Ahmed Kathrada, a veteran of the South African liberation struggle, visited Auckland Park Preparatory School to speak to the grade 5 to 7 girls about the importance of education and its power to change the world.
Kathrada was accompanied by his granddaughters, Tasneem and Aaliyah Kathrada, who are both former pupils of Auckland Park Preparatory School. Kathrada told the pupils stories of Robben Island where he was imprisoned for 18 years. He spoke of his life in prison but also how the prisoners valued education and that no prisoner left the island illiterate.
Head girl, Zahraa Ismail, and deputy head girl, Amy Leishman, compiled an article in which they wrote, “We felt honoured and privileged to have such an esteemed gentleman come and speak to us and when he entered our school gates, his aura filled our school grounds and we immediately felt speechless as his kind words mesmerised us when he greeted us.”
Ismail and Leishman were very grateful to meet a South African icon and expressed their desire to have Kathrada return and speak to the pupils again.
Details: Auckland Park Preparatory School, 011 482 3697.
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