OR TAMBO CELEBRATES 103

29 Oct OR TAMBO CELEBRATES 103

On this Tambo Month The father of South Africa’s democracy, Oliver Reginal Tambo was honoured in Gauteng where he resided with his family and birthplace, Eastern Cape on 27 October 2020.

He was honoured with a 3-meter-high brass statue, which was unveiled at the OR Tambo International Airport. St Patrick hospital in Bizana at the Alfred Nzo Municipality was renovated to a state-of-the-art health facility and renamed to the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Regional Hospital.

Below is the timeline of Oliver Reginald Tambo

TIMELINE

1917 – Born 27^th October in Kantolo, Mbizana in Mpondoland district of the Eastern Cape

1928 – Begins at Anglican Holy Cross Missionary School at Flagstaff, Eastern Cape

1938 – Achieves his matric certificate

1942 – Graduates with BSc degree from the Fort Hare University  but is expelled for political activity

1943 to 1947 – Teaches maths and physics at St Peter’s Secondary School in Johannesburg

1947 – Becomes member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC

1948 – Begins serving law articles at Max Kramer and Tuch

1951 – Qualifies as a lawyer

1951 – Establishes first black law partnership with Nelson Mandela

1956 – Arrested on charges of high treason, while out on bail marries Adelaide Tshukudu

1960 – Goes into exile, eventually settling in London with Adelaide and their three children

1960’s – Heads the ANC diplomatic mission to campaign globally and gain support for the anti-Apartheid cause. Addresses the UN General Assembly Special Political Committee, appearing for the freedom of South Africa.

1967 – Becomes acting President of the ANC

1977 – Addresses the UN Security Council

1978 – Visits Vietnam where he attends numerous classes and meetings with other activists

1985 – Calls on South Africans to “render South Africa ungovernable”

1989 – Suffers a stroke

1990 – Meets with Nelson Mandela again for the first time in nearly three decades. Moves back with his family to South Africa

1991 – Installed as Chancellor at the Fort Hare University

1993 – Passes away on the 23^rd  April