Farewell, Gentle Giant

South african struggle stalwart ahmed kathrada, known for his humour, humility and humanity, was given a hero’s send-off. But Jacob Zuma, though absent, loomed large.

- Melitta Ngalonkulu

Incorruptible, selfless and a man of integrity who stood his ground till the very end is how anti-apartheid icon Ahmed Kathrada will forever be remembered. Indeed, those were the words on everyone’s lips as he was laid to rest on the sombre morning of March 29 at the Westpark Cemetery in Randburg in Johannesburg.

Kathrada had passed away at the age of 87 the day before at the Donald Gordon Hospital following complications from a brain surgery that eventually took his life.

At his funeral, Nelson’s Mandela’s favorite comrade drew an entire Rainbow Nation of mourners, from political heavyweights to the wives, sons and daughters of liberation fighters, to ordinary citizens who loved him and who he loved.

The one thing the thousands gathered had in common was their utmost admiration and reverence for Uncle Kathy, as he was called, the man who had fought for South Africa’s freedom with blood, sweat and tears.

But they did not shed tears, instead they reflected in unison, on the political future and failures of the day, almost echoing the words the man would have himself uttered had he been there.

It was a morning when much was talked about, from those present, about those who were conspicuously not.

Most top African National Congress (ANC) leaders, including Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe, and former president Thabo Mbeki, attended the funeral. Also present was Pravin Gordhan (who would be axed a day later as Finance Minister by President Jacob Zuma in what would be an overnight cabinet reshuffle).