#Insight

Ahmed Kathrada The Ahmed Katrada Foundation announced the passing of ANC Veteran Ahmed Katrada (87) this morning, at the Donald Gordon Hospital in Johannesburg. Katrada passed away peacefully after a short period of illness, following a surgery to the brain. He was born on 21 August 1929 in rural Schweizer-Reneke and was introduced to politics as a young boy when he joined a non-racial youth club run by the Young Communist League. In 1954, Kathrada was placed under restrictions by apartheid security police and was arrested several times for breaking his banning orders. In 1956, he was among the 156 Congress activists and leaders charged for High Treason. The trial continued for four years after which all the accused were acquitted. Kathrada, Mandela and Sisulu were among the last 30 to be acquitted. While they were on trial in 1960, the ANC and PAC were banned. In 1962, Kathrada was placed under “house arrest”. The following year Kathrada broke his banning orders and