By IANS
Durban : Rich tributes were paid to George Sewpersadh, the anti-apartheid leader of Indian origin, with mourners describing him as a people's hero during the dark days of apartheid.
Sewpersadh, an African National Congress (ANC) stalwart died here last month at the age of 70 due to cancer.
"His life was selfless and we know that he was greatly influenced by India's freedom leaders, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru," Pius Langa, the Chief Justice of South Africa, said Saturday.
Sewpersadh, a lawyer by profession, was the former president of the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) and later became vice president of the United Democratic Front, the online edition of SABCnews reported.
Born into a middle class family in Durban in 1936, Sewpersadh became involved in the anti-apartheid movement from an early age started his political life while studying law at the then University of Natal. He joined the NIC at the age of 20.
People recalled how Sewpersadh was detained and banned many times but he did not stop fighting against apartheid. He was also remembered for using his legal profession for the benefit of the poor.