The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation hosted a dialogue at Constitution Hill to mark the anti-apartheid activist’s passing

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s Youth Department hosted an inspiring intergenerational dialogue titled The Past, The Present, The Future at Constitution Hill on March 29.

The dialogue featured anti-apartheid veteran and former Robben Island prisoner Mac Maharaj, who shared reflections from his remarkable life with young activists, students, and community organisers.

Read more: 30-years of South African music comes alive at Constitutional Hill

Maharaj, a fellow Robben Island prisoner with Kathrada, offered deep insights into the complexities of activism, sacrifice, and principled leadership. He warned against complacency, reminding participants that democracy is neither automatic nor permanent; it demands constant attention and effort.

“Kathy believed in young people. Not as future leaders, but as leaders of the present. The torch is already in your hands,” Maharaj told the young audience.

The dialogue was marked by courageous and thoughtful questions from participants, covering issues such as inequality, the erosion of democratic institutions, persistent racism, and the sense of alienation many young people feel today. Maharaj encouraged the youth to ground themselves in history, organise effectively, and pursue justice with determination.

Also read: Innovative craft collaboration unveiled at Constitutional Hill

In a striking moment, Maharaj shared a story of how he learned to respect, without agreeing with, one of the men who had tortured him on Robben Island, warning the youth never to underestimate their adversaries.

“Never underestimate your enemy,” he remarked, driving home the point that principled activism requires a clear-eyed understanding of both allies and opponents.

In a firm rebuttal of claims that the negotiated settlement in the 1990s was a ‘sell-out,’ Maharaj stated, on the record, that apartheid did not end simply because white people voted against it. He shared how negotiations were met with resistance and how those who brokered the democratic breakthrough did so with great sacrifice and determination, carving out a path that today’s generation must continue to advance.

The foundation reaffirmed that the dialogue was part of a broader and ongoing commitment to building intergenerational activism rooted in the values Kathrada stood for, which include non-racialism, justice, humility, and democratic participation.

Follow us on our Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok pages. Join our WhatsApp group for any story ideas you may have.

Related article: Locals are invited to the Constitution Hill Human Rights Festival