Ahmed Kathrada
| Ahmed Kathrada | |
|---|---|
Kathrada in 2016
|
|
| Member of Parliament of South Africa | |
|
In office 1994–1999 |
|
| Constituency | Lenasia |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada 21 August 1929 Schweizer-Reneke, Transvaal Province, Union of South Africa |
| Died | 28 March 2017 (aged 87) Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Political party |
African National Congress South African Communist Party |
| Spouse(s) | Barbara Hogan |
| Alma mater | University of South Africa |
| Religion | Islam |
| Website | kathradafoundation.org |
Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada (21 August 1929 – 28 March 2017), sometimes known by the nickname "Kathy", was a South African politician, political prisoner and anti-apartheid activist.
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 and Pollsmoor Prison. Following his release in 1990, he was elected to serve as a member of parliament, representing the ANC. He authored a book, No Bread for Mandela – Memoirs of Ahmed Kathrada, Prisoner No. 468/64.
Ahmed Kathrada was born in the small country town of Schweizer-Reneke in the Western Transvaal, the fourth of six children in a Gujarati Bohra family of South African Indian immigrant parents from Surat, Gujarat.
Owing to his Indian origin and the policies of the time, he could not be admitted to any of the "European" or "African" schools in the area and thus he had to move to Johannesburg, 200 miles to the east, to be educated. Once in Johannesburg, he was influenced by leaders of the Transvaal Indian Congress such as Dr. Yusuf Dadoo, IC Meer, Moulvi and Yusuf Cachalia, and JN Singh. Consequently, he became a political activist at the early age of 12 when he joined the Young Communist League of South Africa. He took part in various activities such as handing out leaflets and performing volunteer work in the individual passive resistance against the Pegging Act in 1941. During World War II, he was involved in the anti-war campaign of the Non-European United Front.
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