CAPE TOWN, March 15 (ANA) – The African National Congress on Wednesday sent well wishes to former Rivonia trialist and struggle veteran Ahmed Kathrada who is in hospital following surgery.
The ANC said in a statement: "We wish Uncle Kathy a speedy recovery and further urge South Africans to continue their outpouring of support and thoughtful prayers for Cde Kathrada and his family during this time."
President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday had also extended well wishes to Kathrada, 87, who was recovering in hospital after an operation to remove a blood clot on the brain.
"We send good wishes to our liberation struggle stalwart and one of our three surviving Rivonia trialists. We urge the nation to keep him and his family in their thoughts and prayers at this time," Zuma said in a statement.
On March 5, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation said that Kathrada was in a stable condition after an operation in a Johannesburg hospital.
Kathrada is one of three Rivonia trialists still alive today, the other two being Andrew Mlangeni and Denis Goldberg. Along with Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, and Elias Motsoaledi, they were sentenced in 1964 to life imprisonment on Robben Island during the famous Rivonia Trial.
Kathrada was awarded the Isithwalandwe/Seaparankoe in 1992, which is the highest honour awarded by the ANC, for those who have made an outstanding contribution and sacrifice to the liberation struggle.
– African News Agency (ANA)