Ebrahim Ebrahim
Ebrahim Ebrahim | |
---|---|
Nomaindia Mfeketo | |
Personal details | |
Born | Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim 1 July 1937 Durban, South Africa |
Died | Johannesburg, South Africa | 6 December 2021 (aged 84)
Political party | African National Congress |
Spouse |
Shannon Ebrahim (née Field)
(m. 2000) |
Relations | Gora Ebrahim (brother) |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | University of South Africa (BA, BCom) |
Occupation | Anti-apartheid activist, lawmaker |
Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim
Popularly known as Ebie, he served as a lawmaker in the first democratically elected government of South Africa in 1994 and also served as the country's deputy minister for international relations between 2009 and 2014.
Early life
Ebrahim was born in Durban in 1937 to parents, Hafeeza and Mohammed Adam Modan, of Indian origin. His father was from Gujarat and traveled to South Africa in 1933, while his mother was born in South Africa. His father took the surname Ebrahim from the family with whom he had traveled to South Africa.[1][2]
Ebrahim's schooling was taken care of by his grandmother after the authorities denied him primary school admission, stating that schools for Indian students were full and could not admit him. This continued for five years until he was ten. He then joined a government funded school The Hindu Tamil Institute.[1]
Career and activism
Ebrahim was exposed to speeches from the
Ebrahim joined the
He went on to become a member of the
He was arrested in 1963 under the
Ebrahim would write in his memoir later of the physical abuse, torture, and suffering inflicted in the prison saying, "In prison we were assaulted, starved, under-clothed and exposed to bitter cold weather. We were sworn at and humiliated in the most degrading manner. We broke stones and ate a measly meal. For years we were made to stand stark naked for long periods of time in an open courtyard, sometimes in biting cold weather." Despite this, he used his time in the prison to obtain two university degrees, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce, from the University of South Africa.[3][5]
Ebrahim was released from prison in 1979, with the condition that he not participate in any political activities,
Ebrahim was part of the first democratically elected government of South Africa in 1994,[4] first as a member of the National Assembly, and then as an advisor, assisting with conflict mediation between the Palestinians and Israel, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and in Nepal, Bolivia, Kosovo, and Burundi.[9] As a mediator in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict he advocated for a middle ground between the multiple Palestinian organizations. He met the Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat in 2001 in the West Bank during this time. In 2002, he was part of a group of South Africans that called for a Palestinian boycott of Israel and called for sanctions against the Israeli state.[10] In 2010, he had called for an end to the "cleansing of Palestinians from Jerusalem" noting that the "Israel and Palestine conflict (was) primarily about freedom to live in dignity".[11]
He was appointed the deputy foreign minister in 2009 and served in the position for six years between 2009 and 2014.[12] He also served as the member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress for over 26 years between 1991 and 2017.[1] He represented the constituency of Chatsworth in KwaZulu-Natal.[13]
Personal life
Ebrahim, who was also known as Ebie,[1] met his future wife Shannon née Field, a United Nations official, in 1998. The couple married in 2000 and went on to have a son and a daughter. He also had another daughter from his earlier relationship with an American academic Julia Wells.[a][14][15]
Ebrahim was a fan of
Ebrahim died on 6 December 2021 at home in Johannesburg. He was aged 84.[4] He was provided a state funeral by the Gauteng province at the Westpark Cemetery.[16]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Explained: Who was Ebrahim Ebrahim, the Indian-origin anti-apartheid veteran?". The Indian Express. 7 December 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- OCLC 1061275307. Archivedfrom the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d "S.African anti-apartheid veteran Ebrahim dies aged 84". gulfnews.com. 7 December 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "South African anti-apartheid veteran Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim dies at 84". South China Morning Post. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim". People's Assembly. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ Kasrils, Ronnie (8 December 2021). "Remembering Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim". Tribune. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "S. African anti-apartheid veteran Ebrahim dies aged 84". France 24. 6 December 2021. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ "South African Anti-Apartheid Veteran Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim Dies At 84". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ "Call for South Africa to cut ties with Israel". www.iol.co.za. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ AFP and TOI staff. "South African anti-apartheid, Palestinian rights advocate Ebrahim dies at 84". www.timesofisrael.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ Mahlati, Zintle; Morais, Sheldon. "Former deputy minister Ebrahim Ebrahim dies aged 84". News24. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ Kianja. "Ebrahim Ebrahim – Farewell to a Gentle Revolutionary". www.thediplomaticsociety.co.za. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Ebrahim Ebrahim obituary: A life that leaves behind a substantial legacy of kindness and compassion". www.iol.co.za. Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
- ^ "Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ "WATCH: Gauteng Premier David Makhura pays tribute to Struggle stalwart Ebrahim Ebrahim". www.iol.co.za. Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
Notes
- ^ Some sources note the spelling of Wells's first name as Julie
Further reading
- Ebrahim, Shannon. Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim: a gentle revolutionary. OCLC 1061275307.
External links
- Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim: A Gentle Revolutionary at SAHistory.org.za
- Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim funeral on YouTube