Ex-QDMS
Amichand Rajbansi.
Politicians from across the spectrum cast aside their differences and gathered at Amichand Rajbansi’s Chatsworth home yesterday to pay their respects to the grieving family as Hindu service groups sang bhajans.
Politicians, family and friends shared fond memories of the politician who will go down in local history as the “Bengal Tiger” who led the Minority Front, a political party once described as a “one man and a fax machine” operation.
Thousands are expected to attend his funeral which will be held at the Chatsworth Stadium from 11.30am to 4pm today.
Rajbansi died on Thursday after being admitted to Umhlanga Hospital’s ICU in October for a chest infection. He was later moved from the ICU to an ordinary ward but had contracted hospital-acquired infections and was readmitted to the ICU where he died.
Among the high-profile leaders who queued yesterday to embrace his visibly shaken widow Shameem Thakur Rajbansi were Premier Zweli Mkhize, Health MEC Sbongiseni Dhlomo, Durban mayor James Nxumalo, KZN parliamentary Speaker Peggy Nkonyeni, Education MEC Senzo Mchunu, IFP shadow MEC for social development Les Govender and African Christian Democratic Party chairman Joanne Downes.
Shameem Rajbansi said it was a “tragedy” that he had been admitted to hospital with a treatable condition and had ended up with an infection that was not treatable.
“We have to find ways of improving infection control. Out of every bad situation we have to find ways to bring something good. It is what Raj would have wanted… (but) …I cannot blame them,” Shameem said.
Rajbansi’s daughter Vinleikha Rajbansi, from his first marriage to Asha Devi Rajbansi, said she would remember her father as a “very spiritual person”.
Both Mkhize and Mchunu shared moments experienced in Parliament with Rajbansi, saying he always made good use of his minute to speak and that he had given a few lessons in politics. – Lyse Comins and Arthi Sanpath
Excerpt from:
Politicians to honour ‘the Raj’