Anti-apartheid stalwart Asmal dies at 76

Kader Asmal, a respected veteran of the struggle against apartheid who then fought to ensure South Africa lived up to its democratic ideals, has died at the age of 76, his family said Thursday. Asmal was admitted to the Constantiaberg Medi Clinic on June 17 to treat a stomach ailment, but he died Wednesday after a serious heart attack, family spokesman Allan Taylor said in a statement.
He was born on October 8, 1934, in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal. While in high school, he met Chief Albert Luthuli, then the leader of the African National Congress and South Africa's first Nobel Peace laureate. Asmal later credited that encounter with inspiring him to activism. He began organising peaceful protests against apartheid even before graduating. After Nelson Mandela won the first all-race elections in 1994, Asmal became minister for water and forestry.