One of South Africa’s leading theatre personalities, Essop Khan died this week, a forgotten hero, who apart from nurturing scores of actors, raised millions of Rands for charities, schools, clinics and madressahs throughout his 50 year career. Mr Khan who became a household name along with his colleagues, Muhammad Ali and Savy Ramsamy did not get the recognition they deserved from the mainstream theatre community. Nor did the Muslim community acknowledge the trio for their philanthropy – it is estimated that during their tenure on stage, more than R25 million was raised by them for organisations. Yet the trio earned no more than R9 000 which they shared with their co-stars after each performance. There were promoters who made a hefty profit from their performances and still paid them a pittance. What was even more cruel was that they were hijacked, had their equipment stolen and were even physically attacked by gangsters when they visited townships throughout the country.
This week, a devastated Mr Muhammad Ali lamented the loss of a colleague, friend and brother with whom he explored the floorboards for 50 years. He was too distraught to talk and so was Mrs Ramsamy who could not come to terms with Mr Khan’s passing. They were regarded as the leading comedy artists in the fringe theatre world and each year for 20 consecutive years, came up with fresh new scripts which had audiences rolling in laughter in the aisles. After each performance, members of the audience would flock to their dressing room for a personal chat, extend invitations for dinner and to secure a much sought after autograph.
Mr Khan was also in demand to play characters and cameo roles in the movies and television productions. He did not get star billing, but he did not complain; only to return even more committed to his art. He arrived on the scene in 1960 when a number of luminaries like Professor Fatima Meer, Devi Bhugwan and a host of others launched the movement for non-racial theatre movement. This is where he met Muhammad Ali and a few years later they teamed up and very quickly recruited Mrs Ramsamy to join them in what became a hilarious line up of star studded productions like Jamal Syndrom, My Other Wife and The Muthoos Are Coming to Dinner. They appeared in just one serious drama, the Sacrifice that was based on the real life story of anti-apartheid activist, Valliammah Moodliyar who died while on a hunger strike in the Pietermaritzburg Prison.
A family member said that Mr Khan had not been well for sometime, but he seemed to be coping. Then last week, he suffered a stroke and was admitted to hospital after which he suffered a number of strokes. Doctors asked family members to take him home and make him comfortable because they could not do anything to improve his condition. He died at his Overport home surrounded by family members, relatives and close friends. South Africa lost one of its most gentle souls who had no regrets about the manner in which he lived his life. Tribute by long time friend Farook Khan