Ahmed Kathrada gets an early birthday present

“It is a great honour and privilege to announce that Full Council today voted in favour of bestowing the Freedom of the City on Struggle icon and stalwart, Ahmed Kathrada,” said De Lille.

The announcement and vote came two days before Kathrada, affectionately known as “Uncle Kathy”, would celebrate his 86th birthday.

“This gesture is therefore just in time for his birthday and a token of appreciation for the heroic service he has rendered to our country,” said De Lille.

There were only five other recipients of the honour putting Uncle Kathy comfortably in the company of his late comrade and friend former President Nelson Mandela, Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, former University of the Western Cape rector Professor Richard Van Der Ross, and United States President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.

De Lille explained that to be a “Freeman” and have the Freedom of the City was the highest honour a Council could bestow on any person of distinction.

Uncle Kathy was of course not always a “free man” in Cape Town. Because of his struggle activity – which began at age 17 – he was imprisoned for 18 years on Robben Island and spent the rest of his 26-year prison sentence in Pollsmoor Prison. Then, in 1994 he was elected as a member of Parliament, serving as Mandela’s parliamentary counsellor.

Kathrada now leads special tours of Robben Island and has acted as a guide for the Obamas and former Cuban leader Fidel Castro. He also heads up a non-racial project, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, continuing his decades-long work in the area.

The date and place for the Freedom of the City ceremony was still to be decided and would be announced at a later stage by De Lille.