Roundup: S. Africans mourn passing of anti-apartheid stalwart Kathrada

South Africans on Tuesday mourned the passing of anti-apartheid stalwart Ahmed Kathrada who dedicated his life to the struggle for a free, democratic and non-racial South Africa.

Kathrada died in the early hours of Tuesday morning at the age of 87, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation said confirmed.

Kathrada passed away peacefully after a short period of illness, following surgery to the brain at the Donald Gordon Hospital in Johannesburg, the foundation said.

President Jacob Zuma has declared a Special Official Funeral for Kathrada.

Under Zuma's instructions, the National Flag flew at half-mast at every station in the country from March 28 until the evening of the official memorial service.

The government is deeply saddened by the death of struggle stalwart Kathrada and joins the millions of South African in extending its deepest condolences to his friends and family, government spokesperson Donald Liphoko said.

The passing of the revolutionary was a great loss for South Africa, said Liphoko.

"Although we are saddened today, we must celebrate the role he played and the sacrifices he made for our country," Liphoko said.

In his last days, he continued to work towards promoting the values and principles enshrined in the Freedom Charter and the Constitution of South Africa, Liphoko said.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) also issued a statement, saying that with the passing of Kathrada, the nation has lost a titan, an outstanding leader and a great patriot - a man who stands apart for his service to the people of South Africa, and to the country.

"His life is a lesson in humility, tolerance, resilience and a steadfast commitment to principle, even when taking a principled stance would place him at odds with his comrades," ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said.

Kathrada Foundation Chairperson, Derek Hanekom, was overcome with emotion, saying he has lost a "revolutionary mentor and dear friend."

"Comrade Kathy (Kathrada) was a gentle, humane and humble soul. He was a determined revolutionary who gave his entire life to the liberation struggle in our country," he added.

Neeshan Balton, Executive Director of the foundation, described Kathrada's death as "a great loss to the ANC, the broader liberation movement and South Africa as a whole."

Laloo Chiba, 86, who was imprisoned together with Kathrada on Robben Island by the apartheid regime, said his comrade's death has left a deep vacuum in his life.

"I have worked with Kathy for over 60 years. He has been my strength in prison, my guide in political life and my pillar of strength in the most difficult moments of my life. Now he is gone," said Chiba.

Born on August 21, 1929, Kathrada was introduced to politics as a young boy when he joined a non-racial youth club run by the Young Communist League.

At 17, Kathrada participated in the 1946 Passive Resistance Campaign led by the South African Indian Congress. He was part of 2,000 resisters who were arrested and imprisoned for defying a law that discriminated against Indian South Africans.

He was one of the famous eight Rivonia Trialists of 1963, after being netted in a police swoop of the Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia, Johannesburg and was sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island.

Kathrada spent 26 years and three months in prison, 18 of which were on Robben Island where Nelson Mandela, who later became South Africa's first black president, was also imprisoned.

Kathrada has had an illustrious political career having served between 1994 and 1999 as the parliamentary counsellor to then President Mandela.

Kathrada is survived by his wife, Barbara Hogan, also an ANC stalwart and veteran.

Kathrada will be buried according to Muslim religious rights, details of which will be made publicly available in due course, according to the Kathrada Foundation. Endit