A new book, Kings of Durban Part 2: How The Town Was Won, is set to be launched in February, shedding light on the underworld of Durban and the story of Savy Govender, a Chatsworth drug dealer dubbed 'Mandrax Muniamma'. Govender rose to notoriety for transporting mandrax from India into South Africa in the late 1960s. Her story will be featured in the book, which is a sequel to author Deepak Panday's Kings of Durban Part 1.
According to Panday, Govender allegedly escaped prison twice, once while walking out with a relative who posed as her attorney. She was given the name Mandrax Muniamma due to Muniamma being one of the names she used on a fake passport to bring drugs into South Africa. Panday said he became intrigued with Govender's story when he found out through his research how she operated her drug business, roping in her husband and extended family as drug mules.
Govender used different identifications for each flight, hiding drugs in suitcases with saris. She continued her operations for about 10 years, becoming one of the most successful and hard-to-catch women in crime. Her story will also mention her time in a Bombay prison and a shocking prison escape from Westville Prison. Govender faced several charges in different parts of the country, and some of her children changed their names to disassociate themselves from her after she was caught for drug dealing in the 80s.
Panday, who began writing the series to shed light on the underworld of Durban, had to wait to write the sequel due to safety reasons. He said that he could not just write a book exposing people for things they had spent years not wanting revealed. The book was told with the permission of Govender's daughter, who did not want to be named. Panday interviewed Govender's daughter and granddaughter, who mentioned that despite her crimes, Govender maintained being a loving mother and cared for her family and community.
According to Panday, Govender's family believes that she did what she did to feed her family. While Panday does not glamorize drug dealers, he notes that Govender was very brave and ruled with a code of ethics, never using violence to expand her business. It is shocking how she was able to get away with bringing large quantities of mandrax into the country undetected for years. Panday added that Govender's actions, for an ordinary Chatsworth aunty in the 60s, are things you would think you would only see in American movies.
The book aims to provide an insight into the underworld of Durban and how drug dealing and gangs started among Indians. Panday's research gave him the perception that Govender was a complex figure, and her story will contribute to a better understanding of the history of crime in Durban. The launch of Kings of Durban Part 2 is expected to generate significant interest, given the notoriety of Govender's crimes and the insight into her life that the book promises to provide.
Key points
- The book, Kings of Durban Part 2, tells the story of Savy Govender, a Chatsworth drug dealer who allegedly transported mandrax from India into South Africa in the late 1960s.
- Govender allegedly escaped prison twice and was known for her bravery and code of ethics in her dealings.
- The book aims to provide an insight into the underworld of Durban and how drug dealing and gangs started among Indians.
