Ahmed Kathrada hails from a small farming town of Schweizer-Reneke in the North West. Popularly known as 'Kathy' to all those who were close to him, he was born on a farm, on the 21st August 1929.
Kathrada lived with his parents, until he moved to Gauteng at the age of eight. There, he attended school and became involved in political movements at the tender age of 12. This, a move that steered him deeper into politics.