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President Jacob Zuma has sent his birthday message of congratulation to Rivonia Treason Trialist and stalwart of the African National Congress (ANC), Mr Ahmed Kathrada on turning 85 years of age today.

“One of the most endearing aspects of Comrade Kathy is his ability to put others before himself. We rate him up there with the late former President Nelson Mandela in the stakes of both humility and compassion for human dignity. The young generation will continue to learn from him and emulate especially his spirit of non-racialism that he continually encapsulates,” said President Zuma.

Mr Ahmed Kathrada is considered as one of the living ancestors of the ANC. A long-serving political prisoner on Robben Island, he continued to serve his country and his people in various capacities including as a Member of the first democratic Parliament. He began his political life at an early age of 12 when he joined the Young Communist League of South Africa in the 1940’s. He later met the leaders of the African National Congress such as Walter Sisulu and Nelson Mandela.
In 1955 he helped organise the multi-racial ‘Congress of the People” which proclaimed the Freedom Charter as a policy document of the Congress Alliance. He served on the Alliance’s General Purpose Committee.

He was tried in the Rivonia Treason Trial with Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Dennis Goldberg, Raymond Mhlaba, Elias Motsoaledi and Andrew Mlangeni for his political activism and found guilty of committing specific acts of sabotage and sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island.

The ANC bestowed on him the Isithwalandwe/Seaparankwe award, the highest possible accolade given to its cadres.
“On behalf of our government, the ruling party, the ANC, the struggle veterans and the people of South Africa in their entirety, I wish to extend a happy 85th birthday wish to Mr Ahmed Kathrada. We wish you good health and a happy life. May you live to see many more,” the President said.