Riyaz Patel
President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid glowing tribute to the late ANC President Oliver ‘OR’ Tambo, who would have turned 102 Sunday.
“We continue to celebrate his birthday although he is no longer with us in honour of the unparalleled contribution he made in the struggle to liberate the oppressed people of our country,” said Ramaphosa at the commemoration of Tambo, at the Wattville Cemetery in Ekurhuleni.
“The story of OR Tambo is like a book full of timeless life lessons to all who wish to become better people in service of humanity.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa
He said young people must draw inspiration from the life of the young OR Tambo and use to the all the educational opportunities provided to them by the democratic government.
Ramaphosa also paid tribute to Adelaide Tambo who – as a revolutionary in her own right – “understood and was prepared to pay the personal cost at which national freedom would be achieved.”
“We salute her as one of the many heroines of our struggle who carried not only the burden of our liberation but the care of their own family, said Ramaphosa.
“This is the type of self-sacrifice that defined the characters of both Oliver and Adelaide Tambo.”
Ramaphosa said OR Tambo won the respect of his peers and the world at large through exemplary conduct.
“He was a repository of the best values and principles upon which our democratic society was founded and sustained.”
He truly understood and represented the deep aspirations of the masses of our people, Ramaphosa said, “while reaching out to the peoples of the world, forging one of the most powerful global movements to confront and to end the perpetration of a crime against humanity.”
The President said Tambo sought international solidarity not only for the oppressed masses of South Africa, but for all colonised and exploited people across the world.
Ramaphosa also acknowledged the presence of US Congresswoman Maxine Waters, as an “unwavering champion of the cause of the South African people and the cause of global justice.”
Waters delivered the annual OR Tambo Lecture Saturday night.
“Let us work together to ensure that OR Tambo continues to live through our conduct and through our service to the people of South Africa, Africa and the world,”Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa was joined at the Wattville Cemetery by Gauteng Premier David Makhura, Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina and Dali Tambo, the son of OR Tambo.
