The life of activist and life long member of the Unity Movement, Dawood Parker - who passed away on 22 October - will be commemorated in a memorial service on Sunday 29 November at the Baxter Theatre at 3pm. Parker died after a short illness, from cancer of the bone marrow at the age of 73.
Parker first rose to prominence as a leading activist of the Anti-CAD and the Non-European Unity Movement (NEUM) in the Cape Peninsula during the early 1950's. He achieved lasting fame and renown as the secretary of the South Peninsula Educational Fellowship (SPEF) which played such an important role in providing students in the Cape Peninsula with exposure to political ideas and world culture.
During the period of severe state repression in the 60's and early 70's when overt political activity became proscribed, SPEF served as one of the organisations through which the philosophy, principles and policies of the Unity Movement were kept alive. In the early 1980's, he took a leading role in bringing about the resuscitation of the Unity Movement. He was pivotal in bringing the New Unity Movement (NUM) into being in 1985, serving as the first joint secretary of the organisation. He also played a leading role in the New World Film Society.
"We are saddened by the death of Comrade Dawood Parker on the 22 October," said president of the New Unity Movement, Dr Basil Brown. "Comrade Parker played an active role in civic affairs, serving as an executive member of the Wynberg and Districts Civic Association. At the time of his death he was an active member of our South Peninsula Branch and served as the convenor of the NUM's Constitutional Commission."
Parker was unmarried and spent his last days in the home of his nephews and nieces who devotedly tendered to him from the time that he left the hospital till his passing and funeral on the 22 October. He is survived by his sisters. He was buried on 22 October. VOC |
