The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation calls on society to be part of the march on Friday, April 7, to the Union Buildings calling on President Jacob Zuma to step down.
Ahmed Kathrada was a Parliamentary Councillor to the President. He was also a Chair for the Robben Island Council, a Chair for the Transvaal Indian Youth Congress, and a Member for the National Executive Council of African National Congress. He holds a Bachelor of Arts.
Kathrada was awarded a Centenary Distinguished Leadership Award to honour his contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. He was imprisoned on Robben Island for 26 years alongside former president Nelson Mandela and former ANC deputy president Walter Sisulu. Kathrada was released on October 15, 1989.
In pursuing its core objective of deepening non racialism, The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation promotes the values, rights and principles enshrined in the Freedom Charter and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
The march, initiated by civil society, starts at Church Square, Pretoria at 12pm and will proceed to the Union Buildings.
“Friday’s march forms part of a range of initiatives planned by various organisations over the last week asking the President to step down. The Foundation is supportive of any initiative of this nature, provided that these are legal, peaceful and that its leadership is visible,” said the Foundation’s Director, Neeshan Balton.
“We are pleased that a year after anti-apartheid struggle stalwart, Ahmed Kathrada’s letter to President Zuma, urging him to step down, various other organisations have shared similar sentiments calling for the President to be held to account.
These, amongst others, include the:
- South African Communist Party (SACP),
- Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU),
- South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU),
- National Religious Leaders Council (NRLC),
- 101 Veterans,
- Save South Africa,
- Section 27, and
- Treatment Action Campaign (TAC).
Balton added that the Foundation would this weekend be convening a consultative meeting that seeks to bring together all organisations who have expressed a sentiment similar that of Kathrada’s, calling on President Jacob Zuma should step down.
“The meeting will accordingly enable different organisations to share their plans and to participate in discussions on the possibilities for joint and collective action,” Balton said.
Attendees are expected to include representatives of labour and political formations, academia, faith-based organisations, women and youth groups, legacy foundations, NGOs, advocacy groups and civil society organisations, arts and culture groupings and members of the communications and legal fraternities.
“It is the youth whom we must educate to prevent them from repeating the foolishness of their parents” – Ahmed Kathrada
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