Hanif Bhamjee: in memoriam

Hanif Bhamjee was a South African exile living in Wales.?He became the Secretary of the Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement at its foundation in 1981 until its dissolution in 1994.??He then took on the role of Secretary to its successor organisation, Action for Southern Africa in Wales (ACTSA Cymru).??This was a role in the 1980s that put him in physical danger.?His car was damaged and he himself was assaulted He took an active role in organising the protests against the Springboks and other South African rugby teams visiting Wales, and under his leadership 22 anti-apartheid branches became active in Wales.

In 2003, he was awarded an OBE for “services to Race Relations, the Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement and the charity and voluntary sector”.??In 2008, he was awarded the Mahatma Gandhi Award for reconciliation and peace.??Is book “WAAM: a History of the Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement” was published by Seren Books in 2013.

Hanif had been ill for some years and was recently admitted to hospital in Cardiff where he died on the afternoon of 8th January.?It was very appropriately the anniversary of the founding of the liberation movement in South Africa to which he contributed so much.??Hamba Kahle Hanif, a hero of the heroes