Ela Gandhi honoured with Amadelkufa in South Africa

Ela Gandhi, the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi was honoured with Amadelkufa in South Africa on 26 January 2014. She was honoured for her lifetime contribution to the freedom struggle of South Africa. Amdelkufa in Zulu language means Sacrifice.

She formed the trio of Indian-origin South Africans along with Sunny Singh and Mac Maharaj. These three played an active role in the Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation). The Umkhonto we Sizwe was the armed struggle wing of the African National Congress.
 
Umkhonto we Sizwe's former members were incorporated into the South African defence force after 1994, when multi-racial democracy came in existence in the country, followed by the release of Nelson Mandela. Mandela was the first democratically-elected president of South Africa.

About Ela Gandhi
• Ela Gandhi was born on 1 July 1940 in South Africa and is a peace activist in the country
• She was a Member of Parliament in South Africa from 1994 to 2004.
• She was an alternate member of the Justice Committee and served on Theme Committee 5 on Judiciary and Legal Systems
• Gandhi grew up in an ashram of the Phoenix Settlement near Durban, South Africa. This settlement area is the place where Mahatma Gandhi ran his successful anti-discrimination activities during his tenure in Durban
• She has served as an executive member of the Natal Organisations of Women from its inception until 1991
• During apartheid, Gandhi was banned in 1975 from political activism and subjected to house arrest for a total of nine years
• She was among the members of the United Democratic Front who met with Nelson Mandela prior to his release from Pollsmoor Prison on 11 February 1990
• Prior to the 1994 elections, Gandhi was a member of the Transitional Executive Committee