Yunus Mohamed
Encyclopedia
Yunus "YM" Mohamed (1950 – 6 January 2008) was a South African
lawyer and activist instrumental in founding the United Democratic Front
(UDF).
Mohamed was born in Johannesburg
to Amina and Ismail Mohamed, one of at least five children. Growing up in Jeppe, he was educated at Gold Street Primary School and William Hills Secondary School. He then went to Natal
, to the University of Durban-Westville
, where in 1972 he took part in SASO
's student boycotts. He eventually graduated from the University of South Africa
.
He joined the Natal Indian Congress
(NIC) in 1970, and later the South African Communist Party
(SACP) and ANC
.
In 1976 he became an attorney, going on to work for the law firm of Shun Chetty, which had a record of defending anti-apartheid activists. He joined the Democratic Lawyers' Association and his work included the Chatsworth housing action committee and the Natal rates committee. From 1981 to 82 he was detained, and in 1985 was arrested again. In 1986 he served on the economic intelligence desk of the ANC. He was involved in negotiations with the Inkatha Freedom Party
to help reduce political violence in KwaZulu-Natal
.
He was a founding member of the UDF in 1983 , and later became regional secretary for Natal. According to fellow UDF founder Trevor Manuel
When three senior members of the UDF – Frank Chikane
, Popo Molefe
and Patrick Lekota – and 19 others were arrested for treason, Mohamed was an instructing attorney in what became known as the Delmas Treason Trial
. The trial ran from 1985 to 1988, with sentences being overturned by the Supreme Court in 1989.
Post apartheid, he was a founding trustee of the Kagiso Trust, of which he was chairman at his death in 2008.
Mohamed's partner, Dhaya Pillay, is a senior judge in the Labour Court of South Africa.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
lawyer and activist instrumental in founding the United Democratic Front
United Democratic Front (South Africa)
The United Democratic Front was one of the most important anti-apartheid organisations of the 1980s. The non-racial coalition of about 400 civic, church, students', workers' and other organisations was formed in 1983, initially to fight the just-introduced idea of the Tricameral Parliament The...
(UDF).
Mohamed was born in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
to Amina and Ismail Mohamed, one of at least five children. Growing up in Jeppe, he was educated at Gold Street Primary School and William Hills Secondary School. He then went to Natal
Natal Province
Natal, meaning "Christmas" in Portuguese, was a province of South Africa from 1910 until 1994. Its capital was Pietermaritzburg. The Natal Province included the bantustan of KwaZulu...
, to the University of Durban-Westville
University of Durban-Westville
The University of Durban-Westville was formerly a university situated in Westville, Durban opened 1972. It now forms part of the campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Known as UDW, it was initially established for Indians as during apartheid there were few universities that admitted non-White...
, where in 1972 he took part in SASO
South African Students' Organisation
The South African Students' Organisation was a body of South African students who resisted apartheid through political action. The organization was formed in 1968, spearheaded by Steve Biko, and played a major role in the Black Consciousness Movement....
's student boycotts. He eventually graduated from the University of South Africa
University of South Africa
The University of South Africa is a distance education university, with headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa. With approximately 300 000 enrolled students, it qualifies as one of the world's mega universities.-History:...
.
He joined the Natal Indian Congress
Natal Indian Congress
The Natal Indian Congress was an organization that aimed to fight discrimination against Indians in South Africa. The Natal Indian Congress was started by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, later known as the Mahatma...
(NIC) in 1970, and later 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...
(SACP) and ANC
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...
.
In 1976 he became an attorney, going on to work for the law firm of Shun Chetty, which had a record of defending anti-apartheid activists. He joined the Democratic Lawyers' Association and his work included the Chatsworth housing action committee and the Natal rates committee. From 1981 to 82 he was detained, and in 1985 was arrested again. In 1986 he served on the economic intelligence desk of the ANC. He was involved in negotiations with the Inkatha Freedom Party
Inkatha Freedom Party
The Inkatha Freedom Party is a political party in South Africa. Since its founding, it has been led by Mangosuthu Buthelezi. It is currently the fourth largest party in the National Assembly of South Africa.-History:...
to help reduce political violence in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
.
He was a founding member of the UDF in 1983 , and later became regional secretary for Natal. According to fellow UDF founder Trevor Manuel
Trevor Manuel
Trevor Andrew Manuel is a South African politician, currently serving in the Cabinet of South Africa as Minister in the Presidency in charge of the National Planning Commission...
When three senior members of the UDF – Frank Chikane
Frank Chikane
Frank Chikane is a South African civil servant, writer and cleric. He is a member of the African National Congress.-Biography:...
, Popo Molefe
Popo Molefe
Popo Simon Molefe is a South African politician, and the former Premier of the North West Province....
and Patrick Lekota – and 19 others were arrested for treason, Mohamed was an instructing attorney in what became known as the Delmas Treason Trial
Delmas Treason Trial
The Delmas Treason Trial in South Africa was the prosecution of 22 anti-apartheid activists under security laws, with the intention of suppressing the United Democratic Front . The defendants included three senior UDF leaders, Frank Chikane, Mosiuoa Lekota and Popo Molefe, known as the "Big Three"...
. The trial ran from 1985 to 1988, with sentences being overturned by the Supreme Court in 1989.
Post apartheid, he was a founding trustee of the Kagiso Trust, of which he was chairman at his death in 2008.
Mohamed's partner, Dhaya Pillay, is a senior judge in the Labour Court of South Africa.