'Extraordinary individual' Dr Allan Boesak honoured at 80th birthday celebration by Dr Iqbal Survé. 'Extraordinary individual' Dr Allan Boesak honoured at 80th birthday celebration by Dr Iqbal Survé.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
On Sunday evening, the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town was transformed into a venue of celebration, as prominent political figures from across South Africa came together to honour Dr Allan Boesak on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
Some of the attendees included Reverend Courtney Sampson, who served as provincial chairperson for the IEC for 22 years, former SA Ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, Retired Western Cape High Court Judge Siraj Desai, Leader of the Opposition in the Western Cape Provincial Legislature, Khalid Sayed, the EFF’s Nazier Paulsen, and South African Human Rights Commission Chairperson, Chris Nissen.
The master of ceremonies was Clarence Ford, and the host was Professor Saths Cooper.
Other key figures in attendance were Chairperson of the Sekunjalo Group, Dr Iqbal Survé, and Rayhaan Survé, Deputy Chairman of Sekunjalo Investment Holdings.
Dr Iqbal Survé, who was one of the speakers at the event, shared a story from around the time when he became a doctor, and when in Lawaaikamp, near George, Dr Boesak came to the area to address the issue of forced removals.
Survé shared that it was a difficult time, with police in riot gear and the Casspir (armored vehicle) out in full swing and he would never forget how Boesak arrived on the scene, as a giant among men.
“You came and took control of the situation despite the immense amount of tear gas and the riot police storming us. As a medical person, I was attending to a lot of the people who got injured that day, but I can never, ever forget that moment.
“It is forever, forever etched in my mind as one of the most inspirational moments that I've ever experienced.”
Dr Boesak, an influential anti-apartheid activist, theologian, and former politician, has long been a beacon of hope and morality in South Africa.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
Dr Survé said that while it can be difficult to separate a person into different facets, Dr Boesak is “an extraordinary individual”.
“You have enormous resilience. You have been through so much, and I say that in a very apolitical way.
“As a human being, the kind of stresses that you and your family have endured and yet to come out of it with even greater resolve, greater humanity, and such a principled position,” Survé said.
“I’m really so happy that we are able to celebrate your birthday and to celebrate you. You're a principled person.”
Survé highlighted that Dr Boesak had just been named in a calendar of acclaimed and impactful African Americans.
“In many ways, you are that liberation figure that is in the slipstream of people like Martin Luther King Jr. and like many others who followed. We thank you; we have immense gratitude.
“We are living at a time where people forget. They forget what's happened. There's massive amnesia about the past,” Survé said.
“I’m not saying that we should be captive to our past. I'm not saying that we must live in the past. I'm simply saying that we need the memory of the past in order to bring about the kind of liberation which brings real justice and equality to the people of our country.
“In many cases, because of the imperfections of today, people look at the Struggle in a negative way because they associate the imperfections of what's going on today with individuals from the past. But it's not the case.
“The reality is the people, many siblings, families really suffered immensely and personally… It's not right that we forget that, and so your presence in our lives today keeps the memory going in a very overt way.
“Just when people want to forget, you remind them about the principles, the values of our Struggle, but also universal principles and values,” Survé said.
He said these universal principles are not restricted to our country, but are part of the world, and the search for common humanity.
“Allan, I want to wish you another 80 years. I’m sure medicine will invent something to keep you going, because we need you. South Africa needs you. Africa needs you and the people of the world need you. We need people with conscience,” Survé said.
“We need people who haven't lost their principled position. We need people who have a great memory for what has happened before.
“So with that, I want to, on behalf of my family, wish you an amazing 80th birthday. I know it was last week, but we celebrate it today. I hope that your next chapter is one that's going to continue to inspire all of us.“ Dr Survé said.
theolin.tembo@inl.co.za