SA mourns a man of ‘enormous courage and perseverance’

Messages of condolence from all corners of the country trickled in yesterday following the death of anti-apartheid struggle icon Ahmed Kathrada.

Kathrada died in the early hours of yesterday, aged 87.

The Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation said Kathrada’s voice of reason and his principled stand against racism, dishonesty and disregard for the ANC’s values, will always be remembered.

“He was not afraid to be the lone voice of caution, even when others feared recrimination in doing so.”

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies also joined al South Africans in mourning the loss of Kathrada, one of the founding fathers of SA’s democracy.

“The heroism and self-sacrifice that he showed in taking a stand against injustice will be his en- during legacy. Our condolences go to his family and friends.”

The Helen Suzman Foundation said Kathrada was one of the most prominent figures associated with the late Nelson Mandela.

“He was a man of enormous courage and perseverance. He was also a man with a keen and warm sense of humour.”

His regard for the late Helen Suzman was widely known and on the occasion of the book launch of Lord Renwick’s biography of Helen Suzman he spoke very warmly of Helen.

The EFF said it was immensely saddened of the passing of the struggle stalwart.

“As a country, we must all learn from the selflessness of Uncle Kathy, always prioritising the marginalised and ensuring that their voices are heard and respected.

“We must adopt an uncompromising posture at all times in the fight against corruption as he

He was a man of enormous courage and perseverance. He was also a man with a keen and warm sense of humour The Helen Suzman Foundation

did.”

DA leader Mmusi Maimane said Kathrada embodied compassion and an unwavering commitment to true justice.

“As leader at the forefront of the struggle for liberation, Kathrada relentlessly fought for the freedoms we all cherish today.

“I fondly recall the many times I engaged with Uncle Kathy – most notably the conversation we had when he was bestowed with the Freedom of the City of Joburg. He told me of the years on Robben Island where he – along with the likes of Mandela, Sisulu and Tambo – never heard or saw the presence of children.”

Trade union federation Cosatu said the struggle icon will be sorely missed.

“He was a humble and dedicated activist who, as one of the founding fathers of the post-apartheid South Africa, was prepared to pay the ultimate price to dismantle the evil system of apartheid. We will remember him as a moral voice that consistently spoke out against corruption and social injustice.

“He departs at a difficult time for his beloved ANC that is in dire need of his brand of leadership that was characterised by selflessness and integrity.”

The ANC in Gauteng said Kathrada indeed left enormous footprints for this and coming generations to follow.

“Gauteng as a home to many of the veterans of our movement, together with the rest of South Africa and the world at large, is poorer today, yet his legacy makes us all the richer.”

The SA Communist Party said Kathrada dedicated his life to fighting injustice and since he became an activist at the tender age of 17 he diligently and selflessly excelled at this task.

“He was exemplary in many respects with how he approached the revolutionary task at hand. Kathrada hated injustice in every aspect it reared its ugly head and hence once South Africa attained freedom he dedicated his life to the struggle for justice.”

The Freedom Front Plus said Kathrada played an important role in the time after 1994. “Currently we are experiencing a political style where groups are being incited with racial stereotyping on all sides. It was not Mr Kathrada’s style and probably explains why he was very critical of the current government.”