Ebrahim Ebrahim

Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim OLG (1 July 1937 – 6 December 2021) be a South African anti-apartheid activist of Indian origin who be a member of de African National Congress ein armed wing uMkhonto we Sizwe. He be tried insyd de Pietermaritzburg sabotage trials of 1963 den be sentenced to a 15-year imprisonment at de Robben Island Maximum Security Prison.

Popularly known as Ebie, he served as a lawmaker insyd de first democratically elected government of South Africa insyd 1994 den sana served as de country ein deputy minister for international relations between 2009 den 2014.

 Early life 
Dem born Ebrahim insyd Durban insyd 1937 to parents, Hafeeza den Mohammed Adam Modan, of Indian origin. Ein poppie from Gujarat den travel to South Africa insyd 1933, while ein mommie born insyd South Africa. Ein poppie take de surname Ebrahim from de family plus whom ein travel to South Africa.

Ebrahim ein schooling take care of by ein grandmother after de authorities deny ein primary school admission, state dat schools for Indian students full den cannot admit ein. Dis continue for five years until ein ten. Ein then join a government fund school de Hindu Tamil Institute.

 Career den activism 
Ebrahim expose to speeches from de African National Congress (ANC) den Natal Indian Congress (NIC) leaders when he attend demma rallies insyd Durban as a 13 year old. During dis time he introduce to activism dat fight discrimination against Indians insyd de country. He be an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi ein passive resistance movement, den attend rallies where ANC leader Albert Luthuli speak.

Ebrahim join de anti-apartheid movement by join de NIC insyd 1952 during de Defiance campaign. Insyd de same year, he become a member of de ANC Youth League. As a member of de NIC he get to be a delegate to Congress of de People dat adopt de Freedom Charter insyd 1955.

He go on to become a member of de ANC armed wing Umkhonto We Sizwe insyd 1961 den be a member of de organization that carry out sabotage across de country. He later say dat de Sharpeville massacre of 1960, where 69 protestors shoot dead by de Transvaal police, change ein mind about peaceful means of protest den passive resistance, lead ein to join de armed wing of de ANC.

He arrest insyd 1963 under de Sabotage act. He try insyd de Pietermaritzburg Sabotage Trial dat include 18 anoda activists den sentence to a 15-year imprisonment at de Robben Island Maximum Security Prison. Ein time at de prison coincide plus de time dat prominent activists including Nelson Mandela be insyd de same prison. During ein time insyd prison, for a brief period he share ein cell plus Jacob Zuma, who later be de president of de country.

Ebrahim write insyd ein memoir later of de physical abuse, torture, den suffering inflict insyd de prison say, "Insyd prison we assault, starve, under-clothe den expose to bitter cold weather. We swear at den humiliate insyd de most degrading manner. We break stones den eat a measly meal. For years we make to stand stark naked for long periods of time insyd an open courtyard, sometimes insyd biting cold weather." Despite dis, he use ein time insyd de prison to obtain two university degrees, Bachelor of Arts den Bachelor of Commerce, from de University of South Africa.

Ebrahim release from prison insyd 1979, plus de condition dat he not participate insyd any political activities, den follow de ANC ein order to go into exile de follow year. However, he arrest again insyd 1989 for plant landmines insyd white-owned farms insyd Swaziland (now Eswatini) insyd 1986, along plus two others. He kidnap from Swaziland by South African apartheid agents den sentence to 20 years of imprisonment, again insyd Robben Island. Ebrahim release insyd 1991; de kidnapping rule illegal since it take place outside South African jurisdiction.

Ebrahim be part of de first democratically elect government of South Africa insyd 1994, first as a member of de National Assembly, den then as an advisor, assist plus conflict mediation between de Palestinians den Israel, de Democratic Republic of de Congo den Rwanda, den insyd Nepal, Bolivia, Kosovo, den Burundi. As a mediator insyd de Israeli–Palestinian conflict he advocate for a middle ground between de multiple Palestinian organizations. He meet de Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat insyd 2001 insyd de West Bank during dis time. Insyd 2002, he be part of a group of South Africans dat call for a Palestinian boycott of Israel den call for sanctions against de Israeli state. Insyd 2010, he call for an end to de "cleansing of Palestinians from Jerusalem" note dat de "Israel den Palestine conflict (be) primarily about freedom to live insyd dignity".

He be appointed de deputy foreign minister insyd 2009 den served insyd de position for six years between 2009 den 2014. He sanso serve as de member of de National Executive Committee of de African National Congress for over 26 years between 1991 den 2017. He represent de constituency of Chatsworth insyd KwaZulu-Natal.

 Ein life matter 
Ebrahim, wey sanso be known as Ebie, meet ein future wife Shannon née Field, a United Nations official, insyd 1998. De couple marry insyd 2000 den go on to have a son den a daughter. He sanso have anoda daughter from ein earlier relationship plus an American academic Julia Wells.

Ebrahim be a fan of Indian film music, listen to singers include Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, den Geeta Dutt. It note dat when he be underground on radio duty scan radio stations, include Radio Moscow, Voice of America, South African Broadcasting Corporation, den de BBC, he find einself tune to All India Radio listen to Indian film music. When incarcerate prisoners insyd Robben island allow to choose music for broadcast, he select Bollywood music to confuse de prison warders. He sanso be a fan of Soviet realist writer Nikolai Ostrovsky ein works.

Ebrahim die on 6 December 2021 at home insyd Johannesburg. He be age 84. He provide a state funeral by de Gauteng province at de Westpark Cemetery.

 References 

 Read further 



 External links 

 Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim: A Gentle Revolutionary at SAHistory.org.za
 Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim funeral on YouTube

Category:1937 births
Category:2021 deaths
Category:South African people
Category:Human
Category:African National Congress politicians
Category:South African anti-apartheid activists
Category:Inmates of Robben Island
Category:Members of de National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019
Category:Activists wey komot Durban
Category:South African politicians of Indian descent
Category:South African people of Gujarati descent
Category:South African prisoners den detainees
Category:University of South Africa alumni
Category:Members of de National Assembly of South Africa 1994–1999
Category:Recipients of de Order of Luthuli