Al-Qalam 
By Ismail Suder
Coral Vinsen (94) of Durban is probably the oldest human rights activist in South Africa to publicly protest each week against the genocide in Gaza – come hail, rain or shine,
Her activism was bolstered by her lifetime friend, Judge Navi Pillay, the former UN High Commissioner. Last week, Coral invited Judge Navi Pillay to her home in Durban North for dinner, where the two women reminisced about the dark days of Apartheid. Recently, just before retiring from the Human Rights body, Judge Pillay declared that Israel had committed a “Genocide” in Gaza.
While many people are content to support Palestine in their social media group chats, Coral serves in the trenches. You could find her protesting with a placard in drenching rain, bitter cold, or in burning sun at strategic points in the city.
In an exclusive interview with Al-Qalam, Coral said she was unfazed by criticism from some of her friends who frown at her support for the Palestinian cause.
Sharp-witted, sprightly and blessed with excellent health, Coral and Saydoon Nisa Sayed, a well-known Palestinian rights activist of Durban, could be seen across the city with placards calling for the end to the Zionist Genocide.
“Navi had declared during an UN inquiry that what the Israelis were doing was classified as a Genocide, but for decades before that, the Israelis were oppressing the Palestinians; they were encroaching on their land, they were cutting down their olive trees – they were facing cruel injustices at every turn. The Occupied land originally belonged to the Palestinian people and the British and others in the West decided to split it, and illegally gave the Jewish people a homeland,” she added.
In the 1950’s Coral was the first virologist in Durban and she played a leading role in treating hundreds of people during a polio outbreak.
Her anti-apartheid activism and campaigns for social justice were first awakened in her 20’s when she heard gossip from her first fiancé’s family that she might not have pure European blood. Needless to say, she was horrified and severed all ties with them.
With a new outlook on life, she became a founding member of the Active Citizens Movement (ACM), and also signed up to join many social justice groups, including the Black Sash – a resistance organization for Liberal white women. She was also instrumental in founding a chapter of Amnesty International (SA) in Durban after the fall of apartheid.
Despite her senior years, Coral continues to give back to the community by hosting gardening workshops at her home. “I think if people are hungry, that’s very dangerous; we must be sure that people have food,” Coral pointed out.
Meanwhile, her longtime activist friend, Saydoon Nisa Sayed, who continues to hold pickets for Gaza each Friday, told Al-Qalam that she first met Coral during the “Defiance Campaign” of the 1990s, where she was in the forefront of anti-apartheid activism.
“During my time with the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa (MYM), where we were involved in planning various protest events, we would invite Coral to address our gatherings. Over the years, she has been part of many national Palestine solidarity marches and even spoke to hundreds of people from the steps of the Durban City Hall.
“Because of our involvement with Amnesty International (Durban chapter), the human rights organization acknowledged both Coral and I – and other women – for our dedicated work within the organisation.
“At the age of 94, Coral has been supportive of the protest actions for a free Palestine, and most recently, addressed protest gatherings on the Durban beachfront to highlight the genocide in Gaza.
“She continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with us in our Palestine campaigns, she supports our workshops on Palestine and is a real power and strength for women everywhere. Coral has been family to me and I’m truly blessed to have her as a friend for all these years, Saydoon Nisa said.
Turning to Coral, Al-Qalam asked for how long would she continue fighting for the Palestinian cause, she replied without hesitation – “Till my last breath.”
