We, the undersigned organisations, express our ongoing support for the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. We condemn all attempts aimed at frustrating and delegitimising its work. Given the national importance of the work of the Zondo Commission in probing state capture, we believe that its findings and recommendations will be critical…
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation welcomes action taken by law enforcement agencies in recent months tackling alleged corruption. The Foundation’s Executive Director, Neeshan Balton, indicated that it “gives one a sense of hope that investigations are now finally yielding results, with big cases being prosecution ready”. Balton referred to Tuesday’s warrant of arrest for ANC Secretary…
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation (AKF) fully endorses the widespread condemnation of the violence meted out against the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supporters at the Brackenfell High School in Cape Town yesterday. The AKF has in the past demonstrated in a similar way outside schools on issues of racism and considers the right to protest as…
Let me thank the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation for inviting me to give this Annual Lecture today, titled Hope After State Capture – Towards and Agenda for Change. This lecture is dedicated to the life and memory of Cde Laloo “Isu” Chiba who would have turned 90 this week. Cde Isu was recruited into lifetime struggle…
We, the undersigned organisations, welcome recent arrests by South African law enforcement agencies in relation to several key corruption cases. The actions undertaken by the Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) over the last few weeks are a step in the right direction and…
Dr Vallabh Jaga, an activist of the Transvaal Indian Congress (TIC) and the United Democratic Front (UDF), sadly passed away on 31 August 2020 at the age of 94. He became blind in 1985 at a heightened period of the political struggle. He was born on 23 September 1925 in Gujarat (India). After losing his…
“Climate justice is social justice.” This phrase from the Climate Justice Charter, being handed over to Parliament today, is perhaps the most important in the document. It sums up the core of what our struggles as progressive activists will be over the next generation at least. That one line alone, is a stark reminder of…
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation received the sad news yesterday evening of the death of Priscilla Jana (MP), aged 76, a legendary human rights and political figure in South African liberation politics. The Foundation expresses its sincere condolences to the family, friends and comrades of Comrade Priscilla Jana. Priscilla Jana was born in Westville, Kwazulu-Natal, to…
Executive Director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Neeshan Balton, reflects on George Bizos’ simple, yet significant contribution to Nelson Mandela’s speech from the dock. He says that support for the #OrangeMaskFridays campaign against Covid-19 corruption is similarly simple, yet impactful. Balton states that it can go a long way to protect state resources so that…
JOHANNESBURG: On Friday September 11, the collective of organisations that had made a moral call against Covid-19 corruption, met a delegation of the Government led by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The group of six organisations is made up of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution, the Desmond &…