ANC veteran Andrew Mlangeni is to receive the prestigious Freedom of the City of London in person on Friday. In January 2016, the 93-year-old was unable to join the late Ahmed Kathrada and Denis Goldberg alongside their Rivonia Trial legal representatives, George Bizos and Joel Joffe to receive the award. According to then Lord Mayor Jeffrey Mountevans, the honour was a "tribute to the noble and fearless fortitude" of the […]
At the funeral of Laloo Chiba in Lenasia on Saturday, his son-in-law read from a letter that the struggle stalwart had written to his political comrade Jacob Zuma asking him to step down as president. Chiba, 87, a close friend of the late Ahmed Kathrada, died on Friday. Rashid Moosa said his father-in-law had sent the letter last year, expressing his dismay at the state of the ANC following a […]
Former Robben Island prisoner, Laloo Chiba (87), has passed away just a short while ago. Chiba had a mild heart attack a few days ago and was hospitalised. He was discharged this week and passed away at his home in Lenasia. Chiba was a former Umkhonto we Sizwe platoon commander and was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment on Robben Island in the Little Rivonia Trial. He was jailed in B-Section, […]
As Palestinian prisoners in Israel end their second day of a hunger strike, social activists have urged the international community to support the fight for political freedom, not just in Palestine, but around the world. Approximately 1,500 Palestinian political prisoners launched a mass hunger strike yesterday to fight against the harsh conditions and violation of human rights that they face daily. The action, led by Marwan Barghouti, a former Palestinian […]
By Ebrahim Moosa If it was the great South African icon Nelson Mandela who proclaimed that “…but we know too well that our freedom isn’t complete without the freedom of the Palestinians,” it was his prison mate and lifelong confidant Ahmed Kathrada who showed a roadmap for the attainment of this elusive freedom. To the late Kathrada, who would reminisce about Madiba as his elder brother, belongs the credit of […]
This is the transcript of the moving and powerful eulogy delivered by Former President Kgalema Motlanthe at the Funeral Service of Comrade Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada, Westpark Cemetery, Johannesburg Comrade Barbara Hogan and the Kathrada Family; The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation; President Jacob Zuma; Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa; The Premier of Gauteng David Makhura; President Thabo Mbeki; The National Executive Committee of the ANC; The Provincial Executive Committee of the ANC; The Tripartite […]
By Trevior Manuel There cannot be many leaders in the world, regardless of the sector they serve in, who are as adored and revered as Ahmed Kathrada was — a fact made all the more remarkable, as this came despite his determination to remain beneath the radar. Uncle Kathy’s leadership was styled through a rare combination of presence, awareness and listening, and being an example to many. He was a […]
Stern words, standing ovations, and raw emotions dominated the final send-off for ANC veteran Ahmed Kathrada on Wednesday. Friends, family, dignitaries, activists and struggle veterans said their last goodbyes to Kathrada at the Westpark cemetery, Johannesburg. Throngs of mourners gathered at the Houghton mosque early on Wednesday morning before heading to the cemetery for the last rites. The 87-year-old stalwart's coffin arrived draped in an ANC flag in a marquee […]
While Ahmed Kathrada is known for his fight against the Apartheid regime in South Africa, the man affectionately known in political circles as 'Uncle Kathy' has through his experience as an ex-political prisoner called attention to the plight of Palestinians. Kathrada's involvement in the anti-Apartheid activities of the African National Congress (ANC) led him to his long-term imprisonment following the Rivonia Trial, in which he was held at Robben Island […]
VOC became the first Muslim radio station in South Africa when a special events license was granted to the station in Ramadan/January 1995. Subsequent temporary broadcast licenses were granted, permitting the station to broadcast for 24 hours.
