Ahmed Kathrada celebrates his 84th birthday. This birthday is of special significance since it coincides with his arrest at Liliesleaf in 1963 - fifty years ago, Kathrada spent his 34th birthday in solitary confinement as part of the 90 day detention spell that all the Rivonia arrestees were subjected to. He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation salutes Mr Kathrada – or Uncle Kathy as he is affectionately known – on his birthday. “South Africa is privilged to have this living legend inspiring and challenging public servants, activists and ordinary people alike to pursue the vision of a non-racial South Africa, and to do so with integrity and passion for equality for the poorest among us”, says Neeshan Balton, Executive Director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. The Foundation looks forward to welcoming colleagues, friends, comrades and those inspired by the life and legacy of this son of South Africa, at the Lyric Theatre on the evening of his birthday this year. Ahmed Kathrada has been an activist since the age of 12. He has featured in almost every major campaign of the 1940’s and 50’s. He and Nelson Mandela are the only two people alive who featured in the three big trials of the last century, namely the 1952 Defiance trial, the 1956 Treason trial and the 1964 Rivonia Trial. Since his retirement from electoral politics, he has been very active in ensuring that history is remembered and understood by generations of South Africans and international visitors. This he has been doing through his regular accompanying of visitors to Robben Island and Liliesleaf as well as talks to young people at Universities and schools across the country. Ahmed Kathrada has also been very active in the work of the Foundation set up in his name and which aims to ensure that one of the core values of his life is perpetuated in post apartheid South Africa, i.e. non-racialism. The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has the deepening of non-racialism as its core focus and carries out a range of programmes and activities ranging from youth leadership to the creation of public forums for discussion on issues that impact on non-racialism. The AKF also carries out regular research on this issue and organises dialogues to build unity at the level of community. Ahmed Kathrada’s life is an embodiment of selfless activism in the struggle for a better life for all South Africans. His activism traverses racial, religious and ideological lines. This quest and journey continues to this day albeit not in the sphere of formal public politics. Kathrada’s acceptance speech, when the City of Johannesburg conferred the Freedom of the City to him in 2012, best illustrates his vision for a free, democratic, equal and non-racial society, which still requires our effort, commitment and passion. “We can only be satisfied and happy when: - every child wakes up in a warm house, - has a good nutritious breakfast, - is able to say a loving good bye to both working parents, - goes to school in safe and reliable transport, - is met at school by teachers who are there on time, ready and able to teach, - has the necessary textbooks when the school year starts, - has access to a decent library and science laboratory and a computer - participates in sports, music and poetry- knows the history of the country - sees everybody as equal irrespective of colour or religion - returns home safely from school - can play children’s games in a park that is safe and clean - can walk back home guided by street lights that are on - will have a nourishing supper in the company of both parents - will enjoy being read to by either parent - will be able to make the best use of all the life opportunities that a free South Africa has to offer without fear, - a South Africa that is free of crime, corruption, rape, greed crass opportunism. - a South Africa where there is guarantee that there will never, ever be another Marikana.” [A special birthday “ concert for Kathrada” will be held on the 24th August at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City. Tickets are obtainable from computicket. ]
Posted on: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 11:14:22 +0000
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