Former minister Trevor Manuel will deliver the 7th annual Imam Haron Memorial Lecture on Monday evening. The commemorative lecture follows the anniversary of Imam Haron’s death in police detention on 27 September 1969. The memorial lecture is organised by the Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust (IAHET) and will take place at the Auditorium at CPUT Bellville Campus, Symphony Way at 7.30pm.

IAHET chairperson Mustaq Brey said the organisation was delighted to have someone of Manuel’s stature, an activist who played a key role in the struggle for liberation and a highly respected former cabinet minister, to deliver this year’s memorial lecture.

“We have been trying for a few years to get Mr Manuel to deliver the lecture and are excited that he has accepted our invitation for this year’s event,” said Brey.

While he fought tirelessly against the apartheid regime, Imam Haron was also the former imam of Stegman Rd Mosque in Claremont, and dedicated his life to the community he served. Manuel’s talk will therefore focus on the theme ‘Active Citizenry’ of which the late imam was an exemplary role model.

Trevor Manuel served as Minister of Trade and Industry, Minister of Finance and Minister in the Presidency for the National Planning Commission between 1994 and his retirement in 2014.

Manuel follows a series of high profile personalities who have delivered the lecture in previous years including the late Prof Neville Alexander, Minister Ebrahim Patel, Justice Albie Sachs, Prof Jonathan Jansen and Minister Naledi Pandor who delivered last year’s lecture.

Entrance to the lecture is free. VOC