Yakub Hasan Sait (born 1880, Surat, Bombay Presidency, British India – died 1960, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa) was a prominent South African Indian politician, businessman, and community leader, best known for his close association with Mahatma Gandhi during the latter's time in South Africa and for becoming the first Indian Mayor of Pietermaritzburg.
Early Life and Arrival in South Africa Yakub Hasan Sait was born in Surat, British India, in 1880. Like many Indian immigrants of his time, he later moved to South Africa, settling in the colony of Natal (now KwaZulu-Natal). He established himself as a successful businessman in Pietermaritzburg, which became his long-term home.
Political and Community Involvement Sait quickly became an influential figure within the Indian community in South Africa, which was at the forefront of the struggle against racial discrimination and unjust laws imposed by the colonial and later apartheid governments.
- Association with Mahatma Gandhi: He was a close confidante and active supporter of Mahatma Gandhi during Gandhi's formative years of political activism in South Africa. Sait participated in many of Gandhi's early non-violent resistance campaigns (Satyagraha) and played a crucial role in organizing and mobilizing the Indian community. His home in Pietermaritzburg was reportedly a frequent meeting place for Gandhi and other activists.
- Natal Indian Congress (NIC): Sait was an active member of the Natal Indian Congress, an organization founded by Gandhi to fight for the rights of Indians in South Africa. He held various leadership positions within the NIC, contributing significantly to its advocacy and political efforts.
- First Indian Mayor of Pietermaritzburg: A landmark achievement in his career and for the Indian community was his election as the Mayor of Pietermaritzburg in 1944. This made him the first Indian person to hold such a distinguished municipal office in South Africa, a testament to his community standing and the gradual, albeit slow, political progress for Indians before the full entrenchment of apartheid. His mayoral tenure was a symbol of hope and recognition for the disenfranchised Indian population.
Legacy Yakub Hasan Sait passed away in 1960. His life and career left an enduring legacy as a tireless advocate for justice and equality for the Indian community in South Africa. His work alongside Gandhi helped lay the groundwork for the broader anti-apartheid movement, and his mayoral election remains a significant milestone in South African political history. He is remembered as a pioneering leader who bridged business success with dedicated public service and political activism.