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NUMSA: Phakamile Hlubi on the passing away of Ahmed Kathrada

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NUMSA: Phakamile Hlubi on the passing away of Ahmed Kathrada

NUMSA: Phakamile Hlubi on the passing away of Ahmed Kathrada
Photo by Duane

28th March 2017

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/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) joins the people of South Africa in mourning the loss of Apartheid fighter and struggle hero Ahmed Kathrada.

Kathrada was a selfless activist who dedicated 75 years of his life to the struggle for liberation. From as young as age twelve, Kathrada was involved in the struggle for freedom, and by the time he was a teenager, he had participated in the 1946 Passive Resistance Campaign led by the South African Indian Congress. He was one of thousands of people who defied the brutal Apartheid government for laws which discriminated against Indian people.

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Kathrada was sentenced to life in prison in 1964 by the Apartheid government during the Rivonia Trial and spent 26 years in prison on Robben Island. He was arrested together with Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Dennis Goldberg, Raymond Mhlaba, Elias Motsoaledi and Andrew Mlangeni.  All the accused were charged with organising the military wing of the ANC, Umkhonto weSizwe, and were found guilty of committing specific acts of sabotage.

Kathrada is like countless of anti-apartheid leaders who fought against tyranny in order to free the people of South Africa. He made personal sacrifices in order to defend those who were incapable of defending themselves and as NUMSA we thank him and honor him for his contribution.

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We also recognize that the work of freeing the people from the scourge of inequality and poverty is far from over. The negotiated settlement which was signed during the transition process of the early 1990’s ensured that the overall suffering of the African majority continued. It also ensured that colonialism of a special type would continue under a democratic dispensation. It entrenched the position of White monopoly capital and created a small wealthy African elite, who benefit at the expense of the African majority.

That is why for us as NUMSA, his passing away is a catalyst to motivate us to finish the work of liberating the people of this country. We will fight harder to ensure that we attain freedom and dignity for the people of this country, in our lifetime.

On behalf of 3 hundred and fifty thousand metalworkers we extend our sincerest condolences to the family of our fallen hero, Ahmed Kathrada.


Issued by NUMSA


 

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