Ahmed Kathrada

Ahmed Kathrada
Kathrada in 2016
Parliamentary Counsellor
to the President of South Africa
In office
10 May 1994 – 16 June 1999
PresidentNelson Mandela
Member of the Parliament of South Africa
In office
1994–1999
ConstituencyLenasia
Personal details
Born
Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada

(1929-08-21)21 August 1929
Schweizer-Reneke,
Transvaal Province,
Union of South Africa
Died28 March 2017(2017-03-28) (aged 87)
Johannesburg, Gauteng,
South Africa
Political partyAfrican National Congress
Other political
affiliations
South African Communist Party
SpouseBarbara Hogan
Alma materUniversity of South Africa
Occupation
  • Anti-apartheid activist
  • politician
  • writer
Websitekathradafoundation.org
Nickname"Kathy"
Criminal chargeSabotage, seditious conspiracy
TrialRivonia trial
PenaltyJailed (1964–89)

Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada OMSG (21 August 1929 – 28 March 2017), sometimes known by the nickname "Kathy", was a South African politician and anti-apartheid activist.

Kathrada's involvement in the anti-apartheid activities of the African National Congress (ANC) led him to his long-term imprisonment following the Rivonia Trial, in which he was held at Robben Island and Pollsmoor Prison. Following his release in 1990, he was elected to serve as a member of parliament, representing the ANC. He authored a book, No Bread for Mandela – Memoirs of Ahmed Kathrada, Prisoner No. 468/64.