From left, DENIS GOLDBERG, ANDREW MLANGENI and AHMED KATHRADA
THREE of the remaining Rivonia trialists – Ahmed Kathrada‚ Andrew Mlangeni and Denis Goldberg – are to receive the freedom of the City of London as well as of the Vaal Triangle municipality of Sedibeng.
They will receive the freedom of the City of London on January 27 while the freedom of Sedibeng will be conferred on them today.
They will be joined in receiving the freedom of the City of London by their legal representatives during the Rivonia treason trial‚ George Bizos and Joel Joffe.
The awardees are also expected to meet Prime Minister David Cameron during their UK visit.
Prior to the Sedibeng ceremony today‚ the former trialists will engage with young people from the Vaal region‚ as well as lay a wreath at the Sharpeville Memorial Centre.
“In keeping with their lifelong commitment to non-racialism‚ the three will also use the opportunity to take a stand against the recent spate of racial incidents that has made headlines‚” a statement from the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation said.
Commenting on the accolade‚ Kathrada said he was honoured and humbled.
“One recalls the Sedibeng region’s contribution to the anti-apartheid struggle in the Evaton bus boycotts in the 1950s‚ as well as the horrors of the violence that erupted in the Vaal Triangle‚ particularly Boipatong‚ closer to the advent of democracy,” he said.
“Importantly‚ the region is home to the site of the Sharpeville massacre.
“We must remember though‚ that Sharpeville is also where the new constitution of South Africa was signed into law by President Mandela.
“It is therefore symbolic of how far we have come as a country – from racial oppression by the state‚ to the nonracial future that the constitution promised‚ and still promises.”
Ahmed Kathrada Foundation director Neeshan Balton said it was highly significant that Sedibeng had chosen the three for this accolade.
“The Rivonia generation symbolises the best values of the liberation movement‚ including selflessness‚ courage and providing leadership by example,” he said
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