​Gauteng News 
A gentle, calm, kind and courageous revolutionary- these are the words Premier David Makhura used to describe the late struggle stalwart, Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim.
Affectionately known as "Ebi", Ebrahim lost his battle with lung cancer on Monday at the age of 84.
Delivering the eulogy during the special provincial official funeral, which was held at the Heroes Acre, a day after his passing in line with Islamic rites, Makhura said Ebrahim was a gentle giant of the revolution who was awe-inspiring.
Despite being subjected to many life-threatening and soul-testing moments, Makhura said Ebrahim never wavered and remained loyal to the vision, values and ideals of freedom, democracy, non-racialism, non-sexism, social justice, and economic equity.
"Comrade Ebi's life of sacrifice, humility, simplicity, kindness and courage is a great lesson for progressive humanity. He embraced the vision espoused by the founders of our democracy with passion and worked with as much gusto to ensure that this vision was realised during his lifetime."
Makhura said Ebrahim is part of a special generation who shared a common vision for the good of humanity.
In this light, Makhura said it is important for younger generations and future generations to understand the sacrifices and strategi
"Our generation must rise to the occasion … we seek to pursue a generational mission of fundamental socio-economic transformation to build a truly non-racial and non-sexist society in which all people enjoy a better life and rising standards of living.
"Ours is a universalist-humanistic mission of eradicating all forms of discrimination, social pathologies, and economic inequalities across the world."
These sentiments were shared by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma who said in honour of Ebrahim, "leaders must spare no effort and move with greater determination and speed to ensure all people secure freedom and we must deal with the challenges of unemployment, poverty and equality."
In his tribute, President Cyril Ramaphosa said "his bravery, resilience and commitment to peace and security around the world has made our country, our continent and the world a better place. He now deserves to rest in peace while we appreciate and build on his indelible legacy."
Born on 1 July 1937, Ebrahim joined the liberation movement while still in his mid-teens and served the fight against apartheid throughout his life.
He was active in the Congress of the People Campaign which led to the adoption of the Freedom Charter in 1955 and joined Umkhonto weSizwe in 1961, following the banning of the African National Congress.
In 1964, he was listed as Accused No 1 alongside 18 comrades in the Pietermaritzburg Sabotage Trial, which led to his imprisonment on Robben Island for 15 years.
Ebrahim Ebrahim went into exile in 1980 and, after liberation, became a Member of Parliament and Member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress.
In August 1997, he was elected Chairperson of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee and also became a member of the Joint Select Committee on Intelligence.
He resigned from Parliament in July 2002, to take up the position of the Senior Political and Economic Advisor to the Deputy President.
From 2009 to 2014 he was Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and later served as a Parliamentary Counsellor in the Presidency.