Nelson Mandela and Ahmed Kathrada after their release from prison.
Rivonia is one of the most affluent areas in Johannesburg and many residents and business owners are spoilt for choice with shopping malls, restaurants and bars, however, some are none the wiser about the rich history of the area.
Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia, Sandton, was the farm used secretly by African National Congress activists in the 1960s and was the location where many prominent African National Congress leaders, including Ahmed Kathrada were arrested, leading to the Rivonia Trial.
It was at Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia that Nelson Mandela and political activist, Ahmed Kathrada held secret meetings in the underground headquarters of the African National Congress (ANC).
On 11 July 1963, police raided Liliesleaf Farm and captured 19 members of the underground headquarters of the ANC, charging them with sabotage. They were meeting in the thatched room, and were stunned by the raid.
It was in 1963 that police officers swooped on Liliesleaf Farm and arrested Kathrada, Mandela and other ANC leaders.
This led to the infamous Rivonia Trial where eight accused ANC leaders were sentenced to life imprisonment. It was during the Rivonia trial where Mandela’s iconic ‘I have fought against white domination and I fought against black domination’ speech was delivered.
Ahmed Kathrada fought for the rights of his people and worked many years beside Nelson Mandela to strive for equality amongst South Africans.
Today the country mourns the loss of the former political prisoner and anti-apartheid activist, Uncle Kathy, who was sentenced to life imprisonment and spent 18 years alongside Mandela on Robben Island.
Upon his release, Kathrada was elected as a member of parliament for the ANC, and in 1994 was appointed as the political adviser to Mandela. He was also voted 46th in the Top 100 Great South Africans in 2004.
Kathrada was admitted to Donald Gordon Medical Centre on 4 March with a blood clot on the brain and sadly passed away on 28 March at age 87.
A photograph taken during the raid at Liliesleaf Farm with police searching for evidence to charge Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada and other prominent ANC leaders.
Executive head of Redhill School and community Lala Ngoxolo said, “Our condolences to Barbra Hogan and the Kathrada family on the recent passing of Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada, a struggle icon who fought tirelessly for justice and non-racialism in South Africa.”
What are your thoughts about the passing of Kathrada and how has his life impacted yours? Tell us on WhatsApp 079 439 5345.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
