OR Tambo Returns from Exile

On 13 December 1990, Oliver Tambo, former President of the African National Congress (ANC) and Commander-in-Chief of the People’s Army, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), returned to South Africa after going into exile nearly thirty years before.

Oliver Reginald Tambo, fondly known as OR, was one of the founder members of the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in 1944 with Nelson Mandela, Anton Lembede and Walter Sisulu, among others, and was elected as the organisation’s Secretary. He was appointed as the Secretary General of the ANC in 1954. With the banning of the ANC and other liberation movements in 1961 Tambo was given the mandate to establish ANC mission offices in exile.

Tambo started the UK/Ireland, Morogoro and Lusaka Missions and was at the fore of mobilisation of the armed struggle and guerrilla campaigns against apartheid. When ANC President Chief Albert Luthuli died in 1967, Tambo was appointed as Acting President. He was elected as President of the organisation during the Morogoro Conference in 1969 and was re-elected in 1985 at the Kabwe Conference, in Zambia.

Pressure and exhaustion took its toll on Tambo in 1989 and he suffered a severe stroke that resulted in him losing his speech. Following his stroke, he was rushed from Lusaka, on Tony Rowland’s executive plane on the order of President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, to Harley Street in London. Rowland also paid for the medical treatment.

Against the advice of his physician and the NEC, Tambo continued his punishing work schedule, travelling on ANC business. He suffered another stroke in 1990 whilst undergoing medical treatment in Sweden. Again Rowland flew him back to London where he was treated.

With the unbanning of the ANC in 1990 and the process of transition already underway, the entire Tambo family flew back to South Africa in December 1990. However, Tambo was unable to address the welcoming crowd at the airport due to his loss of speech. A welcome rally was organised at Orlando Stadium, attended by a crowd of 70,000 people.

At the ANC’s 48th National Conference, held in Durban, South Africa, on 2 — 7 July 1991, after 30 years of illegality, Oliver Tambo could confidently report that he had fulfilled the mandate of keeping the ANC together, and he handed over the movement to Nelson Mandela, who was elected President, to lead it to the final lap of the struggle. Tambo declined to stand for any position and the position of National Chairman was created in his honour.

Towards the end of his speech at the Conference, Tambo said, “Before I sit down, I wish to make a few observations: we did not tear ourselves apart because of lack of progress at times. We were always ready to accept our mistakes and correct them. Above all we succeeded to foster and defend the unity of the ANC and the unity of our people in general. Even in bleak moments, we were never in doubt regarding the winning of freedom. We have never been in doubt about that the people’s cause shall triumph.”

In 1991, Tambo was installed as Chancellor of the University of Fort Hare. In February 1993, he opened a large international conference in Johannesburg, which was chaired by Thabo Mbeki. Foreign dignitaries and representatives of anti-Apartheid movements filled the hall to listen to Tambo thank their countries and organisations for their contribution in helping to end Apartheid.

Despite his illness, Tambo came to the ANC office, in Johannesburg, every day and still addressed public meetings of organisations. Though steadfast in his resolve, OR Tambo was noted for his grace, warmth and affection.

His decisive achievement was keeping the ANC together in exile. By skilful lobbying throughout the world and attracting the most talented South African exiles, he was able to build the organisation into the legitimate voice of black South Africans, with a formidable guerrilla force. Though still in exile, Tambo’s ANC provided the focus for mass politics in South Africa in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s.

“At a time when the enemies of Africa will be devising their own treacherous ‘solutions’ to the problem of South Africa, the need will increase for Africa itself to be clear and united in its understanding of support for the objectives of our liberation struggle.” Unity in Action Decisive – OR Tambo Interviewed by New African, London, 1980.

Castro Khwela
Good day fellow Compatriots!