Cardiff memorial for anti-apartheid campaigner Hanef Bhamjee - BBC News
Hanef Bhamjee was born in apartheid-era South Africa and was later awarded an OBE.
Hanef Bhamjee was awarded an OBE for his fight against apartheid

A memorial event has been held in tribute to a lifelong anti-apartheid campaigner who died in January.

Hanef Bhamjee, of Cardiff, was born in apartheid-era South Africa and campaigned against its whites-only rule from the age of 10.

He fled South Africa in the 1960s because of involvement in the student wing of the African National Congress.

Mr Bhamjee was awarded an OBE for race relations in recognition of his fight against apartheid.

Speaking to the crowd of more than 100 people at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, his younger brother Yusuf said "H" had begun to "exile himself from me" even before he went into exile from his home country.

He added: "It was only in years later that I realised... he was trying to shield us."

He met Nelson Mandela on his visit to Cardiff

More than 100 people attended the memorial service

For decades Mr Bhamjee, who was originally from Marikana and knew Nelson Mandela from the age of 15, ran the Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement from his home, with the help of volunteers.

That organisation, succeeded by Action for Southern Africa Wales, campaigned vigorously for an end to racism, colonialism and apartheid in South Africa.

Campaigners signed an anti-apartheid poster which will be displayed in the museum in St Fagans

Mr Bhamjee, who was one of the guests when Mandela visited Wales, said at the time the then-South African president had 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 added.

He said his brother had carved himself into the history of Wales and of South Africa and dubbed him a "true internationalist".

"He has inspired so many young people to campaign for the cause of justice and that, I think, is his legacy."

He said while his brother was no saint, he had "touched our lives uniquely".

Wales' First Minister, Mark Drakeford, said Hanef Bhamjee had left an "enormously important legacy".

"All those things that motivated Hanef and made him the astonishing force that he was, we have to capture that and go on putting that to work," Mr Drakeford said.

"I'll be remembering him with huge fondness. But as so many people said here today, he was a man for whom, and I mean this in the best possible sense, nothing was ever good enough.

"No matter how hard you worked, no matter how many times you turned up, no matter how many articles you wrote, there was always more that he wanted.

"And every movement needs people like that."

Mark Drakeford said every movement needed people like Hanef Bhamjee

Anti-apartheid campaigner and former Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain, remembered the anti-apartheid struggle as "long, hard and bitter".

He said: "Everybody takes for granted now that it was ultimately victorious, but were it not for Hanef here in Wales, driving the Wales Anti-Apartheid Movement, who knows, apartheid may still be with us.

"Because it was not defeated just on its own. It took a lot of hard and bitter struggle, and he was a legend in that struggle."

Stepdaughter Robyn Griffiths said the memorial was "really special"

"We are really grateful for everyone who's travelled so far to come and celebrate Hanef's life and his achievements and just remember everything today," she said.

Anti-apartheid campaigner and lifelong friend of Hanef Bhamjee, Gulam Mayet, lived in Cardiff from 1968 to 79 but returned to South Africa to work in the education department.

Friends Gulam Mayet and Gaynor Legall both said Hanef Bhamjee's life was to be celebrated

He said: "I'm very sad that he's gone. It was too early.

"He had a lot to contribute still, I'm sad he never went back to South Africa.

"He's made such a big contribution here. We sort of value his life, we celebrate his life but we don't mourn."

Anti-racism campaigner Gaynor Legall, from Butetown, Cardiff, added: "I've lost a good friend and I'll miss the talks and the debates and the arguments, but we celebrate his life."