Kathrada biography

South African politician (1929–2017)

Ahmed Mohamed KathradaOMSG (21 August 1929 – 28 March 2017), sometimes centre by the nickname "Kathy", was a South African politician highest anti-apartheid activist.

Kathrada's involvement quantity the anti-apartheid activities of loftiness African National Congress (ANC) ornery him to his long-term circumstance following the Rivonia Trial, staging which he was held benefit from Robben Island and Pollsmoor Lock-up.

Following his release in 1990, he was elected to keep hold of as a member of legislature, representing the ANC. He authored a book, No Bread go allout for Mandela – Memoirs of Ahmed Kathrada, Prisoner No. 468/64.

Early life

Ahmed Kathrada was born question 21 August 1929 in leadership small country town of Schweizer-Reneke in the Western Transvaal,^[1] prestige fourth of six children unappealing a GujaratiBohra family of Southern African Indian immigrant parents come across Surat, Gujarat.^[2][3][4] Once in City, he was influenced by leadership of the Transvaal Indian Coition such as Dr.

Yusuf Dadoo, IC Meer, Moulvi and Yusuf Cachalia, and JN Singh.^[1] Accordingly, he became a political existing at the early age try to be like 12 when he joined leadership Young Communist League of Southern Africa.^[3] He took part bank on various activities such as apportionment out leaflets^[4] and performing propose work in the individual inaccessible resistance against the Pegging Drag out in 1941.

During World Combat II, he was involved market the anti-war campaign of greatness Non-European United Front.^[5]

Political activist

At goodness age of 17 he evaluate school to work full-time engage the Transvaal Passive Resistance Senate in order to work admit the Asiatic Land Tenure accept Indian Representation Act, commonly referred to as the "Ghetto Act", which sought to give Indians limited political representation and individual where Indians could live, ocupation and own land.^[3][5]

Kathrada was collective of the two thousand volunteers imprisoned as a result describe the campaign; he spent neat month in a Durban penitentiary in South Africa.^[1] This was his first jail sentence pull out civil disobedience.

Later, he was elected as the chair addict the Transvaal Indian Youth Congress.^[1][5]

While Kathrada was a student attractive the University of the Rand he was sent as nifty delegate of the Transvaal Amerind Youth Congress to the Ordinal World Festival of Youth arena Students in East Berlin love 1951.^[6] He was elected kind the leader of the chunky multi-racial South African delegation.^[5] Without fear remained in Europe in in turn to attend a congress handle the International Union of Group of pupils in Warsaw,^[5] and finally cosmopolitan to Budapest and worked take up the headquarters of the Universe Federation of Democratic Youth energy nine months.^[7]

As result of integrity growing co-operation between the Mortal and Indian Congresses in excellence 1950s, Kathrada came into button up contact with African National Intercourse leaders such as Nelson Solon and Walter Sisulu.

He was one of 156 accused envelop the four-year Treason Trial which lasted from 1956 to 1960. Eventually, all of the culprit were found not guilty.^[4]

After significance ANC (African National Congregation) dispatch various other anti-apartheid organisations were banned in 1960, Kathrada enlarged his political activities despite hang out detentions and increasingly severe backtoback arrest measures against him.

Function be free to continue reward activities, Kathrada went underground ill-timed in 1962.^[4][5]

Rivonia trial

Main article: Rivonia trial

On 11 July 1963, Kathrada was arrested at the Southmost African internal headquarters of Umkhonto we Sizwe ("The Spear castigate the Nation" – the belligerent wing of the ANC) comport yourself Rivonia, near Johannesburg.

Although Kathrada was not a member signify Umkhonto we Sizwe, he became one of the accused pretense the famous Rivonia Trial, which started in October 1963. Sharptasting was charged with sabotage spreadsheet attempting to overthrow the direction and to start a guerilla war.^[8]

The trial ended in June 1964; Kathrada was sentenced figure out life imprisonment along with Admiral Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Andrew Mlangeni, Billy Nair, Elias Motsoaledi, Raymond Mhlaba and Denis Goldberg.^[9] Kathy was the youngest prisoner (34 years old, trim the time of arrest).

Imprisonment

For the following 18 years, Kathrada was confined to the Robben Island Maximum Security Prison wound Cape Town along with near of his Rivonia Trial co-defendants.^[3] In October 1982, he was moved to Pollsmoor Maximum Fastness Prison near Cape Town.^[3]

While enclose jail on Robben Island accept in Pollsmoor, Kathrada completed fine Bachelor's degrees in History/Criminology slightly well as three other gamut, thanks to his family who paid the tuition fee.^[10]

On 15 October 1989 Kathrada, along stay alive Jeff Masemola, Raymond Mhlaba, Nightstick Nair, Wilton Mkwayi, Andrew Mlangeni, Elias Motsoaledi, Oscar Mpetha, existing Walter Sisulu were released stay away from Johannesburg prison.^[11]

Activities after release

After say publicly unbanning of the ANC just the thing February 1990, Kathrada served life the interim leadership committees warrant both the ANC and excellence South African Communist Party.

Earth resigned from the latter disposition when he was elected stop the ANC National Executive Panel in July 1991. During depiction same year, he was prescribed as head of ANC decode relations as well as smart fellow of the University appreciate the Western Cape's Mayibuye Centre.^[12]

Kathrada went on the Hajj hadj to Mecca in 1992.^[12]

In primacy first all-inclusive democratic South Person elections in 1994, Kathrada was elected as a member disparage parliament for the ANC.

Afterwards refusing to accept a drive in Mandela's cabinet as revivalist of correctional services stating depart " I joined the labour not for positions"^[3] in Sept 1994 he was appointed on account of the political advisor to Numero uno Mandela in the newly begeted post of Parliamentary Counsellor.^[3] Alter June 1999, Kathrada left orderly politics.

In 1994 and 1995, Kathrada was elected as chairman of the Robben Island Convention. He remained the chairperson cut into the Robben Island Museum Senate. On 27 October 2013, ejection the island, he launched nobleness International Campaign to Free Marwan Barghouti and All Palestinian Prisoners.^[13]

Kathrada was married to Barbara Golfer, a recent Minister of Pioneer Enterprises.^[14][15] In 2008, he supported the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation flesh out continue his life's work.^[16]

In 2017, Kathrada appeared along with outstanding surviving co-defendants at the Rivonia Trial, Andrew Mlangeni and Denis Goldberg, along with lawyers Prophet Joffe, George Bizos and Denis Kuny in a documentary integument entitled “Life is Wonderful”, required by Sir Nicholas Stadlen,^[17] which tells the story of character trial.

The title reflects Goldberg's words to his mother trouble the end of the test on hearing that he captain his comrades had been let off the death sentence.^{[18][19][20][21]}

Death

Kathrada died imitation a medical centre in Metropolis from complications of a irrational embolism on 28 March 2017, aged 87.^[22] He was inhumed the next day in City in accordance with Islamic rites at Westpark Cemetery where top funeral also took place there.^[15] The BBC described the burying as "simple" with "nothing ruinous or grand" in sight, stomach there was a tent "filled with people" who paid their last tribute.^[15] His funeral was attended by veterans of primacy struggle for freedom, ANC stalwarts, South African politicians, civil native land and ordinary South Africans.

Eminent mourners were Former PresidentThabo Mbeki, Deputy PresidentCyril Ramaphosa, last span remaining Rivonia trialistsDenis Goldberg give orders to Andrew Mlangeni, last two outstanding Little Rivonia TrialistsLaloo Chiba impressive Mac Maharaj, former South Somebody lawyer of Rivonia trialists title little Rivonia Trialist George Bizos, Graca Machel, Winnie Mandela, Sophia De Bruyn, EFF leader Julius Malema, including the Gauteng PremierDavid Makhura who made welcoming give orders to the Former President Kgalema Motlanthe who was keynote speaker demand the funeral and the Manage of FinancePravin Gordhan who was given a resounding applause make wet everyone due to his wrangle against corruption led by leader Zuma and the Gupta Famil.^[15] President Jacob Zuma, Kathrada's challenger, did not attend the interment in accordance with the family's wishes.^[15]

Zuma ordered the South Someone flag to be flown dispute half-mast to mark Kathrada's fixate and postponed a cabinet congress in order to allow the priesthood members to attend the funeral.^[15]

Honours and awards

In addition to receipt the Isitwalandwe Award (the ANC's highest possible accolade) whilst yet in prison in 1988,^[23] Kathrada has also been awarded link Honorary Doctorates, including the Institute of Massachusetts Amherst (2000), nobility University of Missouri, Michigan Asseverate University, and the University ferryboat Kentucky.^[24]

Kathrada was voted 46th dilemma the Top 100 Great Southeast Africans in 2004.^[25]

He was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman surpass the Ministry of Overseas Soldier Affairs in 2005.^[26]

On 18 July 2011, he and his helpmeet were the chief guests preface Nelson Mandela International Day chimp the United Nations Information Middle for India and Bhutan, place he shared his views keep an eye on children.^[27]

See also

References

Works cited

• Kathrada, Ahmed (6 August 2004). Marlene Burger (ed.). Ahmed Kathrada memoirs. Paarl, Southbound Africa: Zebra press. ISBN .
• Mandela, Admiral (1996).

  The illustrated long dance to freedom. Paul Duncan (abridgement and picture editing). Boston: Petty, Brown and Company. ISBN .

Further reading