Kathy’s Greatest Wish Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements for original version of this exhibition Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada (or ‘Kathy’ as he is popularly known) was born in 1929 to Indian Kathy was released from prison on October 15, 1989. “As a free man since his release, Kathy has Graphic design and layout – Oryx Multimedia immigrants in a rural town in South Africa. It was during a period of racism and oppression of played a vital role in the ushering of a democratic South Africa and adjusted to a life that no longer Curator – Razia Saleh human rights in that country. Kathy was only 12 when he began a life of tireless activism for non- concentrates on “fighting apartheid” in South Africa but on fostering a world of non-racialism and Writing and research – Sahm Venter and Razia Saleh racialism and democracy. He was arrested several times and, along with eight friends and fellow democracy.” Picture research – Razia Saleh and Yunus Chamda Artifact research – Razia Saleh activists including and , he was sentenced to life imprisonment at Images and artifacts – All those who contributed so generously are acknowledged, especially the famous Rivonia Trial. He spent 26 years in prison, 18 of which were on . and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation; the Nelson Mandela Foundation; Mayibuye My greatest wish would be first of all to recognize, today we Centre and Robben Island Museum; Indicator Newspaper; South African National Archives; are 15 years old, we are nowhere near to what we want for Bailey’s African History Archives; The Star archives, courtesy of Independent News and Media Kathy was released from prison in 1989 and, in 1994, in the new democratic South African our democratic, non-racial, non-sexist South Africa. There’s (SA); Matthew Willman, Rodger Bosch, Dana Gluckstein, Kadir Saloojee, Samad Saloojee, Herbert government, he was elected to the South African Parliament and served as President Mandela’s Shore, Junaid Pahad, Llewellyn Damon, Yunus Chamda, Seedat Family, Debbie Yazbek and Jürgen Parliamentary Counselor. Kathy is the recipient of numerous national and international awards, is tens of thousands living in poverty, unemployment, without Schadeberg. “ a prolific author, and, while in prison, earned four university degrees. homes, without amenities. Alright we have done quite a bit Acknowledgements for U.S. version of this exhibition as far as housing goes, as far as electricity goes, sanitation, Graphic design and layout – Oryx Multimedia Kathy’s exemplary leadership continues to inspire South Africans and others around the world nothing to ignore, it’s substantial. But a lot more has to (be) Exhibition fabrication – Engineering Graphics, Inc. to work for freedom, non-racialism, and democracy. Additional curatorial, writing, and editing – Dr. C. Kurt Dewhurst (MSUM) and Dr. Marsha done. What has happened now of course is that so many MacDowell (MSUM) avenues are open and my greatest wish would be that Project management – Lynne Swanson (MSUM) and Lauren Kientz (UKY) This exhibition was originally developed on the occasion of Kathy’s 80th birthday by the MSUM Traveling Exhibition Service – Beth Donaldson (MSUM) and Juliet Levy-Weston (MSUM) Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Museum. This U. S. version was young people must take the opportunity to study, to equip Traveling exhibition promotion and marketing – Lora Helou (MSUM) produced by the University of Kentucky and Michigan State University. The exhibition themselves better so that they can serve, they can take to the Special thanks to Dr. Mark Kornbluh, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Kentucky; provides insights into ‘Kathy’ the individual and honors his commitment to non-racialism Dr. Lou Anna K. Simon, President, Michigan State University; and Dr. Hiram Fitzgerald, Associate professions. Provost for University Outreach and Engagement, Michigan State University, for their support of and democracy. this exhibition. Every profession is now open. More and people are now being given scholarships so that we want them in every Ahmed Kathrada Foundation profession that are open to them so that they can then use The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation was launched on Saturday those professions to better, not only themselves and their 30 August 2008. Its main focus will be on deepening non- families, but the community – South Africa. And it is only racialism in society. With racism and xenophobia having reared in that way that one day future generations will see what we their ugly heads in South Africa recently, the Foundation aims to teach generations to come that non-racialism should be were dreaming of, one day. So that would be my greatest wish, something to be constantly striven for. that there would be no more hunger, there’ll be no children Telephone: +27 11 854 0082 Facsimile: +27 11 852 8786 without proper clothing, food, hospitalization, everything. But Email: [email protected] that is a society that we wish will come in, in the years to Web: www.kathradafoundation.org come. Today there are more and more opportunities, more Nelson Mandela Foundation assistance, and people should take advantage of that. So that goes with what I am saying, what my wish is for the The Nelson Mandela Foundation, through the Centre of Memory and Dialogue as its core work, will contribute to the future. making of a just society by promoting the vision, values and work of its Founder and convening dialogue around critical - Kathy, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of his release from prison. social issues, while continuing to provide support to its Founder. Telephone: +27 11 547 5600 ” Facsimile: +27 11 728 1111 Email: [email protected] Web: www.nelsonmandela.org Kathy the Kathy the GA ANT DRIVER With his fi lm star good looks and charm, the young Kathy was not immune to attraction of young As with everything else in his life and women. While he started exploring relationships while still at school, his life was marked by two political career, Kathy began driving loves. The fi rst was Sylvia Neame, a comrade in the Communist Party whom he met in Cape Town, at a young age. It was behind the during the relaxation between his second and third banning orders. The second is Barbara Hogan, wheel of his father’s black Oldsmobile who was released from prison shortly before Mandela in 1990. Kathy met her soon thereafter and that he was taught to drive at the it was on the plane journey during Mandela’s fi rst trip to England after his release that this new age of 11. He was 16 when he got relationship would blossom. Kathy and Barbara remain life partners to this day. his license, and in 1946 drove the Kathy the Passive Resistance Council offi ce Kathy the car where he began working full- time. Thereafter his driving skills FOOD LOVER were utilized often, and Kathy was Whoever knows Kathy knows that he loves food. Mince and peas, biryani, ice cream and chocolate, RECORD Kî PER asked to drive one leader or another and especially chocolate-covered dried cherries from his Michigan friends. Being in prison turned Kathy the political activist became Kathy the record-keeper when he was told that he would spend to some or other event. In 1962 food into a fantasy as he and his colleagues were obliged to eat whatever was served to them. Food the rest of his life in prison. Forced, through prison restrictions, which included that he may only he drove Moses Kotane to Durban was a site of struggle for Kathy and others in prison where they used various hunger strikes to write and receive one letter of 500 words each, every six months, only to family, Kathy began to see Chief Albert Luthuli and press for better conditions. Food was not just limited, badly prepared and under-nourishing, it was making copies of each letter he wrote. When he was released from prison in 1989, he came out a British journalist to a secret racially discriminatory. Indian and Colored prisoners were fed more and slightly better than black with 900 carbon copies of letters and all his incoming mail. venue where he fi lmed Madiba prisoners. The hurt Kathy felt over this discrimination is refl ected in the title of the Indian and U.S. announcing the reason for the turn version of his memoirs called No Bread for Mandela: Memoirs of Ahmed Kathrada. Kathy the by the African National Congress to the armed struggle. Kathy the CELEBRITY Kathy the After Madiba (Mr. Mandela, fondly known by his clan name) was elected president of South Africa on May 9, CHILDREN’S MAN 1994, he asked Kathy to be his Parliamentary Counselor. PEOPLE’S HISTORIAN His free life cut short at the age of 33, when he was arrested in the raid on Liliesleaf (a farm Along with the job came a sharing of some of the demands Kathy and his colleagues always had in mind that one day someone would record the history in the area where he and other political activists were hiding) on July 11, 1963, placed on Madiba from celebrities, presidents and royalty of the liberation movement. While still in prison Kathy assisted Madiba in the creation of the meant the end of any hope of a normal life for Kathy and certainly the end of the possibility of from around the world. Madiba asked Kathy to help and foundation manuscript of Madiba’ autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. Kathy and Walter Sisulu fatherhood. Although he and his colleagues expected the death sentence, they were sentenced to so it came that everyone from Fidel Castro to Bill Clinton, wrote comments on Madiba’s fi rst drafts and his fi nal version was transcribed into tiny handwriting life imprisonment less than a year later. The most severe deprivation of all in prison, according to from Barack Obama to the young cancer patient, Michelle by Laloo Chiba and . After the prison authorities found the drafts, in their handwriting, Kathy, was the deprivation of children. Children under 16 were not allowed to visit. Kathy and his Brits, had the benefi t of “Kathy’s personal tour” of the buried in canisters on the prison grounds, Kathy and the others were punished by the warders; they colleagues began to yearn for the sound of them. prison that held him for 18 of his 26 years in jail. lost the privilege of pursuing studies for four years.

21 AUGUST 1938 1941 1945-1946 1951-1952 1953 1954 1956 1961-1962 1963 1964-1989 1991 1994 1997 2008 1929 Left Schweizer- Joined the Young Helped to form the Headed the South Became secretary Banned from Arrested with 155 Became one of the Instructed by the Served sentence on Elected to NEC of Elected Member Declined nomination Established the Ahmed Mohammed Reneke for Communist League Transvaal Indian African delegation to of the Youth Action gatherings others in the Treason earliest recruits of South African Robben Island and ANC and becomes of Parliament and to the ANC National Ahmed Kathrada Kathrada was born Johannesburg to Youth Congress and the World Festival of Committee of ANC and ordered to Trial. Was among Communist Party to Pollsmoor Prison Head of ANC Public served as Mandela’s Executive Committee Foundation to to Indian immigrants attend school because was later elected as Youth and Students Youth League resign from 39 the fi nal 30 accused (MK), and served go “underground”; Relations Department Parliamentary promote non- in Schweizer- there are no schools Chairman in Berlin; worked at and Indian Youth organizations who were acquitted on the Regional vacates Flat 13 Counselor until racialism Reneke, a rural town for Indians in his the headquarters of Congress. Elected in 1961 Command for a brief Kholvad House and 1999 about 300km from hometown the World Federation to the executive of spell moved to Liliesleaf Johannesburg 1946 of Democratic Youth World Federation of 1954-1956 Farm 1992 1994 1999 Left school to work for nine months in Democratic Youth Active in organizing Went on Hajj Elected Chairperson Appointed as Trustee Budapest 1962 1963-1964 for the Passive Congress of the Became secretary Arrested and Pilgrimage to Mecca of the Robben Island of the Nelson Resistance Council People where the of the Free Mandela sentenced to life with his brother Solly Museum Council and Mandela Foundation, and serves his fi rst Freedom Charter and family served until his term which is set up to Committee when imprisonment 1989 jail sentence in was drafted. Mandela was arrested in Rivonia Trial expired in 2006 support Mandela Released from Durban Secretary of Central in August. Placed together with Nelson during his retirement Pollsmoor Prison on Indian High School under house arrest Mandela, Walter October 15 Parents Association Sisulu, , - a private school Raymond Mhlaba, established to Denis Goldberg, combat the Group Elias Motsoaledi and 1952 Areas Act Andrew Mlangeni Accused in trial of leaders of Defi ance Campaign; received 9 months suspended sentence