Kathrada Timeline

1940

Kathrada first meets Congress leaders Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela, IC Meer & JN Singh

1941

Kathrada joins the Young Communist League of South Africa.

1948

Kathrada , 17, participates in the Passive Resistance Campaign of the South African Indian Congress.

1951

Kathrada visits the Auschwitz concentration camp.

1952

Kathrada is sentenced to nine months in prison with hard labour for organising a defiance campaign against apartheid.

1954

Kathrada is placed under restrictions by the security police and is arrested several times for breaking his “banning orders”.

1956

Kathrada is among the 156 ANC activists and leaders charged with high treason.

1961 March 29

The longest treason trial in South African history ends after four years. Kathrada, together with Mandela, Sisulu and all 30 accused, are acquitted.

1963 July

Kathrada is arrested at Liliesleaf Farm, Rivonia with other leaders of the underground movement.

1964 June 12

Kathrada is sentenced to life imprisonment for organising and directing Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation).

June 13

Kathrada arrives on Robben Island and is placed in the isolation section of the maximum security prison.

1982 21 October

Kathrada is moved from Robben Island to Pollsmoor maximum security prison in Cape Town to join Mandela, Sisulu, Mhlaba and Mlangeni.

1989 October 15

Kathrada is released from Johannesburg prison at the age of 60.

1990 February

Following the unbanning of the ANC, Kathrada is elected onto its National Executive Committee.

1994

Kathrada is elected to Parliament and serves as President Mandela’s parliamentary counsellor.

1999 June

Kathrada takes leave of parliamentary politics.

2013 October 27

Kathrada launches the International Campaign to Free Marwan Barghouthi and all Palestinian prisoners.

2013 November 22

Riaad Moosa, the award-winning stand-up comedian, who starred in the movie Material, plays the role of Ahmed Kathrada in the biopic Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom.

2016 November 27 Kathrada pays tribute to Fidel Castro

‘For many in South Africa though, Castro has, and always will, symbolise anti-imperialism.’

2016 March 31 Step down comrade president

Kathrada appeals to President Jacob Zuma to step down, saying his “continued stay as president will only serve to deepen the crisis of confidence in the government of the country”.

2017 March 28

Kathrada dies at the age of 87 in the Donald Gordon Hospital in Johannesburg.