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TORCHBEARERS: ANC stalwarts Ahmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni and Thabo Mbeki in Bloemfontein. From our Files. Photo: Mohau Mofokeng

 Parents need to help make the young ones understand that freedom comes with responsibility 

Speaking to Sowetan at the 49th anniversary of the Rivonia Trial at Lillieslief Farm in Rivonia, near Sandton, Kathrada said a lot more needed to be done to rid SA of this "ignorance" where people did not even have a clue about the country's history.

He recalled how a young woman in Cape Town was shocked to hear that he had spent 26 years on Robben Island, as she assumed it was for murder.

"That's an example of ignorance. It is one of our greatest challenges ... it's not the responsibility of one organisation or non-governmental organisations. Parents need to help and make the young ones understand that freedom comes with responsibility," he said.

Lillieslief Farm is where Kathrada and other ANC leaders - including former president Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki, Walter Sisulu and Andrew Mlangeni - were arrested and sentenced for plotting to overthrow the apartheid government. Their secret hide-out was raided by police on July 11 1963.

It now stands as a National Heritage Site with interactive technology that takes one through that fateful day when eight of the 10 accused were sentenced to life in prison.

Denis Goldberg, the only white member of Umkhonto we Sizwe to be arrested and sentenced in the Rivonia Trial, said the anniversary was "a celebration of the values that comrades stood for" at the time.

Goldberg said South Africans should always remind themselves that freedom did not fall from the trees and that attaining it took enormous sacrifices.

"We now have our freedom. The freedom to build a new South Africa, that's where we want people to go," said Goldberg.

While both Struggle stalwarts were happy at what had been achieved in the country so far, they said a lot more needed to be done, particularly in ensuring that greedy government officials who enrich themselves at the expense of the poor are sent packing. "We didn't fight for people to get rich. I am putting into words what we all talked about then," Goldberg said.

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Wed May 22 23:18:10 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 12, 2012

MGEEZ

These were the leaders who had courage and were selfless because when they fought there were no tenders to benefit from and being a Cde was not a romance!!! I salute all of them jointly and severally for what they stood for and the sacrifice they made. One only wishes that indeed our society was more involved in understanding the obligations that comes with the rights that are enshrined in the constitution.
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Jul 12, 2012

WakeUpSouthAfrica

*yawn* more talk. If i had R1 for each time an ANC dude was speaking about the evils of corruption, Id be rich. Pity that talk is NEVER followed by action/
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Jul 12, 2012

CheeseBoy

I cannot wait for the day when all these "struggle stalwarts" find their way to heaven (or hell) if it does exist.

A lot of the entitlement and self enrichment is done by them due to the fact they 'freed us from the evil apartheid regime' so we owe them something.

We must worship them even if they turn against us. This attitude has been the death of Africa's progress as a people
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Jul 12, 2012

MOTHUBANNYO

Oh yes, you definately fought to be RICH - please !!!!!!!
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Jul 12, 2012

MsKinkyakaKamaSutra

We didn't fight for people to get rich. I am putting into words what we all talked about then," Goldberg said.
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Unfortunately your comrades dont see it that way, as one of them said "I DID NOT JOIN POLITICS TO BE POOR"....................

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Jul 12, 2012

Papage

I still say, Zuma was a mistake. The ANC has better Leaders and they all sit back and watching comics. It is sad to see such a Country go down to Zuma and Malema.
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Jul 12, 2012

Mellow

We didn't fight for people to get rich. I am putting into words what we all talked about then," Goldberg said.
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So what do you suggest we do with all the greedy bustards who fought to enrich themselves/friends and families, you say they must be sent packing right? How soon can that be?
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Jul 12, 2012

tumzangwana

"We didn't fight for people to get rich. I am putting into words what we all talked about then," Goldberg said.
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preach ntate Goldberg, preach!!!!!! hope those greedy mofos are listening.

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Jul 12, 2012

Shredder

"We didn't fight for people to get rich."

Actually we did; we did not fight to remain poor. If the statement was "We did not fight to get rich THROUGH CORRUPTION" I'd agree.

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Jul 12, 2012

Phuphethakatha

@CheeseBoy
Say that again brother, we need a new breed of leaders without struggle credentials. Selfless leaders with integrity...
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