User:Pauldylanwes/sandbox

Samuel Leslie Dishy was born in the heart of Johannesburg, South Africa on June 20th 1922. His mother Rebecca

Richman was from England, and his father was a Sephardic Jew who came to South Africa from Lebanon shortly

after the Anglo Boer War.

Les attended the Jewish Government Primary School, and left Athlone Boys High School at 15 years old to get a job

to support the family.

Les lied about his age in 1939 to join the army. He was only 17 years. He served in the medical corps up North and

later in the air force. He trained as a pilot and served with the Allied forces in World War 2. He gained his wings

and served with 12 and 34 Squadron in North Africa and Italy and Warsaw.

He married Edie Ada Lipschitz in 1946 and they had 4 children.

Les started Sewknit Machine Company in Diagonale St. Johannesburg offering training courses to his black clients

which included the wife of Chief Buthelezi, one of King Goodwill Zwelithinis wives and Felicia Mabuzas

grandmother. He also employed Winnie Mandela at a time when others in the white community would not hire

her.

He founded the Johannesburg African Music Society in 1959 and the choir traveled all over the country singing

works such as Handels Messiah. All proceeds went to the African Children’s Feeding Scheme. He had to get

permission from the Minister of Community and Development to allow black artists to perform in front of white

audiences. Minister MC Botha refused the choir permission to perform with a white audience orchestra but

eventually allowed a white organist to provide the only accompaniment to the singers.

His varied contributions to South Africa span more than 40 years. He was a staunch anti-apartheid activist. He

joined the City Council in 1977 and was a founder member of the Progressive Party, later to be the Democratic

Party. He was at the forefront of the desegregation campaign and as early as 1979 began calling for the integration

of Johannesburg bus services. In the early 80’s he led another campaign to scrap the Group Areas Act. He was

Chairman of the Democratic Party Caucus in the City Council for 9 years. He served as mayor in 1993/94 and was

known as the “Mayor of the People.” His theme for the year was, “It’s the People that Matter.” He was also the

longest serving member of the “Moths” and was active in many other groups devoting his life to charities all in the

service of his fellow men.

Les died on January 13th 1995 after a 10 year struggle with Cancer. He was 72.