Ahmed Kathrada

Ahmed Kathrada, nicknamed Kathy, was born on August 21, 1929 in Schweizer Reneke in the North West, and went to school in Johannesburg. 

His political life began at the age of 12, when he joined the Young Communists League, for which he handed out leaflets. 

When he was 17 he started working full-time for the Transvaal Passive Resistance Council and Kathrada participated in the Passive Resistance Campaign of the South African Indian Congress. 

He was one of 2000 people arrested for occupying land earmarked for whites and spent a month in jail.  It was also during his late teens that he met future leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu. 

Kathrada enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand, but later left his studies to pursue political activism full-time. 

He was the chairperson of the Transvaal Indian Youth Congress and attended the World Youth Festival in Berlin in 1951. 

He also attended a Congress of the International Union Students in Warsaw, Poland, and went to Budapest where he worked at the headquarters of the World Federation of Democratic Youth for nine months. 

However, he left that post and returned to South Africa to be part of the Defiance Campaign and between 1953 and the early 1960's he had several run-ins with the law. 

These included several arrests and a suspended sentence. In 1963 police raided Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia, Johannesburg, and Kathrada became one of eight Rivonia trialists alongside Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu. 

He was sentenced to life in prison on Robben Island.  He was eventually released on October 15, 1989, at the age of 60. 

He had spent just over 26 years in prison, 18 of them were on Robben Island. 

Kathrada went on to be an ANC National Executive Committee member, a Member of Parliament, and chairperson of the Robben Island Museum Council. 

In June 1999 Kathrada stepped away from parliamentary politics, but still chairs the museum council. He also founded the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. 

 

Kathrada explains how he became involved in political activities as a youngster. He says through a local youth club he became part of the Young Communists League at the age of 12. Kathrada says as a young person you are brave and get swept up in what seems adventurous. He jokes about his extensive criminal record.

 

Kathrada talks about how the 90 Day Detention Act allowed people to be held for 3 months without contact from the outside world. He explains how they only came into contact with police officers during that time, who then tried to convince them to give out information. Kathrada deals with the mental strength needed to survive this, adding that he was never tortured, but some of his other comrades were. 

WARNING: CONTAINS LANGUAGE THAT MAY OFFEND SOME VIEWERS

 

Kathrada deals with their sentencing and how they were told when they first saw their lawyers after the 90 Day Detention to prepare for the worst, which they knew meant the death penalty. He says among the 8 of them standing trial were 4 of the top ANC leaders, including Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, and under their guidance it was decided how to conduct the case. It wasn't criminal, but political.

 

Kathrada explains that it never crossed his mind that Nelson Mandela would be the next South African president, they were just focused on victory - something they were sure of. He talks about a spot at Robben Island where someone engraved in the concrete the ANC was sure of victory.

 

Kathrada talks about a feeling of protection they had in prison. He says while they knew no one was going to come in and kill them, their comrades were dying in the streets during the struggle.

 

Kathrada says their release from prison came very suddenly. He explains how the message was delivered, how they were moved, and how they had to deal with new technology like fax machines.

 

Kathrada talks about the first memory he has from after his release. He jokes about children's curiosity with him and says thankfully a family member videotaped the first day, as for him it was too overwhelming to remember.

 

Kathrada recalls the 1994 elections. He says he was part of a very long line in Lenasia and there was a bomb scare, but no one moved.

 

Kathrada talks about the happiest moment of his life. He says while in prison you miss children the most, so when he was released it was unforgettable to see and hear them again.

 

Kathrada deals with the personal relationships he had with Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela. He saw Sisulu as a father after he lost his own, and he saw Mandela as his elder brother. 

 

Kathrada explains how he looked up to Nelson Mandela when he first met him. Mandela was at university and he treated Kathrada as an equal. He jokingly tells how Madiba once called Queen Elizabeth just Elizabeth over the phone, much to his astonishment.

 

Kathrada deals with Nelson Mandela's death. He last saw him when he was very sick in hospital. On the night Mandela died Kathrada was at a gathering about the former president. He explains how he had to contain his emotions knowing Mandela was dying, but having to keep the information from everyone.

 

Kathrada talks about the 2 saddest moments of his life - having to deliver the eulogies at Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela's funerals. He says he had already experienced the emotions by the time Mandela died and when he had to speak at Madiba's funeral. He described Mandela when he saw him for the last time in hospital as a shadow of himself.

 

Kathrada deals with the loneliness he now experiences. He recalls what he said at Nelson Mandela's funeral, that when Walter Sisulu died he lost a father and when Mandela died he lost a brother. Now he has no one left to turn to.

 

Kathrada gives a message to the next generation.

 

Kathrada talks about what he does in the little free time he has. He likes to watch Isidingo.

 

(File photo: Gallo Images)

- Written by Maryke Vermaak

- Video by Suné du Toit