Anti-Apartheid Activist Dr. Nthato Motlana Joins the Ancestors

ANTI-APARTHEID ACTIVIST NTHATO MOTLANA DIES

Anti-apartheid activist, businessman and Mandela family physician Nthato
Motlana has died after a long battle with cancer, the Nelson Mandela
Foundation said on Monday.

Motlana, one of the foundation’s trustees, died on Sunday night at his
Johannesburg home.

"We mourn his loss, and offer our deepest condolences and solidarity
with his family and many friends at this difficult time," said the
foundation in a statement.

Motlana was one of the accused, with Mandela and 18 others in the 1952
Defiance Campaign Trial.

"All the accused were convicted for their role in a campaign of peaceful
protests against apartheid laws. They were sentenced to nine months in
jail with hard labour suspended for two years."

Motlana was also detained after the 1976 students’ uprising, being a
leading member of the Soweto community and vice chair of the Black
Parent’s Association at the time.

Motlana was also chairman of the Soweto Committee of Ten, one of the
organisation banned by the apartheid government on 19 October 1977 on
what became known as "Black Wednesday".

In March this year Motlana attended a reunion with Mandela and other
activists involved in the Defiance Campaign, Treason and Rivonia trials
at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg.

Motlana was also an award-winning businessman. He was granted a lifetime
achievement award in 2007 by the Financial Mail for his role in business
and community involvement.

The award praised him as one of the "few individuals who paved the way
for black business people who play in the black economic empowerment
space today".

On Monday Nelson Mandela sent a message to Motlana’s family, saying his
death was a "hard blow".

"We have traveled a long road together, through many decades of the
struggle against apartheid and the years of building democracy.

"His unfailing support for our family during the prison years is
something we will never forget. Motlana was a patriot of special quality
who had made contributions in a variety of field.

"Hamba kahle," said Mandela.