OR Tambo Dialogue

About This Project

Power Fm 98.7 hosted the O.R Tambo dialogue to answer questions on OR’s legacy and the current situation in South Africa. In the discussions OR’s legacy was highlighted but the hot topic was the evaluation of where the country is currently headed.

Andile Khumalo gave an introduction and the reason for the dialogue, followed by the chairman of Power FM, Given Mkhari, who also welcomed everyone in attendance and spoke of the recent Black Monday protest in contrast to the united South Africa O.R had envisioned.

Iman Rappetti opened the discussion by quoting O. R’s October 1976 Speech at the UN General Assembly about the reason he and the liberation movements were fighting South Africa’s liberation and freedom. She went on to say “… in reinvoking Tambo’s teachings we must realign our values to those that collectively delivered freedom through words and actions, so life can come back into us.”

The Archbishop of Cape Town, Dr Thabo Makgoba told a story of how he met O.R Tambo, recollecting how O. R’s sense of character overshadowed the fact that he was still relishing the effects of his stroke in 1989. He went on to tell of how even as O.R lay in state, he continued to give a sense of calm.

Iman introduced Ambassador Lindiwe Mabuza by sharing O. R’s quote about her in 1981 at the concluding session of the Conference of the Women`s Section of the ANC, on the 14th of September in Angola on her appointment as the chief representative of the ANC in Scandinavia. A quote that brought tears to Ambassador Mabuza’s eyes as she explained how important her appointment was for women and women’s emancipation. She continued by highlighting her respect for and relationship with O.R as she regarded him as her elder brother.

Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh spoke of how O. R’s life is an example to people of his generation on how to live. He pitted two tragedies in Tambo’s life, his death a year to the day before seeing a democratic South Africa and how today his legacy is being destroyed. Speaking also about how people use Tambo as a platform to sooth the injustices of the past.

Mr Pallo Jordan, who was on the line, gave a personal reflection of how he was recruited by O.R in 1976, an event that gave him confidence to work at Radio Freedom together with how O.R could instil confidence in everyone he worked with, regardless of boarders.

The dialogue continued around the following topics: the liberation and ANC’s legitimacy in leading it, Free education, the Land issue, current leadership in South Africa and within the ANC, moral courage, the role of religion and Oliver’s Christian faith, how people should draw their inspiration in fighting for a free democracy as they did throughout the fight against apartheid, the youth and O. R’s principals as a source of inspiration. Tackling questions from the audience and callers about O.R’s weaknesses, political correctness of panellists, the Harare declaration and the ANC’s failure in keeping Oliver’s principals within the ANC.

The dialogue closed where both the current and former CEO’s of the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation Linda Vilakazi and Mavuso Msimang giving a word of thanks. Where Ms Vilakazi highlighted the foundations initiatives in education, especially in Mbizana calling for help and assistance from those present in doing something in honour of Oliver Tambo.

Here are the podcasts of the event