[1] The great-grandchild of indentured labourers from Andhra Pradesh, Phillip is the first person of Indian heritage in South Africa to hold the position of Bishop of Natal.
He grew up in Clairwood, a suburb of Durban with a large concentration of people of Indian descent, in a non-religious household, but converted to Christianity.
[10] In 2008, Phillip, working with the dockworkers' union, successfully obtained a court order preventing arms shipments destined for Zimbabwe from being transported through South Africa.
[1] He has attended meetings, memorials, mass ecumenical prayers, marches and UnFreedom Day rallied hosted by Abahlali baseMjondolo[15] and supported the organisation's successful battle to have the KZN Slums Act declared unconstitutional.
[16][17] In September 2009, he condemned the violent expulsion of Abahlali baseMjondolo from the Kennedy Road informal settlement blaming political interference and stating that "this militia has acted with the support of the local ANC structures".