Latest news with #AhmedKathradaFoundation
IOL News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Celebrating Mac Maharaj: a legacy of leadership in South Africa's freedom
Mac Maharaj at a 90th birthday celebration hosted recently by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. Image: Facebook MAC Maharaj was a giant of our freedom struggle in South Africa. Recognised for his negotiating skills, his tenacity in organising work and his incisive mind he established himself as a pre-eminent leader within the ranks of the ANC/SACP. Mac, while remaining a humble servant of the movement, reported directly to Oliver Tambo in exile in his capacity as secretary of the politico/military committee of the ANC. Mac was blessed with both organising skills and sharp political thinking. Hence his deployment in 1977 to Lusaka, Zambia, going into exile to run the underground machinery of the ANC. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading He entered South Africa illegally and at great risk during the dark days of apartheid to enhance the organising work of the alliance. Some of us took care of our leaders during those turbulent times. At the La Mercy Beach hotel I hosted many political activists. I fondly recall listening to Radio Freedom which was broadcast from Lusaka with Mac being a regular commentator. Our hearts would swell with pride as he would refer to the great mass work taking place in the Durban region in the 1980s. At that time many leaders were in and out of the country and if arrested they would be tortured and assaulted before being tried for insurrection. Mac, Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim were targeted by the State for their incursions into the country. On another occasion I witnessed a gentleman with a goatee beard at the home of Moe Shaik. The dog was very friendly to him and I realised that he was a regular visitor at that home. We were trained to be disciplined and never asked questions. Every piece of information was on a "need to know basis." Some of us fondly called him Mac, Chacha. Mac was the first non- African to be elected onto the NEC of the ANC at the Qwabe conference in 1985. His contribution to our country was immense and must be recorded in the annals of our history. He is a recipient of the Order of Luthuli in Silver given by our democratic state. His appointment to the secretariat of CODESA was truly deserving as we ushered in a new democratic era. He was highly respected by Nelson Mandela, who told us that he always dealt with Mac outside the meetings, never challenging him in the presence of others. Mandela had the utmost trust in Mac and gave his writings which Mac smuggled out of Robben Island, stashed in his belt. That was the basis of the book, The Long Walk to Freedom. Notwithstanding his involvement in CODESA, Mac was part of a team of SACP cadres that initiated Operation Vula, to ensure that they were still in control even if negotiations with the Nats failed. The big Vula meeting took place in La Mercy, Tongaat. Luminaries like Joe Slovo, Chris Hani, Mac Maharaj, Pravin Gordhan, Simpiwe Nyanda, Moe Shaik and many other activists were in attendance, trashing out a strategy to deal with the scenario if negotiated settlements were not achieved. The Tongaat Minute was crafted at this meeting. A cottage in South Beach Road, near La Mercy Beach Hotel, was used for the discussions. Our high profile delegates stayed at a penthouse in Malabar Flats and the aeroplane house in Tongaat Beach. Arising out of this many were subsequently charged by the Apartheid State for Insurrection but the charges were later dropped. Even Mandela and Thabo Mbeki did not know about these meetings. Post 1994 I enjoyed listening to the anecdotes and recounting by Mac of his experiences in exile and the life-threatening underground work he did. We used to savour those stories over a couple of tipples. On the occasion of his 90th birthday, the people of South Africa salute this tireless freedom fighter, soldier of our peoples' army, political activist and theorist; underground operative, community leader and a struggle icon. Thank you for shaping our lives, our political thinking and building our understanding of mass mobilisation of the people. Mac Maharaj celebrated his 90th birthday on April 22. Logie Naidoo Image: File Logie Naidoo is a political activist and the former eThekwini Mayor. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. THE POST
eNCA
16-06-2025
- Business
- eNCA
Cash for talks as service delivery collapses
JOHANNESBURG - The government has committed a staggering R700-million to the National Dialogue. Organisers have been quick to label it as an 'investment', and a necessary step towards building a better South Africa. But with deep social and economic challenges facing the country, many are questioning whether the money could have been better spent. The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation was one of the organisations that initially called for a national dialogue, and has also raised concerns about the ballooning costs.
Eyewitness News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Various SA foundations warm up to Ramaphosa's announcement of a National Dialogue
JOHANNESBURG - Various foundations have noted with gratitude President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of the commencement of a National Dialogue. The organisations, including the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Nelson Mandela Foundation, and Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, were not part of Ramaphosa's announcement on Tuesday night. He named 31 prominent South Africans from varying sectors of society, who will be championing and guiding the national convention. A national dialogue preparatory committee says South Africans have been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reclaim the country's agency. ALSO READ: National dialogue will be an important forum to set out mandate & term of GNU - political analyst They've encouraged everyday South Africans to participate in the event, aimed at shaping and recreating the country's future, adding that the venture has to be led by citizens and not the government in order to close the gap between the two. More than 50 organisations backed the foundations' call for a dialogue last year. Meanwhile, the government says the president's eminent persons group will be a fluid structure, with more names likely to be added along the way It also notes the importance of obsessing over the mission of the dialogue as opposed to individuals associated with it.
IOL News
08-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Gayton McKenzie faces backlash from Ahmed Kathrada Foundation over 'threats to civil society'
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation slammed Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, for threatening to shut down civil society organisations. Image: BackpagePix The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation (AKF) has slammed Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, for threatening to shut down it and other civil society organisations. McKenzie made these remarks in a recent interview with the Paris-based English-language quarterly magazine, Africa Report, where he was speaking about the Afrikaner's resettling in the United States, xenophobia and his 2029 leadership vision. McKenzie recently sparked controversy by calling for the dismissal of foreign nationals working in departments under his authority, with many including the AKF and other prominent civil society organisations, criticising him for being xenophobic. During the interview, McKenzie told Africa Report that he would get rid of illegal foreigners and he would close down charities that are anti-government, adding that the country needs patriotic charities. When asked if that included AKF, McKenzie said the foundation is a disgrace to the memory of the anti-apartheid activist, adding that he had never heard them speaking about the poorest of the poor not having jobs. The foundation said these comments are a direct attack on the values of the country's democracy, the rule of law, and the rights of civil society organisations to operate freely in South Africa. 'Minister McKenzie's contempt for our Constitution and the rule of law is serial and sinister. His most recent threats follow the equally dangerous and unlawful directive he issued earlier in May, instructing the dismissal of all foreign nationals employed in entities within his department, under the threat of firing the CEOs of those entities. "These actions were, and remain, entirely without legal foundation and constitute a clear violation of both South Africa's Constitution and its labour laws,' said the foundation. 'It is not just the threat to shut down the AKF that we resist, but the broader pattern of Minister McKenzie's abuse of power. He tells us without shame and repeatedly that a government in which he holds office is one in which his personal whims should hold sway rather than the democratic principles he is sworn to defend,' the foundation said, adding that his actions are not just unlawful, they are dangerous to the social cohesion, stability, and growth of our country. The foundation accused McKenzie of seeking to justify his illegal actions under the guise of advocating for the poor. "A Minister who abuses his power and disregards the Constitution cannot credibly claim to be serious about addressing the very real and grave issues of unemployment, poverty, and inequality in our country. A Minister who actively seeks to alienate the residents of those markets in which our goods, services and industry must find uptake is not a Minister serious about creating jobs or economic growth.' The foundation said the real threats to South Africa's future are not the civil society organisations that speak out against harmful, fact-free policies. Nor are they from those foreign nationals lawfully present in South Africa. It said the true threats are those who, like Minister McKenzie, actively undermine the rule of law, sow divisions and pursue populist agendas at the cost of the common good. 'We call on President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Cabinet, and all responsible authorities to distance themselves from Minister McKenzie's harmful rhetoric and actions. His threats to close organisations like the AKF- whose record speaks for itself and which exists to uphold the values of justice, equality, and democracy- must be rejected in the strongest terms," the foundation said. McKenzie spokesperson, Stacy-Lee Khojane, said the Minister had attended the Comrades Marathon in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday and was not available to respond. However, shortly after the release of the AKF statement on Friday, McKenzie reaffirmed his stance, saying illegal foreigners in South Africa are protected by very powerful foundations, the media and law societies. 'Once you touch this subject, you will be attacked on all fronts,' he said. [email protected]
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Gayton McKenzie slammed for anti-foreigner rhetoric
McKenzie has been accused of stoking xenophobia after reportedly demanding the removal of foreign nationals working in government roles. Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has come under fire for allegedly instructing his department's managers to 'get rid of the foreign nationals'. McKenzie reportedly said this a few days ago during a stakeholder meeting. He was quoted as saying: 'I want them out… Get them out before I get you out.' Politicians 'need proper training' Political analyst Prof Ntsikelelo Breakfast said: 'Politicians holding positions in the GNU need proper training so they know how to represent the government in a reputable way. These ministers when they speak, you will not understand whether they are doing so on behalf of the government or representing their political parties.' 'There are things that a leader representing the government should not say in public. Just like McKenzie, he is out of line because he has a tendency to do exactly what I am talking about.' Respecting human rights He added: 'His recent utterances about immigrants working for the government were totally uncalled for as his job as a minister is to unify people and to respect the human rights of everyone not to cause division. 'Surely it is not the position of the government to tell foreigners employed by the government to go.' ALSO READ: McKenzie demands answers on the employment of foreign nationals on Robben Island Breakfast was adamant ministers had not been trained properly on how to behave in public and to communicate the government message in a reputable way. He said the message conveyed by politicians must not be confusing as it should be clearly stated that they speak on behalf of the government or represent their political parties. Politicians' words cause division Local politicians have been previously accused of making utterances that cause division between South Africans and foreign nationals. International reputation expert Tshepo Matseba swaid politicians needed, 'to be properly trained before taking office as public servant.' The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and other civil society groups demanded that McKenzie apologize to the immigrants working for the government for uttering 'xenophobic remarks'. NOW READ: WATCH: Birdie bliss! Gayton McKenzie's hilarious golf debut goes viral
