Yunus Mohamed

Who was Yunus Mohamed?

Yunus "YM" Mohamed was a South African lawyer and activist instrumental in founding the United Democratic Front.

Mohamed was born in Johannesburg to Amina and Ismail Mohamed, one of at least five children. Growing up in Jeppe, he was educated at Gold Street Primary School and William Hills Secondary School. He then went to Natal, to the University of Durban-Westville, where in 1972 he took part in SASO's student boycotts. He eventually graduated from the University of South Africa.

He joined the Natal Indian Congress in 1970, and later the South African Communist Party and ANC.

In 1976 he became an attorney, going on to work for the law firm of Shun Chetty, which had a record of defending anti-apartheid activists. He joined the Democratic Lawyers' Association and his work included the Chatsworth housing action committee and the Natal rates committee. From 1981 to 82 he was detained, and in 1985 was arrested again. In 1986 he served on the economic intelligence desk of the ANC. He was involved in negotiations with the Inkatha Freedom Party to help reduce political violence in KwaZulu-Natal.

He was a founding member of the UDF in 1983, and later became regional secretary for Natal. According to fellow UDF founder Trevor Manuel