Statement on Passing Away of Ma-Adelaide Tambo

President Thabo Mbeki has, on behalf of the people and Government of the Republic of South Africa, expressed his sadness and deepest condolences to the family of Adelaide Tambo who passed away earlier tonight.

Starting from 1944 when she began working for the African National Congress (ANC) as a courier, Ma-Tambo devoted her entire adult life to the struggle against apartheid and the creation of a democratic non-racial and non sexist society.

As well as being a pillar of support to her late husband and President of the ANC, the late Oliver Tambo, Ma-Tambo contributed to the struggle immensely as an activist in her own right.

Ma-Tambo was a founder member of the Afro-Asian Solidarity Movement and the Pan-African Women's Organisation (PAWO). Amongst other roles, she worked with the International Defence and Aid Fund to identify and financially assist some of the families whose children left South Africa after 1976.

She was one of the first democratically elected members of Parliament in 1994 and contributed immensely in the constitution making exercise with which the Constituent Assembly was charged.

In this respect, President Mbeki said her passing away amounted to a loss to the entire country and the international community.

For more information, please contact:

Mukoni Ratshitanga
Tel: (012) 300 5436
Cell: 082 300 3447

Issued by: The Presidency
31 January 2007