ANC mourns death of Kennedy

2009-08-26 16:13

Pretoria - US senator Edward "Teddy" Kennedy will forever be treasured for his contribution to the struggle for South Africa's liberation and the building of its democracy, the ANC said on Wednesday.

"Kennedy was among leaders who championed the opposition against the apartheid regime in South Africa," the African National Congress said in a statement following the death of the veteran senator at his home on Tuesday.

Kennedy died after suffering from brain cancer for over a year.

Kennedy visited South Africa in 1985 and drew attention to apartheid through the American television crews that followed him, the ANC said.

He visited slums and resettlement areas despite his trip being denounced by the then-South African government.

"He is remembered for having staged an 'illegal protest' outside Pollsmoor Prison, where struggle icon Nelson Mandela was held."

At the time Kennedy was reported to have said: "Behind these walls are men that are deeply committed to the cause of freedom in this land."

Years later, Mandela said he knew Kennedy had been at the gate of the prison and that "gave us a lot of strength and hope, and the feeling that we had millions behind us both in our struggle against apartheid but in our special situation in prison".

On his return to the US, Kennedy led an effort to impose economic sanctions on South Africa. In 1986 Congress overrode a veto by President Ronald Reagan and enacted a ban on all new investment by Americans in South African businesses.

Importation of products such as steel, coal, ammunition and food from South Africa was also banned.

At the time Kennedy said: "The time for procrastination and delay is over... Now is the time to keep the faith with Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu, and all those who believe in a free South Africa."

- SAPA