The great-grandchild of indentured labourers from Andhra Pradesh, Phillip is the first person of Indian heritage in South Africa to hold the position of Bishop of Natal.
13 Facts About Rubin Phillip
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Rubin Phillip grew up in Clairwood, a suburb of Durban with a large concentration of people of Indian descent, in a non-religious household, but converted to Christianity.
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Rubin Phillip was a noted anti-apartheid activist and spent three years under house arrest in the 1970s and was banned in 1973.
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Rubin Phillip continues to take political positions and remains connected to grassroots struggles.
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Rubin Phillip was involved in the Black Consciousness Movement, was a close friend to Steve Biko and was the Deputy President of the South African Students' Organisation in 1972 when Steve Biko was President.
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Rubin Phillip was banned - legally excluded from public life - in 1973.
7.
In 2008, Rubin Phillip, working with the dockworkers' union, successfully obtained a court order preventing arms shipments destined for Zimbabwe from being transported through South Africa.
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Steve Biko 8.
Rubin Phillip is chair of the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum in South Africa.
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Rubin Phillip has been, and remains, a strong supporter of the shack dwellers' movement Abahlali baseMjondolo.
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Rubin Phillip supported the movement through the case that followed the attack.
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Rubin Phillip was very critical of the police massacre of striking mine workers at Marikana in 2012.
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Rubin Phillip has taken a strong stand against gender based violence.
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In 2009 Rubin Phillip was given the Bremen International Peace award on the grounds of his work in the struggle against apartheid and his ongoing work "to offer solidarity to the displaced people, victims of persecutions and detainees".