Struggle icons remember Kathrada

Namibian struggle icon Andimba Toivo ya Toivo says the legacy of ANC veteran Ahmed Kathrada will live on for many years. Kathrada died in a Johannesburg hospital yesterday after a short illness following brain surgery. He was 87. Ya Toivo said Kathrada had sacrificed his life for the freedom of all South Africans during the apartheid era. “I remember him because we were together in prison. He was against apartheid. It is just unfortunate that he passed on but he saw the independence of South Africa,” said Ya Toivo, who served 16 years on Robben Island in the same section as Nelson Mandela. Although he did not remember much of the time he had spent with Kathrada decades ago, Ya Toivo stressed that Kathrada was loyal to the people of South Africa. “You youngsters of today cannot be compared to the likes of him. Those were difficult times and now you are enjoying the independence and democracy and it's easy for you to talk as you like. That was not the case during the apartheid regime,” Ya Toivo said. Another former political prisoner on Robben Island, Helao Shituwete, said he met Kathrada in 1972 during a prison transfer. He said they spent a week exercising and eating together with other prisoners on Robben Island. Shituwete recalled how Kathrada and Mandela had shown solidarity with Namibian prisoners who had been on hunger strike. Youth minister Jerry Ekandjo, who was also incarcerated at Robben Island, said Kathrada was a dedicated revolutionary, honest and a man who never lacked confidence. “He is an icon of the South African liberation struggle, a beacon of hope, a man who sacrificed his life to see the freedom of the South African people,” Ekandjo said. Swapo secretary-general Nangolo Mbumba also paid tribute to Kathrada. “We always like to think that only certain people fought for the independence of southern Africa. He (Kathrada) was of Indian descent but he was very much involved in the deepest part of the struggle for South Africa,” Mbumba said.KENYA KAMBOWE

Struggle icons remember Kathrada

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-20

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Struggle icons remember Kathrada

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-20

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