Renowned South African filmmaker Anant Singh paid tribute to the late anti-apartheid struggle icon Ahmed Kathrada during a session of the World Economic Forum on Africa in Durban on Wednesday.
Kathrada, who was imprisoned for 26 years alongside the likes of Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, died on March 28 after a short illness. He was 87.
Singh, who produced a video tribute, said Kathrada was never afraid to speak out.
“After spending 26 years in prison with Nelson Mandela in prison, he did not want to become a politician, he just wanted to do what he could for the less fortunate, not only in South Africa, also in Palestine,” Singh said.
“He was never afraid to speak out and I think you have seen, not only in our country with people speaking out, but all over the world. You push the people to a certain point and they have to speak out,” he said.
More than 1 000 leaders from more than 100 countries, representing business, government, academia, civil society, media and the arts have descended on Durban for the WEF meeting, this year themed “Achieving Inclusive Growth through Responsive and Responsible Leadership”.