Struggle Hero: How Subry Govender Defied Apartheid Through Truth
At 79, veteran struggle journalist Marimuthu Subramoney, known as Subry Govender, stands as a towering testament to the power of truth against oppression. His new autobiography Coolie Journalist chronicles a lifetime spent fighting apartheid through fearless reporting, despite surveillance, detention, and banning orders that sought to silence his voice.
This is not just the story of one man, but a powerful reminder of how our people resisted colonial brutality through every means available, including the pen that proved mightier than the oppressor's sword.
Roots in Colonial Exploitation
Subramoney's story begins with the brutal reality of colonial exploitation. As a third-generation descendant of indentured labourers, his family's journey mirrors that of thousands who were brought to South Africa as cheap labour for white-owned sugar estates.
His maternal great-grandparents arrived from Tamil Nadu in the early 1880s, forced to work at the Blackburn Sugar Estate near Mount Edgecombe. After their 10-year indentureship, they continued serving white families, moving to Ladysmith before eventually settling in Natal.
The trauma of displacement and exploitation ran deep. His grandmother and her sister nearly drowned in a flooded river, saved only by the intervention of a passing stranger. These early experiences of vulnerability and community solidarity would shape Subramoney's worldview and commitment to justice.
Awakening to Injustice
Born in Cato Manor in 1946, Subramoney's political consciousness was forged early. During school holidays, while working as a cane weeder at a sugar estate in Ottawa, he witnessed the dehumanising treatment of Black workers by white supervisors.
When he challenged a supervisor's abusive behaviour toward women workers, he was told to leave. Without hesitation, he walked away, taking his friends with him. This moment crystallised his understanding of racial oppression and his refusal to accept it.
"I noticed the difference in the way people were treated. I did not like it, and neither was I going to stand for it," he recalls.
The Making of a Truth-Teller
Unable to afford university initially, Subramoney worked as an insurance clerk while freelancing for the Daily News and Golden City POST. His commitment to exposing racial inequality cost him his first job when he wrote an article questioning why motor insurance was cheaper for whites than for Blacks.
This pattern of speaking truth to power would define his career. In 1973, he joined the Daily News full-time, immediately becoming a target of the security police who dismissively referred to him as "that coolie journalist."
The apartheid regime's response was swift and brutal. They tapped his phones, monitored his correspondence, raided his home and office, and subjected him to constant harassment. He was detained for six days after writing about school boycotts, yet he remained undeterred.
Building Black Media Power
Subramoney understood that liberation required not just resistance but the creation of independent Black media institutions. After the Soweto Uprising in 1976, he played an instrumental role in founding the Union of Black Journalists, though the organisation was banned within a year.
His work as a foreign correspondent for BBC, Radio Deutsche Welle, Radio Netherlands, and other international outlets ensured that the world heard the truth about apartheid's crimes. This global reach terrified the regime, leading to a three-year banning order and house arrest in 1980.
Even under these restrictions, Subramoney continued his education, completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and international relations. He also established the Press Trust of South Africa, an independent news agency that challenged the white-controlled media narrative.
Covering Liberation
When his banning order was lifted, Subramoney returned to journalism with renewed vigour, serving as the official South African correspondent for international outlets from 1983 to 1994. He covered the momentous release of Nelson Mandela, his election as president, and the dawn of democracy.
These weren't just news events for Subramoney, they were the fruition of decades of struggle in which he had played a vital role. His interviews with liberation heroes like Ahmed Kathrada and Fatima Meer preserved crucial voices of resistance for future generations.
Legacy of Resistance
After joining the SABC as senior political correspondent in 1994, Subramoney continued serving until his retirement in 2010. Even then, he remained active as a foreign correspondent until 2023, ensuring that African perspectives reached global audiences.
His autobiography serves as both memoir and manifesto, documenting how journalists of colour fought apartheid while inspiring future generations to defend media freedom. As he notes: "Without freedom of speech and freedom of the media, democracy would not survive in the new South Africa."
At 79, married to Thyna for 52 years with three children and seven grandchildren, Subramoney embodies the resilience of our people. His next book will compile interviews with freedom fighters, ensuring their stories survive for posterity.
Subry Govender's journey reminds us that the struggle for justice continues, and that truth-telling remains our most powerful weapon against oppression. His life proves that no amount of surveillance, detention, or intimidation can silence those committed to justice and human dignity.