Remembering Oliver and Adelaide Tambo
October is OR Tambo month in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE).
October is OR Tambo month in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE).
The city will host a month-long programme with activities, with both political and social influence, to remember and honour the life and times of OR and Adelaide Tambo.
The Tambos, previous residents of Wattville near Benoni, are buried in the township. These struggle liberation icons were both conferred the freedom of the City of Ekurhuleni in 2004.
Since then, the city, working with the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation, has spearheaded the national annual commemoration of the lives and times of the Tambos.
The month of October is Oliver Tambo’s birthday month. Dr Adelaide Tambo was born on July 18, sharing her birthday with South Africa’s first democratic president, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
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“This is an opportunity for the city to showcase our rich heritage and remind many, especially the younger generations, about the role leaders like OR and Dr Adelaide Tambo played in liberating South Africans.
“We are trying to expose the true meaning of servant leadership and selflessness, among other traits Tambo espoused,” explained CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.
“We therefore appeal to our people to seize the opportunity to learn more about their own leaders and their history. That we have a lecture, sports activities, and a school debate demonstrates that we want to reach out to everyone, regardless of age.”
OR Tambo, who passed away 30 years ago, would turn 106 years old on October 26 this year. The theme for this year’s programme is ‘Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the passing of OR Tambo’.
The list of activities lined up to remember Tambo are:
• A wreath-laying ceremony
• OR Tambo Memorial Lecture
• Exhibition of art murals titled Through the Eyes of my compatriots
• OR Tambo inaugural golf challenge
The CoE will share more details about these activities in due course.
