Oliver Tambo: Act With A Sense of Urgency
(Statement of the President of the African National Congress of South Africa, Oliver Tambo, at the meeting of the UN Special Committee against Apartheid, New York, 11 June 1981).
Your Excellencies,
“I should like, on behalf of the delegation that is travelling around with me in the United States, a delegation comprising ANC and SWAPO representatives, to thank you most sincerely for this opportunity to meet members of the Special Committee against Apartheid, members of the African Group, and representatives of member States of the Non-Aligned Movement and other member States of the United Nations.
“We welcome this initiative taken by the Special Committee and the African Group as it gives us an opportunity after the Paris Conference on Sanctions against South Africa which we attended together to further our concerns, and to give at least a brief report on the developments in South Africa and in southern Africa generally.
“I should like, first of all, your Excellency, to observe that this is the last meeting at which I shall be privileged to participate in the activities and meetings of the Special Committee against Apartheid with you as Chairman. The period since you took over the Chairmanship of this Committee has been characterised by great developments which have helped to advance our struggle for liberation in southern Africa.
“The Special Committee against Apartheid under your leadership has been an authe
