By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the late African National Congress(ANC) stalwart Oliver Tambo was a disciplined member and had not put his interests above those of others.
Today marks 30 years since the passing of the struggle icon. The ANC is commemorating his legacy through a memorial lecture this evening, which was preceded by a wreath-laying ceremony at the OR Tambo Memorial Site in Ekurhuleni earlier today.
Ramaphosa remembered Tambo as the embodiment of selfless leadership and humility.
“Throughout his life, he fought to tear down the barriers of prejudice, ignorance and injustice,” he said.
“OR Tambo was determined that the ANC should be a truly non-racial organisation, and today we need to do more that ensures that in its policies, programmes and ranks the ANC gives effect to this non-racial character and vision of the ANC.
“We need to follow his example to build a country where there will be neither whites nor blacks, just South Africans, free and united in diversity as he once said.”
To carry the legacy of Tambo, Ramaphosa said the ANC has to hold fast to the solemn oath to bring freedom and prosperity to the oppressed and liberation to everyone.
“With that, we may be able to overcome the challenges that face our country right now, for we are resilient people and people who do not give up.
Despite the progress we have made since the advent of our democracy, millions of South Africans are faced with poverty, unemployment and inequality. The economic and social inheritance of apartheid and colonialism has been worsened by several crises. Some of the challenges we have are of our own making; some are the result of forces beyond our control.
“Oliver Tambo could have been tempted to give up, but he did not have it in his DNA to give up, because he knew that what he was doing, he was doing on behalf of our people.”
Ramaphosa has called on ANC members to continue to forge unity within the party and its alliance partners, in honour of OR Tambo.
“It is only if we are united as the ANC, as the alliance and as a country that we will be able to overcome the many challenges that our people are facing today. Despite the advent we have made since the dawn of democracy – millions of our people are still faced with poverty, unemployment and inequality.”