Schooled in Pietermaritzburg, Bhamjee was involved in anti-apartheid youth politics and the Natal Indian Congress.
As a high school student, he was recruited to become the youngest member of a Pietermaritzburg-based political study group that also included Harry Gwala and other stalwarts of the African National Congress.
[2] The network was able to mobilise demonstrations of several hundred at short notice, to protest against touring South African rugby teams.
[3] He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in the 2003 Birthday Honours, for "services to Race Relations, the Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement and the charity and voluntary sector".
[5] In 2009 Bhamjee returned to South Africa to be presented with a Mahatma Gandhi Award for reconciliation and peace.