Legendary South African activist Ahmed Kathrada dies at 87

Ahmed Kathrada is a renowned South African activist and close friend of Nelson Mandela.

He died on today at the age of 87 after a brief illness following a brain surgery he had recently.

Derek Hanekom, the chairman of the Kathrada Foundation confirmed his death saying,

'Comrade Kathy was a gentle, humane and humble soul. He was a determined revolutionary who gave his entire life to the liberation struggle of our country," 

The Nelson Mandela foundation has also issued a statement on his demise that reads, 'He was a member of that generation of South African leadership which made a post-apartheid conceivable. His commitment to core values was unshakeable, inspiring a life-time of service and informing a rejection, right to the end, of the abuse of power in any form".