Listen to our priceless stalwarts‚ Makhura tells mourners at Kathrada funeral

Gauteng Premier David Makhura on Wednesday called on leaders to heed the advice of struggle stalwarts.

“We as leaders must have the humility to listen to the stalwarts of our struggle‚” Makhura told mourners at the funeral of Ahmed Kathrada at the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg.

The 87-year-old struggle stalwart died on Tuesday morning at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Johannesburg. He had suffered a brain clot.

Kathrada had continued to be very vocal about the state of the country.

• ANC ructions play out as Zuma gets cold shoulderPresident Jacob Zuma pointedly not being asked to give a speech at the funeral of struggle icon Ahmed Kathrada has underlined the political ructions playing out within the ANC. 

Last year‚ he penned a letter to President Jacob Zuma‚ urging him to resign.

This came after major political upheaval‚ including the removal of Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene and the damning Nkandla report by the former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

A group of 101 ANC veterans have written a formal appeal to the ruling party to address its internal issues‚ but some current leaders have met the criticism with scorn.

The stalwarts‚ who last year signed a document called “For the Sake of Our Future”‚ said on Tuesday they were concerned about the present political crisis‚ which has been sparked by speculation that Zuma is about to fire respected Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in a cabinet reshuffle.

• Mourners gather for Kathrada funeralDignitaries have started to fill a large marquee erected on the grounds of the Westpark Cemetery‚ where the funeral of struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada is to take place. 

“They are destroying the values and traditions of the ANC and the trust that the overwhelming majority of our citizens gave the ANC during the struggle against apartheid and in the early days of our short democracy‚” the veterans said in a statement released on Tuesday.

Makhura pointed out at the funeral on Wednesday that Kathrada had refused to be silenced.

“Although he is silent today‚ Comrade Kathy was never a silent man in his 87 years of life. He always made his views known and‚ even as he lies here today‚ he refuses to be silent‚” Makhura said.

He called on leaders to protect the legacy of struggle icons.

“We must be angry if anyone insults our stalwarts and veterans for they represent that monumental honour … priceless pride of our people and consciousness of our nation‚” he added.