Nkosinathi Ndzengu, affectionately known as “Rubber” was born in eQhamani by the late Mkhululi and Nothobile Ndzengu. He went to Andrew Moyake for his primary education and Nathanial Nyaluza for his high school education. Due to the apartheid system, he could not finish his education. However, he joined the struggle where he spent his young years as a freedom fighter.
During the late seventies and eighties, Rubber was involved in the struggle for liberation and was incarcerated in various police stations and prisons. In 1976, he assisted senior comrades to distribute political pamphlets. In 1980, while involved in high school politics, he was arrested at the Alicedale police station and detained for 28 days. In 1982, while attending a student’s meeting in Dimbaza he was arrested and detained for 6 months. In 1984 he was arrested at the Seven Fountains Police Station and detained for 14 days. In addition, Rubber was forced to relocate and sought asylum in Pietermaritzburg, where he stayed for two weeks. In 1985, he was detained for 14 days at the Kenton-on-Sea police station.
Rubber began his career at Rhodes University in 1985 as a temporary researcher in the Department of Economics. He believed in education and hence completed his Matric (Grade 12) in 1990 through the Department of Education Adult Centre. That same year, Rubber came to the Department of Zoology and Entomology and, in 1991, was appointed permanently as a Laboratory Assistant. He was promoted to Senior Laboratory Assistant in 1999 and to Technical Assistant in 2016. In 2011, Rubber received the Rhodes University Achievers Award.
Rubber was passionate about uplifting and fighting for the working class community, thus he served as a shop steward for the NEHAWU. He was instrumental in the establishment of the NEHAWU at Rhodes University and served as the NEHAWU Rhodes secretary for three consecutive terms. As known, Rubber had a rare disability, thus he represented the NEHAWU on the Disability Committee. He has contributed to the successes of many answered grievances workers have had over the years. In addition, he worked as a trustee for the NBC. He was elected to represent workers in the fund where he dealt with critical and confidential matters. In 2013, he was elected as the ANC Lizo Nkohla Branch Chairperson. He was also treasurer of the branch and was re-elected as Chairperson in 2022.
Amongst his passions, he was a lover of jazz music, loved all things nature and spent most of his time nurturing his garden and playing chess. He was married to Nokuzola Ndzengu and they were blessed with two children, Nobathembu and Liswelihle.
Rubber was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He was humble, polite, respectful and always willing to help. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Rubber leaves behind his wife, Nokuzola, and his children Ntombekhaya, Nobathembu and Liswelihle.
Information and photo supplied by Nobathembu Ndzengu | Compiled by Candice Roux, 22/09/2022