Nongqai Vol 17 No 2D – Special Edition (Sgt Alagappa Vurdan / Gounden)
Brigadier Hennie Heymans
Special Edition Nongqai please!
Thank you.
Logan
Cover
SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE
SERGEANT ALAGAPPA VURDAN / GOUNDEN
A Vurdan / Gounden
(Courtesy daughter of A Vurdan / Gounden, Mrs Sue Enoch)
Authored, researched, compiled, edited, and submitted for publication by Logan Govender [LG], drawing on information provided by Sereant A Vurdan / Gounden’s daughter Mrs Sue Enoch, as well as various sources, police personnel, and other contributors.
Logan Govender [LG]
AUTHOR’S NOTE
“The Nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten” – Calvin Coolidge
It is an honour and a privilege to introduce the biography and police career of Sergeant Alagappa Vurdan / Gounden. My father, Sergeant Mariemuthu, was also a member of the police force. Because of this, our home often welcomed police officers, and it was normal for our family to form strong friendships with them. Some officers became like family to us, and Vurdan / Gounden was one of them.
My Dad Sergeant Mariemuthu Irusan
He came from the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. I remember that in the 1970’s he was transferred from an area we knew as Zululand. He visited my father regularly and owned a Peugeot panel van. I later learnt that he had two brothers, one elder, GV Govender (Joined the South African Police on 1960-02-04 after more than 28 years of faithful and loyal service retired on 1988-02-29 – [LG]) and the other younger, AV Govender, affectionately known as Jerry, he also joined the South African Police. They were excellent storytellers and often shared memories of earlier times.
In the 1980s, the elder brother, Warrant Officer GV Govender became my section commander and later my branch commander while I was still a student, until I was promoted to Sergeant. Unfortunately, I do not know much about the youngest brother.
Vurdan / Gounden brought with him many of the traditions, habits and customs of rural South Indian communities as well as their traditional cuisine. This included their food, music and outdoor lifestyle, which was different from the more conservative Indian way of life in Pietermaritzburg. They were very friendly, easy to get along with and had warm, outgoing personalities. Because of this, they were well liked and fitted in easily with the various communities.
They were also very practical people who could fix or build almost anything. They became influential and were comfortable with everyone, just as others were comfortable with them. At that time, it was rare to see Indian officers reach the rank of Senior Sergeant, and they were respected by the entire community. They could speak many languages, including English, Afrikaans, Zulu and several Indian languages.
[LG]
Alagappa Vurdan / Gounden was born on 04 October 1934 in Stanger, on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. He attended the Stanger High School from 1941 to 1953 successful completing Stand 8. He grew up during a very difficult time in South Africa’s history. The country was ruled by strict racial laws that limited the lives and opportunities of non-white people. From a young age, he experienced inequality and hardship, but these challenges helped shape his strong character. He developed discipline, determination, and a deep sense of responsibility early in life.
As a young man, Vurdan / Gounden began his working life at the Sugar Mill in aMatikhulu, North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. He worked there as a builder, a job that required physical strength, practical skills, and careful attention to detail. This work was demanding, but it taught him valuable lessons. He learned the importance of hard work, reliability, and teamwork. These early experiences helped him build a strong work ethic, which later became very important in his career in the police force.
On 1960-01-30, Vurdan / Gounden joined the South African Police at Mtunzini. (Mtunzini is a small coastal town that is situated almost exactly halfway along KwaZulu-Natal’s coastline in South Africa approximately 140 km north of Durban. – Google). He served in the mounted police, a role that required confidence, bravery, and strong self-control. At the time, it was very unusual for Indians to be accepted into such positions, and he was likely one of the first Indians to serve in the mounted police. His duties often involved dealing with dangerous and unpredictable situations, including faction fights in rural areas. These experiences required calm judgement and the ability to act responsibly under pressure.
Assistant PT Instructor, Sergeant Ray Munilall Mathura is seen presenting Recruit A Vurdan / Gounden and another unidentified recruit a miniature trophy. Vurdan / Gounden was nominated the Best All round. The unidentified recruit, further information unknown
(Courtesy daughter of A Vurdan / Gounden, Mrs Sue Enoch)
Recruits from Troop 1 in July 1961 sitting on their toes as a form of ‘punishment’ for minor offenses. A Vurdan / Gounden is in the second row, far right.
(Courtesy daughter of A Vurdan / Gounden, Mrs Sue Enoch)
A select group of recruits from Troop 1 in July 1961
A Vurdan / Gounden, 2nd row 1st left
(Courtesy daughter of A Vurdan / Gouden, Mrs Sue Enoch)
Centre row, left to right, 6th OD Moorcroft
(Courtesy family of Warrant Officer Odin Audley Moorcroft)
SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE
NON-EUROPEAN TRAINING DEPOT
WENTWORTH, DURBAN
TROOP 1, JULY 1961
3 Months
Members Identified
Front row, left to right, 1st I/Sergeant Munilall, (Ray Mathura Munilall) Lieutenant-Colonel; 2nd Constable AG Vurdan (A Vurdan / Gounden); 8th Rama Chetty; 11th I/Sergeant Munsamy (Assistant Drill Instructor)
Centre row, left to right, 1st I/Constable Neermal; 2nd SM Pillay; 5th G Somaru.
Rear row, left – right, 5th Dudley G Maharaj; 9th G Vurdan, (GV Govender).
(Courtesy family of Warrant Officer Rama Chetty son Captain Krish Chetty)
“Wins cup for Smartness
Indian Police Recruits in Pass Out Parade”
Colonel D Huxham, Officer Commanding, Port Natal Police, handing over a trophy for high marks for examination and leadership to Constable A Vurdan / Gounden
(Courtesy daughter of A Vurdan / Gounden, Mrs Sue Enoch)
In 1961, he completed his basic police training at the South African Police Non-European Training Depot. At the Passing Out Parade, he distinguished himself from the other recruits. He was awarded a trophy for being the best all-round recruit, as well as for his smart appearance and leadership qualities. This recognition showed his dedication, discipline, and natural ability to lead.
After completing his training, Vurdan / Gounden was transferred to Gingindlovu. (Gingindlovu, officially renamed to KwaGingindlovu, is a town in the King Cetshwayo District Municipality, part of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Village 21 km south-east of Eshowe. – Google)
A young Vurdan / Gounden seated presumably in the Charge Office at KwaGingindlovu early 1960’s (Note the old crank handle type telecommunication system above his left shoulder)
Vurdan / Gounden his wife Govindammah and two of their five children, presumably in the 1960’s in KwaGingindlovu
Vurdan / Gounden standing alongside a Police Landrover
While stationed there, he successfully passed the promotion examinations and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. This was a significant achievement, especially during the apartheid era, when command positions were almost always held by white officers. At that time, white Sergeants, Warrant Officers, or Head Constables usually took command of small or rural police stations, regardless of the abilities of non-white officers.
As a result of the system in place, Vurdan / Gounden was transferred to the South African Police in Loop Street, Pietermaritzburg in 1968, where he achieved another important milestone in his career. He was appointed as the first Indian Recruiting Officer in Pietermaritzburg. In this role, he played a key part in recruiting and enrolling many Indian policemen, several of whom later became well-known and respected officers. Colonel Johnny Govender was one such officer.
Sergeant Vurdan / Gounden; Warrant Officer G Moopanar, welfare officer based in Port Natal (Durban); Sergeant Mariappa Pillay and an unidentified member presumably taken in Pietermaritzburg during 1970’s
During the early 1970’s he was transferred to SA Police, Mountain Rise where he performed duties as one of the Shift Commanders.
I have been informed that he underwent a Counter Insurgency Course shortly thereafter 1972 at Maleoskop, Groblersdal, Mpumalanga.
Throughout his career, Vurdan / Gounden was awarded several medals for faithful and loyal service and exemplary conduct. He was known for his wide knowledge of all aspects of police work and for carrying out his duties with professionalism and integrity. Those who worked with him remembered him as highly intelligent, fair and dedicated. He was also known for his kind nature and straightforward manner, treating everyone with respect while maintaining discipline and honesty.
Vurdan standing alongside Peugeot 404 panel van with 3 of his five children on the bonnet
Sergeant Vurdan / Gounden in blue uniform during the early 1980’s in Pietermaritzburg
Sergeant Vurdan / Gounden in blue uniform during the early 1980’s in Pietermaritzburg
Sergeant Vurdan / Gounden in blue uniform and his dear wife Govindammah during the early 1980’s in Pietermaritzburg
Colonel Johnny Govender
“In 1968, while working for a private company on the same street as the Loop Street Police Station, I often noticed an Indian gentleman walking down the street after 16:00. I watched him from the third floor of our building. He was dressed in full police uniform, looked very smart, and carried a briefcase. He walked with confidence and discipline, like a soldier. His posture, neatness and presence truly inspired and impressed me immensely.
In 1969, when my company began retrenching staff, I remembered him and walked up to the police station located him and he enrolled me into the South African Police as a future vocation.
At the interview, I saw a thick pink law manual on his desk. He pointed to it and told us, ‘Study this and it will hold you in good stead to progress in the SAP.’ I followed his advice, and it served me well throughout my 30-year career.
I later briefly encountered him at SA Police, Mountain Rise where he served as Shift Commander. He was also known for his kind nature and straightforward manner, treating everyone with respect while maintaining discipline” – Colonel Johnny Govender
CONTIRBUTION BY HIS GRANDDAUGHTER
PARKINSON’S STOLE MY GRANDFATHER, MS DEANTHA GOVENDER
“PARKINSONS, the thief of the mind and body, is totally unpredictable and heartless.
(Courtesy The Witness dated 23/09/2015)
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PARKINSONS, the thief of the mind and body, is totally unpredictable and heartless.
I woke up to the powerful but pleasant sound of my grandfather’s daily visit. I ran up to him and leapt into his thick, muscular arms. His familiar cigarette smell drifted past as I hugged him tightly. We sat and had our breakfast together while he told me stories and sipped his tea casually.
He had the warmest smile and his loving and excitable eyes glistened through his spectacles. He sat so comfortably with his sturdy legs stretched out in front of him. His belly boep as full and bulbous as ever.
We said goodbye until the next day and he drove up the driveway. When he reached the top gate, he smashed into it. Nothing serious happened.
All that was damaged was his bumper, luckily. But we had no idea then that Parkinson’s had already crept up to my grandfather and had taken its first strike.
Grandfather visited Grandmother’s grave every day with some fresh, fragrant and beautiful flowers from the garden. I would occasionally tag along. We would sing along to songs and after we visited Grandmother, we would buy some sweets and gobble them down on the way home.
I stopped accompanying him after a while as I saw that my passenger seat was already taken by none other than Parkinson’s.
Grandfather’s daily visits were slowly and painfully dwindling as was he. He became clumsier as his driving was a hazard and the random push by Parkinson’s caused my grandfather to tumble and fall.
As Grandfather fell, so did his independence. Parkinson’s deliberately stole grandfather’s car and his ability to drive because Parkinson’s knew that that was the key to Grandfather’s freedom. No access to the sweetshop. No access to my grandmother. No access to my family and me. My grandfather was Parkinson’s prisoner.
Like dark poison, Parkinson’s oozed through my grandfather’s blood, paralysing his body and mind.
Grandfather soon became frail and brittle. He shuffled along with his flimsy, skinny legs and his trousers were loose and baggy on him. Tucked into his soft, cushioned slippers were his worn-out feet and his bony hand held firmly onto his walking stick.
His once thick, muscular arms, now a shadow of what they were, as they were deflated. Parkinson’s drained the life out of my grandfather’s once comforting and full face.
His warm smile faded and his eyes lost their glisten and were dull. His cheek bones protruded and the colour in his face seeped out. Grandfather’s belly boep was broken into and nothing remained.
Grandfather’s bubbly, humorous, talkative and lively personality was gradually torn apart and taken, and he soon became reserved and lonesome. As if to mock my grandfather, Parkinson’s then manipulated his voice. It was muted, jittery and shrill, as if Parkinson’s was pulling Grandfather’s vocal cords.
For many people, the sixth age of man is a time to be with one’s family, to enjoy the peacefulness and to relax. In my grandfather’s situation, the sixth age was a time of prolonged pain and suffering. Parkinson’s took him over and he was pulled away from all the things he loved -his car, his hobbies, his abilities and his family.
Parkinson’s took everything away from him. Parkinson’s stole my grandfather.
Deantha Govender is currently a Grade 11 pupil at The Wykeham Collegiate, where she has been since Grade RR. She loves to write both poetry and short stories. Deantha was very close to her grandfather and she would often visit him at his home, a few roads down from her own in Pietermaritzburg. Deantha wrote this story for an English essay based on a Shakespeare poem ‘Seven Ages of Man’ “
Sergeant Vurdan / Gounden retired from the South African Police after serving for 25 years loyally and faithfully on 1985-11-30.
He sadly passed away on 2012-02-29.
“agnoscere et honorare servientibus” –
“to acknowledge and honour those who served”
“Soli Deo Gloria” – “To God Alone Glory”
Logan Govender
