Essop Jassat

Essop Essak Jassat (born 5 October 1932) is a retired South African politician and medical doctor who represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly from 1994 to 2004. He is a former anti-apartheid activist and a former president of the Transvaal Indian Congress.

Early life and activism Jassat was born on 5 October 1932 in Vrededorp, Johannesburg in the former Transvaal. He was the second of three children and both of his parents were immigrants from India. Bob Hepple recruited him into an underground sabotage unit, and a back room in his surgery in Johannesburg was used by Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) operatives for storing sabotage materials. During that time, in 2015, President Jacob Zuma awarded him the Order of Luthuli in silver "for his excellent contribution to the struggle for liberation and advancing democracy in South Africa, through selfless sacrifice without regard for his own safety and wellbeing".

Personal life He married Shireen Patel in 1964. They have a son and two daughters.