I am presently, a retired educationist. I am a Paul Harris Fellow.
I was born in Pietermaritzburg on 18 July 1948, being the youngest of four children. I married to Chetralekha Singh (Jean) 43 years ago. We have three children, viz. Dhamendra, Sivashni and Seshmika, all of whom are happily married. We have two grand-children. My only surviving sister, Cynthia Lewis lives in Catford, London.
Schooling career: Both Primary education and Secondary education were obtained in Pietermaritzburg. My tertiary education was obtained at the ML Sultan Technical College where I obtained the National Teachers’ Diploma in Commerce. My academic education includes a Bachelor of Arts Degree and the Masters Degree in Public Administration (MPA). I also hold qualifications in the B.Com degree and the B.Ed. (Management) degree.
Educational experience: As an educator I taught Afrikaans, Accounting and Typing at Tongaat Secondary; served as a lecturer at Springfield College of Education lecturing to trainee teachers in Accounting, Typing, Business Economics and Economics; Head of Department (Commercial Subjects); Assistant Chief Education Specialist/Subject Advisor – for Typing and Commercial Subjects – ex HOD.
I served as Acting Ward Manager in 1998 in the Phoenix Circuit and the Mafukuzela-Gandhi Circuit (2009) and as Principal of Lenarea Secondary School for fifteen years.
In the Senior Certificate Examination I was Internal Moderator: Typing (ex HOD), External Moderator: Typing (SAFCERT/UMALUSI, Chief Examiner: Typing (NATED 550) – National Education, Chief Marker: Mercantile Law – NATED 550, Chief Examiner: Mercantile Law – NATED 550. Total years of teaching experience: 43 years.
Community Involvement: Former member of the Rotary Club of Umhlali (now Ballito) and Rotary Club of Kwa Dukuza-Zimbali. I served as President of the Umhlali/Ballito Club on two occasions. I chaired the District Interact Committee (District 9270) for three consecutive years. Served as Rotary Adviser to Interact Clubs; assisted with the formation and the monitoring of the Childrens’ Education Programme (bursaries to learners) at four secondary schools (now two) with Rotarians Dr Hans and Birgit Flenders – at the Zimbali Club where funding is obtained from Rotarians from Germany. As a Rotarian I was involved in several community projects involving senior citizens at the Tongaat Retirement Village, cerebral-palsied learners – horse riding (AM Moolla Spes Nova), former member of the RDA (Riders’ for Disabled Association) old age homes, crèches, abused persons, children with special education needs (Downs Syndromme Children – Sunfield Homes, Verulam), hospice at Vulamehlo (Groutville), Noah (Nkobongo), Groutville, assisted with the distribution of toys (East Coast Radio), Winter Warmth (blankets), and food parcels. Presently involved with the Haven of Rest in Tongaat – a non-governmental organisation (which caters for Cluster Foster Care, training for foster parents and care workers, the senior citizen’s Home, a hospice that caters for terminally ill patients), Half-way House for recovering alcoholics and drug dependants, orphans, a Hope Centre which is a shelter for victims of domestic violence, and the Haven of Rest School which encompasses a playschool, preschool, and learners from grade one to grade eight. The Haven of Rest is in dire need of restoration, painting, infra-structure upkeep (the buildings are more than 105 years old), tiling. The Haven of Rest attempts to feed 3 meals a day and feed more than 120 people daily.