Anti-Apartheid Heroes Given Freedom of City of London

LONDON – Two South Africans sentenced alongside Nelson Mandela to life in jail were given the Freedom of the City of London on Wednesday in recognition of their fight for freedom and racial equality, as were the lawyers who defended them at trial.

Ahmed Kathrada and Denis Goldberg received the award with fellow South African George Bizos and Lord Joel Joffe at a ceremony in Guildhall’s prestigious Livery Hall, conducted by Dr Peter Kane, Chamberlain of London. Andrew Mlangeni, another surviving member of the Rivonia trial, was too ill to travel to London to accept the honour in person.

Twenty years ago Mandela received the Honorary Freedom of the City of London – the highest accolade the city can bestow.

London Mayor Jeffrey Mountevans said in a statement before the ceremony, “The Freedom of the City of London is a tribute to the noble and fearless fortitude shown by these four men and … we are so pleased to honour (Mandela’s) fellow fighters, essentially, world leaders for equality and humanity, to recognise their battle against the evils of apartheid.”

Goldberg had some harsh words for the African National Congress in his speech after the ceremony.

According to news reports, Goldberg said that although much had been done to improve the situation of many in the country, “My personal view is that my current comrades in government at every level have followed the example of British colonialism and apartheid oppression in creating a crony (economy) where political access to power means (financial prosperity).”

He said that a positive aspect was that people were being more outspoken about their dissatisfaction. “People speak out, protest out on the streets more and more and I’m happy to add my voice,” Goldberg was quoted as saying.

Goldberg was arrested in 1964 when police discovered a plot for a 7,000-strong uprising and sentenced to four life terms in prison after being convicted of armed resistance, and served 22 years in a “whites-only” prison in Pretoria.

Kathrada defied laws discriminating against Indians. He was put under house arrest in 1962 but secretly continued his campaign. He spent 26 years in prison, 18 on Robben Island, before being released in 1989.

Kathrada’s partner is Barbara Hogan, a former cabinet minister who was recently in the news for her public criticism of the ANC and for saying it is time for President Jacob Zuma to leave office.