All three of the murdered men were deeply involved in attempting to promote racial unity and to improve social conditions for the black majority.
Mr. Anvari and his wife had recently established a tutorial school for young black children. Dr. Bakhshandegi was one of just a handful of white doctors working at the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, which is itself the only major hospital in Mdantsane. And Mr. Razavi, as director of finance at the all-black University of Fort Hare, was likewise one of just a handful of white staff members there.
Their activities and commitment reflect the overall aim of the Bahá'ís of South Africa, who have been quietly working to establish a model for an integrated society -- and are today winning increasing recognition for their success at this endeavor.
"In times to come, we will probably hear more and more about the Bahá'ís," said Dr. Gerrie Lubbe, national president of the South African chapter of the World Conference on Religion and Peace, an internationally recognized interfaith organization that strives to promote the peace process worldwide. The Bahá'í attitude about racial unity, he said, "is so much in line with how we hope to see the new South Africa developing."
During the darkest days of state-sponsored apartheid policy,
Bahá'ís continued to hold multi-racial services and
meetings, focusing instead on their goal of building a harmonious and
diverse community which could, at the proper time, demonstrate to all
South Africans that such associations are not only possible -- but are
in fact joyous and reflective of the reality of human oneness.