Johannesburg  - US Senator Edward Kennedy was a comrade of South Africa in its liberation struggle, President Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday.

"For South Africa, he became a comrade and a friend in the fight for liberation," said a statement issued by the Department of International Relations and Co-operations on behalf of Zuma.

"This was because of his strong belief that all people are born equal and his nature, which did not allow him to rest in the face of injustice."

The veteran senator died at his home on Tuesday after suffering from brain cancer for over a year.

"We grieve the loss of this great man but the legacy of his contribution to this world will continue to serve as a sort of hope to us," the president said.  (dpa)