Durban — The South African Indian Legion (SAIL) of Military Veterans’ 1st Commemorative Service was held at the Queen Nandi Mounted Rifles Regiment in Durban at the weekend.
Among the attendees were notable members of the South African Indian community from the military and police services.
At the service, Legionnaire Sam Pillay, 59, was awarded the Order of Merit of outstanding service to the South African Indian Legion of Military Veterans and to his fellow veterans.
Pillay, of Chatsworth, served in the South African Navy in the 1980s.
The SAIL team said Pillay deserved the award because he helped a veteran who was homeless and begging on the streets of Durban.
“The veteran was going blind due to cataract problems and had swollen ankles and knees which made it difficult to walk without a walking aid. Pillay took the veteran home and afforded him the opportunity to shower and (gave him) clean attire. He then called us for assistance. The veteran was taken to a place of safety and permanently housed at a safe institution. Thank you, Sir, for your outstanding service to humanity,” the SAIL said.
Pillay told the Daily News he had helped destitute people for some time.
“I was passing the Durban Central police station when I came across this individual who I recognised as an old friend from the defence force. I uplifted him morally and then through SAIL we got him housed at an institution in Durban. I would have done it for anyone. I am proud to receive the medal,” Pillay said.
Also at the ceremony were Warrant Officer Laren Krishna, the only South African Indian to have served as an operative in the South African Special Forces; Vino Eargambram, the first Indian pilot to have served in the SA Air Force; Captain Rajoo Tiger Ellappan, a police instructor and renowned wrestler.
Also present were Colonel David Perumal, an Umkhonto we Sizwe operative and a doctor who received his training in Russia and Legionnaire Sherene Rambalee, who was the first Indian woman to serve in the SA Air Force and first person of colour to be appointed into the Ministry of Defence in 1993 and later appointed as personal assistant to minister Joe Modise.
Rambalee also served in South West Africa during the Angolan Bush War.
Daily News