Noteworthy Events/Interesting Facts

In 1959 after receiving a banning order he was sent abroad to rally the opposition to apartheid he returned in 1991.

Oliver Reginald Tambo passed away from a stroke at 3.10am on 24 April, 1993.

At the ANC's first legal national conference inside South Africa, held in Durban in July 1991, Tambo was elected National Chairperson of the ANC.

He was also chairperson of the ANC's Emancipation Commission.

He returned to South Africa in 1991, after over three decades in exile.

In 1989 Oliver Tambo suffered a stroke, and underwent extensive medical treatment.

During his years in the ANC, Oliver Tambo played a major role in the growth and development of the movement and its policies.

During his stewardship of the ANC he raised its international prestige and status to that of an alternative to the Pretoria Government. He was received with the protocol reserved for Heads of State in many parts of the world.

Among black South African leaders, Oliver Tambo was probably the most highly respected on the African continent, in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

In 1985 Tambo was re-elected ANC President at the Kabwe Conference. In that capacity he served also as the Head of the Politico-Military Council (PMC) of the ANC, and as Commander in Chief of Umkhonto we Sizwe.

During the 1970s Oliver Tambo's international prestige rose immensely as he traversed the world, addressing the United Nations and other international gatherings on the issue of apartheid. He became the key figure in the ANC's Revolutionary Council

In 1967, after the death of ANC President General Chief Albert J. Luthuli, Tambo became Acting president until his appointment to the Presidency was approved by the Morogoro Conference in 1969.

The suppression of the 1961 stay-at-home strike led to the ANC adopting the armed struggle as part of its strategy. Tambo was again an important factor in securing the co-operation of numerous African governments in providing training and camp facili

Assisted by African government, Tambo was able to establish ANC mission in Egypt, Ghana, Morocco and in London. From these small beginnings, under his stewardship the ANC acquired missions in 27 countries by 1990.

In 1959, he like many of his colleagues was served with five year banning order.

In 1958, Oliver Tambo left the post of Secretary General to become the Deputy President of the ANC.

Tambo left teaching soon after the adoption of the Programme of Action and set up a legal partnership with Neslon Mandela.

O.R. Tambo served on the Committee that drew up the Programme of Action, which was adopted as national policy in 1949.

In 1948 he, together with Walter Sisulu were elected onto the National Executive Committee.

In 1946 Tambo was elected onto the Transvaal Executive of the ANC.

Whilst in the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), he met up with prominent figures such as; Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela, Ashby Mda, Anton Lembede, Dr William Nkomo, and Dr C.M.Majombozi

He was elected President of the Transvaal African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in 1948 and national vice-president in 1949.

He was involved in the formation of South African United Front which lead to South Africa being expelled from the Commonwealth in 1961

Working in conjunction with Dr Yusuf Dadoo he was instrumental in the establishment of the South African United Front.

Achievements

Statue - English Parlement

England; Muswell Hill

Activities