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Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Rashid Lombard — legendary photographer and jazz pioneer who forged greatness in the struggle
Rashid Lombard, who died at his Cape Town home this week and was buried according to Muslim rites on Thursday, was a legend as a photographer and pioneer of the Cape Town Jazz Festival. Dennis Cruywagen remembers him. Thirty-six years ago, in August 1989, in Gugulethu township, near Cape Town, I watched the highest-ranking Anglican clergyman in South Africa deliberately being teargassed as he resolutely tried to protect young, defenceless pupils from the fury of the riot police. That priest was the leader of the Anglican Church in southern Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. On that day, he led at least 500 pupils who had resolved to show their support for the national defiance campaign launched by the mass democratic movement. The arrival of police derailed their plans. They fled into Holy Cross Catholic Church. When the Arch, as Tutu preferred to be called, arrived, he negotiated what he thought was a safe passage for the young people with the men in camouflage uniforms. The rector of the University of the Western Cape, Professor Jakes Gerwel, was with him. I was there as a reporter for the Cape Argus newspaper. Also, there was the slim, renowned and fearless photographer Rashid Lombard. As usual his black hair was tied in a ponytail. A black beret sat on his head. Black as his hair was his moustache. We watched teargas being fired at the Arch, Professor Gerwel and the teenagers. Young people scattered. On that winter's day in Gugulethu, while many were coughing and trying to wipe away tears, which are wont to flow in a teargas attack, Rashid stood firm. He calmly raised his camera and started taking photographs that would become world famous. He captured on film images of the Arch walking through a cloud of teargas. They were stunning images. He offered his pictures to my newspaper. They were declined because of the State of Emergency press restrictions. The Cape Times used them the next morning. Gutsy deputy editor Deon du Plessis was infuriated that our newspaper had turned down Rashid's pictures. Rashid allowed the paper to use them. They were subsequently splashed across the front page. His evocative pictures moved Cape Town's English-language newspapers to disregard press restrictions. I recalled this event on Wednesday when I was informed that Rashid had passed away at the age of 74. And as the recollections came gushing, I recalled his gentle, kind eyes, visionary and pioneering spirit, and his great love for his wife, Colleen, their children and grandchildren. Colleen, whom he married in 1970, was held as a detainee from 14 August 1987 until 29 January 1988. Not by choice, he became a single parent of their three children, Yana, Chevan and Shadley, for a while, as his ANC courier wife was held incommunicado. I remembered how, between 1985 and 1990, we were part of a group of news people who were reporting on the struggle. It was a job that consumed our lives and forged strong bonds. In this group were news legends such as Jimi Matthews, Adil Bradlow, Benni Gool, Ayesha Ismail, Sahm Venter, Willie de Klerk, Obed Zilwa, Eric Miller, Guy Tillim, Mike Hutchings, Azziz Tassiem, John Rubython and many others. It takes the death of a former colleague to bring back their names and the times in which we lived and reported on. To me there was a common belief that held us together: we wanted to tell the story of the struggle, the bravery of people – many of them so very young – yet not enough to stop state-sanctioned violence gleefully delivered by cruel men. We were the witnesses; Rashid's camera faithfully recording this infamous history. A lover of jazz who went on to pioneer the Cape Town Jazz Festival in post-apartheid South Africa, Rashid and I teamed up for an interview with uMkhonto weSizwe chief of staff Chris Hani. After the unbanning of the ANC, the charismatic leader and other exiles returned home. On his first open visit to Cape Town, a senior ANC member called me. I was informed that Comrade Chris would be meeting senior newspaper executives at the University of the Western Cape. I was not on the guest list. Miffed, I called Buyiswa Jack, a former detainee incarcerated under section 29 of the notorious Internal Security Act, which has mercifully been repealed, to apprise her of the situation. She contacted her brother, Pro Jack, who was assassinated years later, his killers never apprehended. I was sitting in the Argus newsroom when I was called, instructed to bring only Rashid along, and meet Pro in front of the Langa Post Office. The MK legend, Hani, had insisted that Rashid be the photographer, even if he was not an Argus staffer! Such was his reputation. We spent more than an hour interviewing Hani. The next day the Cape Argus had a poster that alerted readers to an exclusive interview with Hani. Rashid's pictures were used. Reminiscing about past stories and scoops, I went to my bookshelf and retrieved a slim publication, To the Moon and Back: A Detention Memoir. Years ago, I bought the book with the purple-blue cover at Clarke's Bookshop, an institution on Cape Town's Long Street. The author is Colleen Lombard, Rashid's widow, and fellow jazz aficionado. She was arrested with her friend and comrade, the late Zurayah Abass, as they tried to smuggle Nicklo Pedro (also late) and Yasmina Pandy across the border. During her detention she came close to taking her own life, while at home Rashid was taking care of their three children. Those were very hard years. The book, which was a project that Rashid strongly believed in and supported, was first published in 2021. Colleen wrote it 10 years after her incarceration and subsequent court appearance as an accused in what became known as the Rainbow Trial, which started in the Supreme Court in February 1989, a year before Nelson Mandela was freed from jail. The Western Cape's last so-called terrorism trial, it spluttered on until March 1991 when all charges were withdrawn against the accused. In 2014, the national government recognised Rashid's enormous contribution to the reopening of the rich well of jazz music in South Africa and awarded him the National Order of Ikhamanga in Silver for his excellent contribution to arts and culture and his dedication to jazz music. That was a richly deserved honour. Rest well, Rashid. You were a legend. You were on first-name terms with great men and women who recognised your greatness, yet you never lost the common touch and your humility. DM
IOL News
29-05-2025
- IOL News
Beaufort West incident highlights racial tensions faced by black students
A racist confrontation in Beaufort West has highlighted the experiences of black students in the town. Image: X A racist confrontation in Beaufort West has highlighted the experiences of black students in the town. In the latest incident, captured on video, female Black African students were allegedly confronted by two white males near their residence after visiting a food outlet on Monday. One of the white males sprays a liquid, which is understood to be water from a spray can, and chases a student while hurling racial slurs, 'I will remove your blackness, I will change you.' The videos of the incident were shared on social media, where the man can be seen running after the student and in another, he is attempting to enter their residency with the water can. A third video shows angry community members confronting the man, who is a neighbour of the women, outside of his home. Words were exchanged and the man claimed he had anointed the water while the residents stated it was laced with chemicals. A case was opened with police and the Cape Argus awaits a response on this. EFF provincial treasurer and MP, Aishah Cassiem, said counter cases were made by the man and the women, along with those from the community. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading WATCH: A Beaufort West Racist torturing black EFF students in their female student complex | Racist : 'I will remove your blackness ' 25 May 2025 😳😳😳 — Aishah Cassiem (@CassiemAishah) May 27, 2025 It is understood that the women's case was closed due to a lack of evidence and police have yet to confirm this and why. Cassiem said the EFF they would continue to seek justice. "These are incidents that many black students experience in their residence across the country, especially in communities occupied by white racists, who continue such actions, as a result of not being held accountable. 'The EFF will never allow for such a case to be swept under the carpet and will make sure those responsible for ensuring the safety of these young girls do so, especially when they are running to the police or courts for protection. We will not step back until justice has been served." Cassiem said that according to the students they left their home to purchase food at a nearby take away on Monday night. 'They said there were two men involved (who are neighbors). The one stormed their student residence, invading the space of young girls who were in pajamas, and half naked as seen in the video, while the other tortured them in the street, shouting 'I will erase your blackness' as seen in the video,' she added. "It is understood that the students opened a case with Beaufort West Police Station immediately and were told two days later the case has been closed. One of the men involved has been arrested and appeared in court this morning. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. 'He had also opened a case against angry residents who showed up at his house after the incident circulated on social media." Beaufort West Mayor Sias Reynolds took to his Facebook account where he expressed concerns about the incident. 'This whole incident saddens me immensely. Then, showing how racial issues can be so easily misused by individuals to spike racial tension on social media, only worsens the situation.' Cape Argus
IOL News
22-05-2025
- IOL News
Concerns rise over child safety after youths escape from secure care facility
Venetia Orgill says she wants to take DA councillor Shayne Ramsay to the Company's Garden where she feeds up to 200 people every Thursday. Picture: David Ritchie/Cape Argus Venetia Orgill wants the Department of Social Development to look into training their social workers to be compassionate Image: David Ritchie A 16-year-old girl, previously placed at a secure care facility in Elsies River, ran away with six other residents, sparking concerns about the safety and oversight of children in state care. The runaways escaped by breaking through the roof and jumping over the fence. The facility is designated for children either awaiting trial under the Child Justice Act or those placed due to severe behavioural challenges. The incident has drawn criticism from child rights advocate Venetia Orgill, who questions whether vulnerable children are adequately protected—especially during South Africa's Child Protection Week. Orgill shared that the teen had been living with her until July last year, at which point she was placed at the facility by a social worker. "She just needed a safe home, and that's where the social worker placed her—the same social worker who later told me she doesn't work weekends," Orgill explained. Orgill recalled the traumatic event of this past Saturday evening: 'My granddaughter said there were a lot of police outside. I opened the door and was asked if the girl was with me. I said no. I let the officers come in and search the house.' Orgill immediately tried to reach the social worker but was unable to get an answer. 'It was understandable—it was late—but I called again at 6:30 the next morning. That's when she told me it was the first time she had heard the girl was missing.' She expressed frustration over the lack of support, stating, 'I asked if there was another emergency number because I had phoned the landline of the facility thousands of times during the night. She told me there was nothing more she could do because social workers don't work weekends. She said she would email her colleague but couldn't call her, and I must just understand that they don't work weekends.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading The 16-year-old girl allegedly complained about being bullied at the facility Image: File 'She wasn't worried about the child's safety,' Orgill said, 'She was worried about her weekend off.' Despite feeling unsupported, Orgill stayed focused on finding the missing child. 'The priority is the young girl,' she said. By 8am, police returned to her house, while the safe house had not contacted her at all. 'By 10:30, the police were back again. Now I'm starting to feel like a criminal. They searched my house again, even checked my freezer,' she recalled. Feeling desperate, Orgill turned to Missing Persons SA for help. The girl was eventually located in Pelican Park, after being spotted in a taxi. "The driver was so helpful," Orgill said. Later, workers from the facility arrived to collect the girl. The manager informed Orgill, that the teen is a star person, but she was the instigator of the escape. The girl then burst out crying, stating she had informed the facility managers two weeks ago that she was going to run away because of the bullying, and no one helped. Orgill questioned the lack of communication at the facility and also criticised the placement of the girl, explaining, 'She shouldn't have been in that facility in the first place. She doesn't have a criminal record, but the social worker placed her there anyway, and why didn't they listen to her when she complained?.' She called for better oversight from the Department of Social Development (DSD). 'DSD needs to ensure their social workers undergo more workshops—on themselves. This is supposed to be a calling of compassion. But that compassion is not being felt in our communities. Social workers should be more accessible.' Provincial MEC for social development Jaco Londt Image: File Esther Lewis, spokesperson for the Western Cape Department of Social Development, said protocols are in place to address complaints and that the incident is under review. 'The Department is still in the process of reviewing the incident to ensure suitable mitigation where required to limit similar incidents,' she said. Regarding after-hours availability, Lewis clarified that social workers do have standby systems in place, but noted that the social worker involved worked for an NGO and not the department. "We are in constant communication with partner NGOs to address service delivery gaps where they may occur." Lewis added that the department has safety protocols in place at secure facilities, thanking the DSD team, SAPS, and the Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety for their swift response. She acknowledged structural limitations within the social work sector and confirmed that the Western Cape DSD has been advocating for social workers to be classified as essential services to improve service delivery. The incident comes just a week after the department reaffirmed its commitment to child protection during May, Child Protection Month. Western Cape MEC for Social Development, Jaco Londt said, 'Year after year we see the need for child protection services growing. We need to bring back the spirit of Ubuntu to communities, where your child is my child.' Weekend Argus
Time Out
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time Out
The curious case of Cape Town's unfinished highway: City quashes latest idea
If you go down to the Foreshore today, you're in for a big surprise... well, that's unless you've lived in Cape Town your whole life and know that there is an unfinished highway bridge, sitting somewhat hauntingly at the entrance to the V&A Waterfront precinct. The original reasoning as to why it was left unfinished in 1977 is that of budget constraints. As a result, over the years, there have been many ideas, thoughts and theories around how and when the unfinished highway bridge would be, well, finished. The latest was tabled by a local engineer by the name of Gareth Ramsay, who proposed a train line be erected to connect Woodstock and Sea Point by utilising and expanding the current unfinished highway. Ramsay submitted his proposal to the City of Cape Town 's Urban Mobility Department in February this year, with his thinking being that a 6km rail route - with a terminus at Three Anchor Bay - would solve a whole lot of the city's congestion issues, while at the same time utilising what has been a 'dead zone' for the longest time. In his proposal, according to IOL, Ramsay believes that 'by improving mobility, it would help address historical inequalities, offering a cost-effective transport option that facilitates access to opportunities and popular destinations'. 'It also provides an alternative to the completion of the Foreshore freeways, which would essentially make use of the city's most valuable piece of available land for vehicular use, contradicting the city's aim of reducing congestion within the city and making it more pedestrian-friendly.' While this sounds like a really good idea on paper, the City of Cape Town are not as keen as Ramsay and the people who have fully bought into the proposal. Following the news of Ramsay's proposal going somewhat viral, Councillor Rob Quintas, the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, had this to say to the Cape Argus: 'The City has already invested in a road-based public transport system servicing the CBD and Atlantic seaboard in the form of the MyCiTi bus service. Investment in improving existing services is more practical and cost-effective.' So there goes that plan of being able to take a train above the city, much like you see in New York and many Asian countries. I guess we will just have to put up with that nightmarish post- Cape Town Stadium events traffic for a little while longer...
IOL News
21-05-2025
- IOL News
Elderly Polish nationals found dead in Table Bay Harbour: Police investigate suspected drowning
Police have opened an inquest into the deaths of two Polish nationals discovered at Table Bay Harbour. Police are investigating the deaths of two Polish nationals discovered at Table Bay Harbour on Wednesday morning, with authorities suspecting drowning as the likely cause. While police said they did not suspect foul play at this stage for the deaths of the couple who were both in their seventies, an inquest docket has been opened. Police spokesperson, Colonel Andre Traut said their teams were called to the scene at the Cape Royal Yacht Club in Table Bay Harbour just after 8am. The cause of death has yet to be determined and their identities are being withheld at this stage. 'Police were called to the Cape Royal Yacht Club in Table Bay Harbour this morning following the suspected drowning of an elderly couple believed to be Polish nationals in their seventies,' explained Traut. 'At approximately 08:15, police divers discovered the bodies of a man and a woman in the water. An inquest docket has been opened by Table Bay Harbour police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. 'At this early stage, foul play is not suspected. A post-mortem examination will confirm the cause of death, with drowning considered the most likely cause. 'Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111. 'The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending formal identification and notification of next of kin.' Cape Argus
