Tributes pour for Tata Madiba
Ahmed Kathrada fought back the tears as he delivered a moving speech in honour of former South African President Nelson Mandela.
QUNU – Speaking at the funeral of the world icon Kathrada said, “I first met Madiba in 1946; that’s 67 years ago. I recalled the tall, healthy and strong man, the boxer, the prisoner who easily wielded the pick and shovel at the lime quarry on Robben Island.
“I visualized the prisoner that vigorously exercised every morning before we were unlocked. What I saw at his home after his spell in hospital was this giant of a man, helpless and reduced to a shadow of his former self.
“Kathrada told guests that the man he saw in hospital earlier this year was a shadow of what himself.”
During his speech, Kathrada said, “Now the inevitable has happened. He has left us and is now with the ‘A-Team’ of the ANC – the ANC in which he cut his political teeth, and the ANC for whose policy of a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa he was prepared to die.”
Among those in the A-team wereChief Luthuli, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, Dr Yusuf Dadoo, Jack Simons, Moses Kotane, Bram Fischer, Monty Naicker, J B Marks, Helen Joseph, Ruth First, Professor Z K Matthews, Beyers Naude, Joe Slovo, Lilian Ngoyi, Ma Sisulu andMichael Harmel.
In addition to the ANC’s ‘A Team’, Madiba has also joined men and women outside the ANC, Helen Suzman, Steve Biko, Alan Paton, Robert Sobukwe, Cissie Gool, Bennie Kies, Neville Alexander, Zeph Mothopeng and many other leaders.
Addressing Mandela as Madala, Kathrada said, “Madala, your abundant reserves of love, simplicity, honesty, service, humility, care, courage, foresight, patience, tolerance, equality and justice, continually served as a source of enormous strength to many millions of people in South Africa and the world.
“You symbolise today, and always will, qualities of collective leadership, reconciliation, unity and forgiveness.”
In conclusion Kathrada said, “Madala, while we may be drowned in sorrow and grief, we salute you as a fighter for freedom to the end.
“Farewell my elder brother, my mentor, my leader. With all the energy and determination at our command, we pledge to join the people of South Africa and the world to perpetuate the ideals and values for which you have devoted your life.”
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