The life and legacy of Sam Ramsamy: championing non-racial sport in SA

From becoming a teacher to fighting against discrimination in the sports sector and leading the first non-racial South African team to the Olympic Games in 1992, Sambasivan 'Sam' Ramsamy reflects on his journey, writes Nadia Khan

- Nadia Khan

AS A YOUNG boy, Sambasivan “Sam” Ramsamy’s dream was to become a great sportsman as he excelled in football, swimming and athletics.

However, due to an injury the 87-year-old, of uMhlanga, says was unable to fulfil that dream; decided he would fight for others to live out theirs.

This led him to fight against discrimination within sport during apartheid in a bid to give black South Africans opportunities, including being able to participate in the Olympics Games.

Childhood

Ramsamy, who is the eldest of five children, was born and lived in a municipal-compound known as the Magazine Barracks in Durban on January 27, 1938.

His paternal and maternal grandparents who hailed from a village in India, arrived in South Africa in the 1890s.

Ramsamy said after serving their time as indentured labourers, they worked for the municipality and lived in the barracks with their families.

“The barracks was initially made up of wood-and-iron homes, which were only one room. However, each family had a separate kitchen structure, opposite their room. The toilets/showers were communal as there was no running water or electricity in the rooms. The residents used paraffin lanterns and boiled water on a fire.

“However, later on the municipality built brick buildings, which my grandparents, who worked as supervisors for the municipality, were given. Not everyone got a new brick structure. My grandfather, however, also had running water in terms of a sink that was put in the home and electricity.

“When my sister was 10-months-old she passed away.

“After our mother’s passing, our grandparents took care of us. A few years later, my father remarried and they later had three other siblings. We were a happy and united family.