South African comic Thanasagren Rubbanathan Moodley, generally often known as Karou Charou, based the 1860NIC Congress. (Picture provided)
A newly launched political get together, the 1860NIC Congress, goals to champion the rights of South Africa’s Indian group and different minority teams.
Thanasagren Rubbanathan Moodley, the founding father of the get together, formally unveiled the 1860NIC Congress in Durban on Saturday, describing it as a beacon of hope for marginalised minority teams in South Africa.
“This marks a milestone in Indian politics in South Africa. The 1860NIC Congress will grow to be a significant participant in KZN politics, guaranteeing the province’s second-largest inhabitants has their rightful place on the desk,” mentioned Moodley.
Moodley, who ran as an impartial candidate within the Could normal elections however didn’t safe a parliamentary seat, urged the Indian group and different minority teams to rally behind the get together.
“The way forward for the get together will rely fully on its citizens. Whether it is wanted, it is going to thrive. If not, it is going to stop to exist. My goal is to go away a legacy for my kids and their kids.
“If you’re unwilling to safe the way forward for the following generations, your tenure on this planet has been egocentric, a wasted train, and an insult to the legacy of our 1860 forefathers, on whose shoulders we’ve stood,” he mentioned.
Moodley emphasised that members of the Indian group who confronted oppression underneath apartheid are nonetheless not fully free underneath South Africa’s democratic dispensation.
He pointed to what he referred to as the “flawed” implementation of insurance policies corresponding to Broad-Primarily based Black Financial Empowerment (BBBEE) and the Employment Fairness Act, which he claimed discriminated towards Indians and different minority teams.
“The 1860NIC Congress will be certain that Indians, as a beforehand deprived group, are supplied equal rights and alternatives as enshrined within the Structure and Freedom Constitution, whereas striving to nurture and promote Indo-African relations, particularly in KZN.”
Lately registered with the Electoral Fee of South Africa (IEC), the 1860NIC Congress intends to contest upcoming elections.
“The get together will problem the 2026 Native Authorities Elections and is eligible to contest any by-elections within the province till then,” Moodley added.
Moodley, a comic identified by the stage title Karou Charou (KC), has been a group activist for over 20 years and mentioned he was dedicated to making sure the get together’s success.
This text was first printed by The Witness.