Dear Friends and Family


11th December 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the untimely deaths of Yusuf Akhalwaya and Prakash Napier. These two young South Africans made the ultimate sacrifice, contributing towards freedom and democracy in South Africa.


I have decided to start this blog in an attempt to get friends and family of Yusuf and Prakash to reflect their personal anecdotes and place commemorative messages in order to pay tribute to these two heroes.


It is also hoped that this forum will allow us all to find ways in which their names and memories and more importantly the ideals that they lived and died for, continue to motivate us to

deepen the democracy we all fought and longed for.


To this end, a group of friends, comrades and family members are looking at exploring various initiatives to celebrate their lives. These include the launch of the Prakash & Yusuf Memorial Trust, launching a website, curating a travelling exhibition for schools in and around Lenasia, a leadership development programme, a scholarship, as well as a book. (it is hoped that blogs posted here will form the basis of a book and contributions are eagerly awaited).


As work towards making each of these ideas a reality begins, I hope to gather your thoughts and ideas and learn more about these remarkable young men, who helped to bring about the freedom and democracy we all enjoy in South Africa today.


Ismail Akhalwaya