South Africa mourns death of Indian-origin anti-apartheid icon Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim
Johannesburg (PTI): Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim, an Indian-origin anti-apartheid icon in South Africa, who spent years imprisoned on Robben Island alongside Nelson Mandela and Ahmed Kathrada, has died. He was 84.
Ebrahim died after a long illness at his home here on Monday, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) said in a statement.
"The ANC learnt with deep sadness of the passing of Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim. We offer our heartfelt condolences to his wife and children, as well as their extended family, friends and comrades," it said in the statement shared on Twitter.
"Comrade Ebi, as he was affectionately known, was a longstanding member of the ANC, a patriot who served his country in different capacities with humility, dedication and distinction," the party said.
Ebrahim served time on Robben Island as a political prisoner alongside Mandela, Kathrada and others. After his father was arrested twice for defying laws that restricted the movement of Indians in South Africa, he joined the liberation struggle at the age of 13.
He often stated how he had been inspired by the Satyagraha style of Mahatma Gandhi, which he used in his passionate representation of the ANC in global conflict situations in Sri Lanka, Palestine, Rwanda, Kosovo, Bolivia and Nepal.
Ebrahim was arrested in 1963 and imprisoned on Robben Island, where he shared a cell with former president Jacob Zuma, whose role in state capture and corruption he later decried.
After his release, Ebrahim went into exile to continue his work with the ANC, but was abducted by apartheid-era security police from neighbouring Swaziland, tortured and sentenced to a second term on Robben Island.
He obtained two university degrees while on Robben Island.
After the release of all political prisoners and the election of Mandela as South Africa's first democratic president, Ebrahim served in various capacities, including as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Parliamentary Counsellor to Mandela.
Condoling his death, human rights organisation #Africa4Palestine acknowledged the role Ebrahim played in the ANC resolution for the immediate and unconditional downgrade of the South African Embassy in Israel to a Liaison Office in 2017.
The Congress of Business and Economics, an offshoot of the erstwhile Transvaal Indian Congress, honoured Ebrahim with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
Comrade Ebie, as he was fondly known, recalled at the time how he had spent half of his adult life in prison but that he would do it all over again if he had to because of his firm belief in struggling for peace, justice and the end of the scourge of apartheid and racism across the world, CBE Executive Director Yusuf Moosajee said.
In all my interactions with Ebie, both locally and abroad, he was always passionate about South Africa and its role in world politics, internationally-renowned filmmaker Anant Singh said in a tribute.
Ebrahim is survived by his wife Shannon, a celebrated foreign news writer for the Independent Media group, and two children.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Priyanka Gandhi participates in various official, outreach programmes in Wayanad
Wayanad(Kerala) (PTI): Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday took part in various official and outreach programmes, including inaugurating a health laboratory, in her Lok Sabha constituency.
Vadra, who is in Kerala on a three-day visit, inaugurated a health laboratory in Malappuram that was set up by the Kalikavu Service Cooperative Bank.
Later in the day, she interacted with potters at Nilambur, held a meeting with the Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM) state president T P Abdullah Koya Madani at Edavanna and met locals at Wayanad Churam (tunnel) bypass road at Chippilithode.
Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM) is an Islamic reformist organisation.
The pottery workers, who presented Vadra with several gifts made by them, told the Congress MP about the difficulties faced by them in their profession.
She assured them that she will work on their issues.
Regarding the Wayanad Churam bypass road, the Congress MP told the people that she has already spoken to the Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari who has constituted a committee for a study to explore what is possible here and what is not.
She said that she will request for expediting the process.
