Paying tribute to Ismail Coovadia, a true South African hero
By Opinion
By Ambassador Welile Nhlapo
This past weekend we lost one of our veterans, Ambassador Ismail Coovadia. I first met him in London in January 1978. He met me at the Victoria station in London after I had arrived from Angola to work in the ANC office. I had just been appointed as Deputy Editor of Sechaba, the official publication of the ANC.
He drove me to the ANC office in Rathbone Street and I was received by comrades Reg September, Francis Meli, my editor, and other staff members.
Comrade Ismail immediately opened a bale and asked me to choose warm clothes since I was scantily dressed for London s extreme cold weather.