Tributes have been paid to life-long anti-apartheid campaigner Hanif Bhamjee who has died.
Mr Bhamjee who lived in Cardiff but was originally from Port Elizabeth, was a campaigner and organiser in the Anti-Apartheid Movement and Secretary of the Wales Anti Apartheid Movement from 1981 to 1994.
He came to Wales in 1972, where the Anti-Apartheid Movement was already active in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea. During his time as secretary, he succeeded in growing the movement to a network of 22 branches across Wales.
Paying tribute, Lord Hain described Mr Bhamjee as a legend and said he was an "anti-apartheid hero."
Senedd member Mick Antoniw said Mr Bhamjee had been in hospital recently having been ill for a number of years.
In paying tribute to him, Mr Antoniw tweeted: "With great sadness to us all a great and historic Welsh/South African internationalist, anti apartheid campaigner who put Wales on the international anti racism stage over three decades passed away today . RiP Comrade and friend. Amandla!"
Adding to the tribues Alun Davies MS said: "This is such sad news" while Wrexham Councillor Marc Jones said: "Sad to hear of the passing of Mohamed Hanef Bhamjee.
"For many of us, Hanef WAS the Welsh Anti-Apartheid Movement after he fled here from the apartheid regime in South Africa in the 1980s. He was very supportive in helping us resurrect the Wrexham AAM in 1985.
"He was driven, passionate, funny and never got the recognition he deserved for his part in the struggle for democracy and freedom in his homeland.Cwsg mewn hedd gyfaill."
For decades Mr Bhamjee ran the Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement from his home, with the help of volunteers.
That organisation, succeeded by Action for South Africa Wales, campaigned vigorously for an end to racism, colonialism and apartheid in South Africa.
Mr Bhamjee was the secretary of Action for Southern Africa, formerly the Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement, and knew Nelson Mandela from the age of 15.
A guest when Mandela visited Wales, Mr Bhamjee said at the time: "Nelson Mandela has a special place in the hearts of Welsh people. The anti-apartheid campaign was always very strong here, possibly stronger than in any other part of Britain."
Mr Bhamjee was later awarded an OBE for race relations in recognition of his life-long fight against apartheid.
To get the latest WalesOnline newsletters e-mailed to you directly for free, click here.
