Gopallal Hurbans was a sugar cane farmer and vice-president of the Natal Indian Congress. He was also the chairman of the Natal Vigilance Committee which protested against the Group Areas Act.
He was a Natal merchant originally (1874–89), then moved to Johannesburg, primarily selling ammunition, dynamite, and arms. He was arrested for his involvement in the Jameson Raid, though fled to Natal during the war.