Imam Haron Memorial Lecture 2021

THE Imam Haron Foundation will, for the second year in succession, host the annual Imam Haron Memorial Lecture.

The lecture, on Monday, September 27 at 7:00pm, will be presented virtually, broadcasting from the studios of On Screen Productions, courtesy of Al Ikhlaas Academia Library.

The public can listen to the lecture online on the Muslim Views Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/MuslimViews/) or the Academia Library YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi9ffspWW5ELqE0UGvtL_ZA/featured).

To participate in the discussion, the public can register via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vwsNZGKGTIG4Ohwpbcfr4A).

Since 2020, the direction of the talks changed from its focus on education to highlighting the pursuit of justice for victims of apartheid-era crimes, with a specific focus on the deaths in detention, assassinations and South African Defence Force raids.

Last year, the foundation’s theme was ‘Corruption: an obstacle to social and transitional justice’. Guest speakers were Nkosinathi Biko, the son of Black Consciousness leader Stephen Bantu Biko, Kone Gugushe, the daughter of Black Consciousness leader Mapetla Mohape, who was killed in detention by apartheid-era police, and Human Rights Commissioner Chris Nissen.

This year, the theme is ‘Amnesty: what amnesty? The case against De Klerk’.

Lukhanyo Calata, journalist, author and son of Cradock Four leader, Fort Calata, and advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza SC, former Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner, will be addressing the 2021 memorial lecture.

Calata’s father, Fort, was killed by apartheid security forces alongside Matthew Goniwe, Sparrow Mkonto and Sicelo Mhlauli in June 1985. The four anti-apartheid activists became known as the Cradock Four.

Calata, now an award-winning journalist and author, has spent the best part of his life either raising awareness about the Cradock Four or pursuing justice for his father and his comrades.

The Calata family also recently established the Fort Calata Foundation to preserve the legacy of his father Fort and his grandfather James Calata, who holds the honour of being one of the longest serving secretary-generals of the ANC.

Ntsebeza SC is a well-renowned advocate and has also served as a Commissioner on the United Nations International Commission of Inquiry Darfur. In South Africa, he was a Commissioner and Head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Investigative Unit. He has also, on several occasions, served as a Judge of the High Court and the Labour Court of South Africa. In February, this year, he was appointed as one of the judges of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Meanwhile, considerable work has been done in the reopening of the 1970 inquest into the killing of Imam Haron.

The Imam Haron Foundation has also been working to support the work of families similarly seeking justice.

‘The foundation will also be using Heritage Month to raise funds for its heritage, humanitarian and human rights work.

‘This will be done by screening 2019 Cultural Tribute to Imam Haron and the sale of the audio version of the book, The Killing of the Imam, through the Quicket platform,’ said Cassiem Khan, director of the Imam Haron Foundation.

The cultural tribute was a collaboration between the Foundation and the Cape Cultural Collective and was directed by Basil Appolis. The tribute combined song, dance and drama with a multimedia presentation.

• For more information about the memorial lecture and the work of the Imam Haron Foundation, you can contact Cassiem Khan at cassiem@imamharon.com or through WhatsApp at 076 640 7928.