15 Things you don’t know about Oliver Tambo

1.  Full name Oliver Reginald Tambo

2.  Oliver Tambo was born on 27 October 1917 in the village of Nkantolo in Bizana in eastern Pondoland in what is now Eastern Cape Oliver Tambo’s father was Mzimeni and his mother was called Julia

4.  After matriculation he qualified to do his university degree at Fort Hare University In 1940 he, along with several others including Nelson Mandela, was expelled from Fort Hare University for participating in a student strike

5.  In 1942 Oliver Tambo returned to his former high school in Johannesburg to teach science and mathematics

6.  Oliver Tambo, along with Mandela and Walter Sisulu, was a founding member of the ANC Youth League in 1943, becoming its first National Secretary and later a member of the National Executive in 1948

7.  In 1955, Oliver Tambo became Secretary General of the ANC after Walter Sisulu was banned by the South African government under the Suppression of Communism Act

8.  In 1958 Oliver Tambo became Deputy President of the ANC and in 1959 was served with a five-year banning order by the government

9.  In 1977 Oliver Tambo signed the first solidarity agreement between ANC and a Municipality, the relationship starts a relevant strength of the struggle against apartheid

10.  Oliver Tambo was sent abroad by the ANC to mobilise opposition to apartheid. He settled with his family in Muswell Hill, north London, where he lived until 1990 and when he came back to South Africa he was elected National Chairperson of the ANC in July of the same year

11.  In 1967, Oliver Tambo became Acting President of the ANC, following the death of Chief Albert Lutuli

12.  In 1985 Oliver Tambo was re-elected President of the ANC

13.  Oliver Tambo died aged 75 due to complications from a stroke on 24 April 1993

14.  In late 2005, ANC politicians announced plans to rename Johannesburg International Airport after Oliver Tambo

15.  Oliver Tambo’s grave was declared a National Heritage site when he died but lost this status when his wife, Adelaide Tambo died and was buried alongside him. However their grave was re-declared as a National Heritage site in October 2012