On Freedom Day, South Africans honour a democracy won through sacrifice and global solidarity. Today, that solidarity must be put to work again. The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s signature on the Free Marwan Barghouti Pledge—the first sitting head of state to do so.

This signature must not be symbolic. It is a direct challenge to political imprisonment and a call for governments everywhere to choose principle over silence by backing the global campaign to free Barghouti.

Nelson Mandela and Ahmed Kathrada understood what prison is meant to do: break leaders, crush movements, and intimidate communities into submission. Yet the anti-apartheid struggle proved that sustained, organised international pressure can help crack open prison doors—and it must be marshalled again.

The Foundation has been clear and consistent. In its 15 April statement marking 24 years since Barghouti’s imprisonment, it renewed the urgent call for his release and called for intensified international pressure on Israel.

Barghouti was abducted in 2002 and has been imprisoned since 2004. Widely regarded as a unifying Palestinian political leader and a symbol of resistance, he remains behind bars while thousands of Palestinian political prisoners face repression, arbitrary detention, and violations of international law.

This is not an isolated injustice. The Foundation has highlighted the systemic nature of Palestinian imprisonment, including administrative detention without trial, ill-treatment, and the routine denial of basic legal rights.

President Ramaphosa’s endorsement reinforces South Africa’s duty to stand for justice, human rights, and international law—and to act on that duty. It also aligns with South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where it has challenged Israel’s conduct in Gaza under the Genocide Convention.

South Africa’s history leaves no room for neutrality: freedom is fought for, demanded, and defended—together. The solidarity that helped win Mandela and Kathrada’s freedom must now be mobilised for those still imprisoned for their politics and their people.

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation calls on heads of state, parliamentarians, and political leaders worldwide: follow President Ramaphosa’s lead, sign the pledge, and publicly demand Barghouti’s release.

We urge civil society, organisations, and individuals to organise, speak out, and escalate pressure for the immediate and unconditional release of Barghouti and all Palestinian political prisoners.

Members of the public can add their names to the campaign HERE.

ENDS

Issued by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

For media inquiries, please contact:

Anele Gcwabe

Communications Manager

Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

083-278-8832

anele@kathradafoundation.org