Former International Relations Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim will be laid to rest at the Heroes’ Acre at Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Acting President David Mabuza has granted him a special provincial official funeral.
Ebrahim died on Monday morning at the age of 84 after a long battle with cancer.
@MYANC Statement on the passing of Veteran Freedom Fighter and Patriot, Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim #RIPEbrahimEbrahim pic.twitter.com/dOoWEQBuoU
— African National Congress (@MYANC) December 6, 2021
He joined the struggle in his teens and served 18 years in two spells on Robben Island where he shared a cell with former President Jacob Zuma.
Ebrahim also worked tirelessly on peace initiatives around the world.
ANC Deputy Secretary-General Jesse Duarte says the party will hold a memorial service for Ebrahim.
“There will be a provincial special funeral for him tomorrow (Tuesday) taking care of Muslim rituals. We’ve had to wait for his family to come up from Durban and they’ve arrived today (Monday) and there will be an official funeral tomorrow (Tuesday) and then, later on, there will be a memorial service which will also be an official one,” says Duarte.
In the report below, the late Ebrahim Ebrahim has been described as a gentle giant who dedicated his life to the emancipation of the people of South Africa:
Duarte has described Ebrahim as a great mentor.
“He’s been a great mentor to all of us. In the last year in the tasks that I’ve had to perform I’ve relied on Ebie for his counsel and his confidence. In many ways, he was an expert on international relations in particular conflict resolution on the African continent, in Myanmar and many other places. So, this was a gift South Africa had and that gift is gone forever and we must cherish his memory,” adds Duarte.
Meanwhile, long-time friend Sunny Singh says Ebrahim’s passing has been difficult for him.
Singh has described Ebrahim as one of the strongest activists and a veteran of the struggle:
