M. J. Naidoo

Mooroogiah Jayarajapathy Naidoo (1931–1997) was a South African Indian , anti-apartheid activist and lawyer. Popularly known as “MJ”, Naidoo played an active role in the re-launched Natal Indian Congress (NIC) in October 1971..^[1] Naidoo was also a member of the Durban Six and a defendant in the Pietermaritzburg Treason Trial.^[2][3] He died in 1997, aged 66.^[4]

Durban in the early 1970's again became a "cauldron" of debates about mobilization against apartheid, ^[5] and M.J.'s approach would contribute towards the " Durban Moment", ^[6] where Turner noted a shift in liberation perceptions with the NIC committing to Ghandi-inspired non-violent resistance. ^[7]

With Naidoo at the helm of the NIC, much of the 1970s was spent rebuilding organisational structures and strengthening alliances to oppose the South African Indian Council, who were seen as a “stooge” of the Apartheid government. In 1981, NIC leadership challenged the South African Indian Council and the Tricameral Parliament which was rejected by the overwhelming majority of black people of South Africa . Naidoo was a member of the Durban Six a group of prominent anti apartheid activists. On the 13 September 1984 they entered the British Consulate, requesting an interview with the Consul. ^[8] The six had been released after a court ruled their previous detention order was invalid. Louis Le Grange (minister of police) sought to re-detain them, again without trial. The durban six used media coverage to draw attention to their plight.^[9] On the 6 Oct 1984 M.J. Naidoo and two others left voluntarily. The three that remained conducted and ITV interview via with a smuggled transmitter The next year (1985), these Consular Six and another 10 other activists were charged for treason at the Pietermaritzburg Treason Trial.

Here the recently formed United Democratic Front (and affiliates) were put in the dock, with the state attempting to clamp down on activists and destroy the organization. This trial been described as the largest and most significant political trial in South Africa, since the Rivonia Trial. As part of the international campaign to secure their release, the United Nations Security Council passed UNSC Resolution 560 on 12 March 1985 calling for “the Pretoria régime to withdraw the charges of "high treason" instituted against the United Democratic Front officials, and calls for their immediate and unconditional release”

MJ Naidoo was a descendant of indentured labourers who arrived in South Africa between 1860. His grandfather, Rungiah Naidoo, became a market gardener after completing his period of indenture. His father, R.M. Naidoo, was a shopkeeper and land estate agent who established his business in the central Indian commercial area and lived in a flat in highlight|Prince Edward Street, Durban.

R.M Naidoo was particularly engaged with the Indian municipal workers living near the beach in Magazine Barracks, which had a significant concentration of Tamil people in South Africa, and become the secretary of Durban Indian Municipal Employees Society (D.I.M.E.S.).

M.J. Naidoo was born in 1931. He had five older siblings and one younger. His birth coincided with the great depression, and his father lost his business and retreated to Mount Edgecombe, where he had earlier purchased a small farm with a spacious homestead. When MJ’s parents died, he was sent to live with relatives. His older brother, M.D. Naidoo was already active in politics and deemed an unsuitable guardian by the family for his younger siblings.

M.J. Naidoo enrolled in Sastri College , South Africa's first Indian High School, located in Durban Central.^[10]

M.J. Naidoo's activist brother lived in a flat in town and this become the de facto headquarters of both the Party and Congress. Famous political activists frequently visited the premises, such as J.B. Marks, Dawood Seedat,^[11] and Cassim Amra. M.J. Naidoo became involved and sold The Guardian newspapers,^[12] the official organ of the Party, and he attended the meetings at the Red Square and Curries Fountain where Dr. Dadoo, Chief Luthuli, J.N. Singh, Monty Naicker, Ismail Meer, A.I. Meer, Debi Singh,^[13] and his brother spoke. MJ also came into contact with trade Unionists, A.A. Naidoo, George Poonen, his wife Vera, Billy Peters, and R.D. Naidoo.

M.J. Naidoo sister Tim Naidoo married Mac Maharaj in 1958.^[14]

Revival was initially led by Mewa Ramgobin and later by George Sewpersadh, both who had to step back after state banning orders.^[15] M.J. Naidoo stepped in as the acting president from 1973 to 1978.^[16]