possible advice. ” As I loved and respected the great Mr Mandela, I could not allow my role as peace maker to be compromised and in this regard I started to pray, even beg, God to make it possible for me to go.

Rev Chetty’s personal assistant, Debby Matthew, contacted  Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the leader of the IFP, then the second biggest political party in the country,  for his blessing, whilst still accepting his role as a peace maker.

“With no response from that great leader, Debby and I made our way to the airport. Literally minutes before boarding, the late Dr Gavin Woods, chief advisor to Dr Buthelezi came running to us with the official letter of acceptance and his full blessing.”

Rev Chetty said the meeting at the Sandton Sun on March 11, 1993 was one of the most historic moments in his life and for the people of the South Coast. “Mr Mandela shared a portion of his Nobel Peace Prize with me, the Red Cross Children’s Hospital and the Soweto Girls’ Hospital. This act of respect and accolade bestowed on me remains one of the great highlights in my life.”

At various times between 1993 and 1995 the office of the president contacted Rev Chetty’s offices to get reports on the violence that was engulfing the lower South Coast.

“When 13 young people where murdered in the Gcilima area, I got a call from then president Mandela asking what in the world was going on in our area and what was our role as church and community leaders?

“My next most serious contact with the man himself was on December 25, 1995 where the historic Shobashobane massacre occurred. I was on holiday in Johannesburg at the time but I was instructed to immediately get down there as this incident had already made national headlines.”

His brother, Selvan Chetty, together with Ravi Pillay and Karen Harrison had already made their way to the village. “I landed at the famous St Katharines Anglican Church in Port Shepstone late that afternoon. Whilst at the church, various concerned leaders were constantly calling so that they could brief Mr Mandela’s office and President Thabo Mbeki’s office. I then met President Mbeki and other leaders at the village and assured him that I would do all I could to assist the community.

Some months later Mr Mandela and Dr Buthelezi landed at the very spot where the massacre took place and refused to alight from the helicopter until I arrived.

“Pastor Maggie Moonsamy came rushing into my meeting, insisting that I was needed. I reluctantly went outside, only to be confronted by police vans. We were literally shoved into a police car and taken to the helicopter. When the doors opened, the two giants, Mandela and Buthelezi stepped out to greet us.”

Rev Chetty recalled being summoned by  Cllr Doctor Njoko  to his house in Gamalakhe. “When I got there I was told that Madiba’s s eldest son, Makgatho Lewanika Mandela, had died, and that we were both expected to be at the family home in Qunu to assist with private family matters.”

He said that although it was meant to be a private funeral, thousands of people converged onto the home.

Again I counted it an honour to have been among the very select family and leaders, not more than 50 in the private lounge where the night vigil took place.

“After the funeral Rev Mgojo, Bishop Dabula and myself where invited into the private room with a grieving Nelson Mandela and we had those very precious moments to spend with him. I recalled sitting right next to him and, with his ice cold hands catching mine and he asked, ‘So young man, have you got the peace process in order?’ and I warmly replied ‘yes’ Tata Madiba, we have.”

Rev Chetty remembered that although Madiba was in so much pain and grief, having just buried his eldest son, he urged church leaders to never give up and never let go. “In that instant I realised that this moment was reserved and planned for me to be with one of the greatest leaders I will ever meet and in an instant, all my own pain and experiences of dealing with the daily horrors, the endless abuses and criticism were turned into a sense of peace and calm. As I continued to feel the grip of his steely ice-cold hands, I knew I was in the presence of the warmest and most exceptionally gentle man and hero I will ever get to meet.”

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