Ahmed Kathrada passes away
Loading player...
Struggle stalwart, Ahmed Kathrada has passed away following a short period of illness. The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation announced that the 87-year-old ANC veteran died at about 03:45 this morning at the Donald Gordon Hospital in Johannesburg, following surgery to the brain. The Foundation's Zaakirah Vade could not provide details on whether Kathrada's family was with him at the time. Vade says Kathrada's death is a great shock to many who were part of his life.
The foundation's Executive Director, Neeshan Balton, says Kathrada's death is a great loss to the ANC, the broader liberation movement and South Africa as a whole. Its Chairperson, Derek Hanekom, was overcome with emotion saying he has lost a "revolutionary mentor and dear friend".
Kathrada had an illustrious political career having served between 1994 and '99 as the parliamentary counsellor to late President Nelson Mandela. He was born on 21 August 1929 in rural Schweizer-Reneke and was introduced to politics as a young boy when he joined a non-racial youth club run by the Young Communist League.
The foundation's Executive Director, Neeshan Balton, says Kathrada's death is a great loss to the ANC, the broader liberation movement and South Africa as a whole. Its Chairperson, Derek Hanekom, was overcome with emotion saying he has lost a "revolutionary mentor and dear friend".
Kathrada had an illustrious political career having served between 1994 and '99 as the parliamentary counsellor to late President Nelson Mandela. He was born on 21 August 1929 in rural Schweizer-Reneke and was introduced to politics as a young boy when he joined a non-racial youth club run by the Young Communist League.
