By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG 

Former South African anti-apartheid struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada has died at the age of 87 after a short illness, his foundation said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation is deeply saddened to announce the passing on of the African National Congress (ANC) veteran, Ahmed Kathrada this [Tuesday] morning, at the Donald Gordon Hospital in Johannesburg,” read the statement.

It added had Kathrada had passed away peacefully after a short period of illness, following surgery to his brain.

Neeshan Balton, executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, described his death as a great loss to the ruling ANC, the broader liberation movement and South Africa as a whole.

“Internationally, he was staunch in his support for the Palestinian struggle. Kathrada was an inspiration to millions in different parts of the world,” said Balton.

Born in the North West town of Schweizer-Reneke in 1929, Kathrada began his political career at the age of 17.

Kathrada spent 26 years in prison, 18 of which were on Robben Island, where his friend and the former South African president, the late Nelson Mandela, was also jailed.

The Kathrada Foundation said he will be buried according to Muslim religious rights on Wednesday.

President Jacob Zuma has declared a special official funeral for the late Kathrada saying he sacrificed his life for the struggle against apartheid.

“The president has instructed that the national flag fly at half-mast at every station in the country from today, March 28 until the evening of the official memorial service,” Zuma’s office said.