After a pledge during an emotional reunion between family members from the Kimberley area and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in 2020, the pledge was honoured during a recent event in Umkomaas.
In May 2020, the former Noordkaap newspaper, now NoordkaapBulletin, published a story on the Arumugam Kistan family from KwaZulu-Natal who wants to connect with family members from their mother’s side in the Barkly West or Kimberley area.
Thanks to the publication of the story, the families were able to make contact, which led to an emotional reunion in November 2020.
At this event, the KZN family pledged to host the Wax and extended families from different parts of the country in a return leg of reunions, which took place recently at The Italian Club in Umkomaas.
Abel Arumugam wrote amongst the guests of 150, were 90 Wax family members from other parts of the country who made the journey to the South Coast of KZN.
“At the event a great time was had by all with music by Ash of Sounds Invasion, the Abel Arumugam established pop-band of yesteryear, and DJ Les R. with his brand of re-mixes,” said Arumugam.
Ashwin Mahipath acted as the master of ceremonies, keeping guests in the party mood while they tucked into the meal that were prepared in Durban tradition.
The guests were taken on a nostalgic journey with overhead projections of the family’s history, family tree and a picture photo story of the reunion of 2020.
Tokens of appreciation were handed over between the families, as well as a booklet of the history of both sides of the family.
In his address, Arumugan said, “If you don’t know where you come from, you won’t know where you going.”
Special guest Minister Narend Singh took guests on a nostalgic journey, outlining the close relationship his family shared with the Arumugams back in the days.
The event closed off with a promise of another reunion in the not too distant future.
