THE WEEK IN WORDS
I know that if I were in the president’s shoes, I would step down with immediate effect. I believe that is what would help this country to find its way out of a path that it never imagined it would be on, but one it must move out of soon. – Ahmed Kathrada in his letter to President Jacob Zuma on March 31 last year. The fact that Kathy criticised the ANC did not mean he did not love the ANC. He loved the ANC so much that whenever the leadership went wrong, he pointed it out. Unlike some people who are afraid to talk, he did. – Fellow Rivonia triallist Andrew Mlangeni on the death of his friend, Ahmed Kathrada, this week. That evening Kathy started speaking and out of that frail body came the deep strong voice of commitment. He was calling for accountability and respect for the constitution. He was absolutely steadfast in his principled politics and behaviour. – Fellow Rivonia triallist Denis Goldberg on the last time he saw Kathrada last month. It’s an empty wish, but I wish I could say he was smiling about South Africa when he left us, but it is not so. I think all his actions in the last years illustrated his disappointment at the outcome, but as a soldier he continued striving for a better life. – Barbara Masekela on the death of Ahmed Kathrada. When you love what you do and you do it with passion and integrity… and you know what you stand for, that’s why I fought so hard to get back. – Former tennis No 1 Maria Sharapova, who plans to return to competition next month after a 15-month suspension for doping. Our players are too pampered… they don’t want to go to Europe and learn a new language and play in The Champions League because they are comfortable earning R300 000 or R400 000 and driving nice cars and enjoying the nice weather in South Africa. – Former Bafana Bafana star Delron Buckley speaks on the problems in SA soccer at the launch of his book this week. I have sort of been very intense in my own little bubble, and at times I have let my emotions and actions just falter a little throughout this and I apologise for that… That’s a big stride for me moving forward and something I can really learn from and continue to grow as an individual and leader. – Australian cricket captain Steve Smith after his team lost an acrimonious Test series to India 2-1