Cape Struggle activist dies
Semaar never stopped fighting for people
RENOWNED Struggle activist Achmat Semaar, 72, was buried yesterday at the Mowbray cemetery.
He suffered a heart attack and died at Vincent Pallotti Hospital on Monday.
A father of six children and a grandfather of 14, he was an activist for most of his life and never stopped caring and fighting for ordinary people.
Semaar was a respected member of the ANC.
His daughter, journalist and broadcaster Karima Brown, said: “While we are grieving, we are gratified by the people that came to his funeral.
“In many ways they were a testimony to the life he lived.
“There were many grassroots
He was active in the ANC and believed in organisation’s values Karima Brown daughter
people and political leaders.”
While Semaar was retired, he had been the ANC constituency officer for Mitchells Plain.
“Even though he was retired, he just could not sit still; he did so much for the party.
“He was always active in the ANC and believed in the organisation and its values of non-racialism, non-sexism, rule of law, and was very passionate about the law.”
His nature of non-judgement was what Brown said she would remember most.
“My father did not judge people; anyone could go to him with any problems.
“He was not just my father, but that of many people in the community, especially children.
“He got many kids out who were arrested at night for public violence during apartheid.
“He was a paralegal for Legal
Aid.
“He also worked at the advice office where he assisted people with everyday problems like their electricity being cut off, maintenance not being paid, evictions and so forth.”
Western Cape secretary Faiez Jacobs said: “Semaar was a giant in Mitchells Plain.
“He made an impact on so many lives and was a father to hundreds of young people who were persecuted, arrested, tortured or hunted by the apartheid state.
“(During) the Struggle, he was a beacon of light, a voice that comforted and brought help.
“He made it his business to care for detainees and their families, and made sure that they were not forgotten.
“Truly he was one of our greatest sons.”