The Foundation’s core objective is to deepen non-racialism through its various departments and activities. It has not only advocates for this Constitutional ideal, but has actively intervened in incidents wherein racial tensions have flared. Through ongoing media work the Foundation keeps track of racial issues and responds consistently. It spearheads the Anti-Racism Network South Africa along with the Mandela Foundation. Its executive director is also part of the Gauteng provincial team of eminent persons set up to deal with issues of race and discrimination.
The 2025 National Youth Essay, Poetry & Art Competition Against Racism is Now Open!
Use your voice. Share your story. Win great prizes.
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation is proud to announce the 9th Annual National Essay Writing Competition Against Racism. An opportunity for young people to raise their voices, challenge injustice, and advocate for a non-racial South Africa.
The competition is open to all South African youth aged 13–21, and encourages critical thinking, creativity, and bold ideas that address the persistent realities of racism and inequality.
This year’s topics:
- Do we need quotas in sport today?
- How does religion affect racial unity and division in society today?
- Does social media spread racism, and how can young people use it to fight back?
- What does racism look like in 2025?
Entry Formats:
- Essay (1000–1500 words)
- Poetry (accompanied by a 500-word explanation)
- Original Artwork (not larger than A3, accompanied by a 500-word explanation)
Prizes Per Category:
- 1st Place: Cash Prize + Laptop
- 2nd Place: Cash Prize + Laptop
- All entrants will receive certificates of participation
Winning entries will be published on the Foundation’s website, social media, and other platforms.
Closing Date: 31 July 2025
Submission Details:
Entries must be submitted with a completed entry form (available at www.kathradafoundation.org) via:
- Email: essays@kathradafoundation.org
- Hand delivery: Signet Terrace Office Park, Block B, Suite 2, 19 Guinea-Fowl Street, Lenasia, 1827, Johannesburg
Competition Rules & Guidelines:
- Participants must be between the ages of 13–21 at the time of submission.
- One entry per participant. Participants cannot submit an essay, poem and artwork at once.
- Entries submitted must be based on one of the four topics provided.
- Joint entries are not accepted.
- Only South African residents are eligible to participate.
- Each submission must be the original work of the participant. Plagiarized entries will be disqualified.
- All entries must be accompanied by a completed entry form with full participant details.
- Essays must be between 1000–1500 words.
- Poetry and artwork must be accompanied by a written explanation of no more than 500 words.
- Artwork entries must not exceed A3 size.
- Entries must be sent as an attachment. Entries submitted in the body of an email or as a link will not be considered.
- Previous winners from 2023 or 2024 are not eligible to enter.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Failure to adhere to these rules will result in automatic disqualification.
For more information, contact:
Call: 011 854 0082
Email: rethabile@kathradafoundation.org
Essay Writing Competition 2024 Winners
Top 10 in the Essay Writing Category
Click on the name to read the winner’s essay
Top 10 in the Poetry Category
Click on the name to read the winner’s poem
Top 10 in the Visual Arts Category
Click on the name to view the winner’s Art Work
Anti-Racism Week 2025: Unite for Equality, Act Against Racism
The Anti-Racism Network South Africa (ARNSA), convened by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, will observe Anti-Racism Week 2025 from March 14 to 21. Held during Human Rights Month, the week concludes on Human Rights Day and the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
As part of the week’s activities, the Foundation will visit Sharpeville to honor those who lost their lives in the Sharpeville Massacre and reflect on its significance in the ongoing fight against racism and injustice.
Theme for 2025: Unite for Equality, Act Against Racism
This year’s theme emphasizes the need for collective action in confronting racism and dismantling systemic inequalities. Racism remains deeply entrenched in society, and addressing it requires awareness, dialogue, and meaningful action.
Anti-Racism Week provides an opportunity for individuals, communities, and institutions to reflect on progress in combating racism and take concrete steps toward building a more inclusive and just society.
Unite for equality. Act against racism.
Explore the Anti-Racism Week 2025 events! See the schedule below and join the movement for equality and justice.
Below, you’ll find the Facilitator Guide: Leading Meaningful Dialogues on Racism and Anti-Racism as well as an Action Pack that guides you on ‘What You Can Do in Your Spaces’.
Join us for a tour of Sharpeville on 16 March 2025
More Resources…
Learn about Racism
Websites:
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- National Action Plan to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerances – https://www.justice.gov.za/nap/docs/NAP-20190313.pdf
- Kathrada Workbook: Igniting Your Power – https://www.kathradafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Igniting-Your-Power-LowRes-Approval-Agent-Orange-Design-OUT-05112018.pdf
- Baseline study to determine levels of Racism, Anti-foreigner Sentiment, Homophobia, Racial Incidents, Inter-racial Relations and Perceptions of National Identity | DOJ&CD – https://www.justice.gov.za/nap/docs/20220523-WCAR-Booklet.pdf
- Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act – https://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/2000-004.pdf
- Institute for Justice and Reconciliation – https://www.ijr.org.za/?s=anti+racism
- OHCHR and Racism – https://www.ohchr.org/en/racism
- Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/cerd
Videos:
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- How did South African Apartheid happen, and how did it finally end? | TedED – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke4kVFycpYY
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- Apartheid: The rise and fall of South Africa’s ‘apartness’ laws | Global News – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJOU9YYMzpw
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- What is Freedom of Expression and what is Hate Speech? – https://civicsacademy.co.za/what-is-freedom-of-expression-and-what-is-hate-speech/
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- In Conversation with the DOJ&CD on the Hate Speech Bill | Ahmed Kathrada Foundation – https://youtu.be/s4JS986nHT4?si=71XTyosqmeLcZMu9
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- In Conversation with the SAHRC on Equality Courts | Ahmed Kathrada Foundation – https://youtu.be/7C11iDtHGrs?si=j2lFzoQMnunb94Em
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- Racism: The Global Threat to Peace and Democracy | Ahmed Kathrada Foundation – https://youtu.be/LfCGsbszzkk?si=Rz-3B7wXtC1KK8Mk
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- Racism in Sports | Ahmed Kathrada Foundation – https://www.facebook.com/KathradaFound/videos/4787042341423737
- Why South Africa is still so segregated? | Vox – https://www.vox.com/videos/2021/4/19/22391869/why-south-africa-is-still-so-segregated
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Speak Out against Racism
Websites:
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- National Action Plan to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerances – https://www.justice.gov.za/nap/docs/NAP-20190313.pdf
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- OHCHR and Racism – https://www.ohchr.org/en/racism
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- Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – https://www.ohchr.org/en/treaty-bodies/cerd
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- Racism row over South Africa school’s alleged hair policy – https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/29/south-africa-pretoria-high-school-for-girls-afros
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- H&M management, marketing division should undergo anti-racism & diversity training | Ahmed Kathrada Foundation – https://www.kathradafoundation.org/2018/01/15/hm-management-marketing-division-should-undergo-anti-racism-diversity-training/
- Peaceful Anti-Racism Protests Staged in South Africa Cities – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ58-mKiTQg
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Videos:
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- Racist attack in South African University: Urine assault sparks protest – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0wSrvSQaok
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- Racism thrives on silence | TedEd – https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube+ted+talk+dexter+dias&rlz=1C1CHBF_enZA1003ZA1003&oq=youtube+ted+talk+dexter+dias&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIKCAEQABiABBiiBDIKCAIQABiABBiiBDIGCAMQRRhA0gEJMTA5NjdqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6eac861c,vid:peLzj80-7VY,st:0
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- It takes a community to eradicate hate | TedEd – https://www.ted.com/talks/wale_elegbede_it_takes_a_community_to_eradicate_hate
- Want a more just world? Be an unlikely ally | TED x MileHigh – https://www.ted.com/talks/dwinita_mosby_tyler_want_a_more_just_world_be_an_unlikely_ally?referrer=playlist-what_is_privilege&autoplay=true
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Act against Racism
Websites:
-
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- National Action Plan to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerances – https://www.justice.gov.za/nap/docs/NAP-20190313.pdf
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- Lodge a Complaint | South Africa Human Rights Commission – https://www.sahrc.org.za/index.php/lodge-complaints
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- Equality Court – https://www.justice.gov.za/eqcact/eqc_main.html
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- Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act – https://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/2000-004.pdf
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- Brave Conversations: A Guide for Inclusive Anti-Racism Dialogue – https://www.ijr.org.za/home/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Brave-Conversations-Updated-cover-10-November.pdf
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- South African law needs a zero tolerance approach to racist utterances – https://theconversation.com/south-african-law-needs-a-zero-tolerance-approach-to-racist-utterances-104078
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- The difference between being “not racist” and antiracist | TED2020 – https://www.ted.com/talks/ibram_x_kendi_the_difference_between_being_not_racist_and_antiracist?referrer=playlist-what_is_privilege&autoplay=true
- Addressing Racism in South African Schools: 7 Action Points from IJR’s Anti-Racism Desk – https://www.ijr.org.za/2022/09/28/addressing-racism-in-south-african-schools-7-action-points-from-ijrs-anti-racism-desk/
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Videos:
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- How do we use the Equality Courts to challenge Discrimination – https://civicsacademy.co.za/how-do-we-use-the-equality-court-to-challenge-discrimination/
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- Fighting Racism: 20th Anniversary – Durban Declaration and Programme of Action | UN Human Rights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwMVw7XuTu4
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- Unfiltered | Will hate Crimes Bill address prejudice? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPEH4mQ5xps
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- The Sharpeville Massacre – standing up against racism | OHCHR – https://www.ohchr.org/en/video/2021/sharpeville-massacre-standing-against-racism
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- 4 ways to have healthy conversations about race | TedEd – https://www.ted.com/talks/afrika_afeni_mills_4_ways_to_have_healthy_conversations_about_race/transcript
- Meet 2 South Africans confronting anti-immigrant violence | DW – https://www.dw.com/en/meet-two-south-africans-confronting-anti-immigrant-violence/video-67654591
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ANTI-RACISM WEEK 2024 – MEDIA RESOURCES
The Annual Anti-Racism Week, presented by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation in collaboration
with the Anti-Racism Network South Africa, revolves around the theme, “Learn, Speak, Act: Combating Racism Together”.
This theme underscores the persistent efforts required to tackle and eliminate racism in South Africa. It promotes introspection, education, and collaboration as key elements to contribute towards a more vibrant and harmonious society in the future. Recognizing ongoing challenges, the theme emphasizes the necessity to build active anti-racists, acknowledging the progress that must still be made. This week provides an opportunity for individuals and communities to engage in meaningful dialogue and activities that foster a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding racism, encouraging a commitment to sustained efforts in dismantling discriminatory practices.
