Mandela drafted the M Plan, a simple, commonsense plan for organization on a street basis so that Congress volunteers would be in daily touch with the people, alert to their needs and able to mobilize them. – Oliver Tambo
I can see quite clearly that if there was a single event that launched me on the road to ultimate involvement at the heart of South African politics, it was an assault on an African woman by her white employer in a kitchen in Fort Hare. – Oliver Tambo
We were very lucky. My mother and stepmothers were on very, very good terms, and so we, the children, grew up as brothers and sisters. – Oliver Tambo
It may be that apartheid brings such stupendous economic advantages to countries that they would sooner have apartheid than permit its destruction. – Oliver Tambo
We have a vision of South Africa in which black and white shall live and work together as equals in conditions of peace and prosperity. – Oliver Tambo
This uprising of 1976-77 was, of course, the historic watershed… Within a short period of time, it propelled into the forefront of our struggle millions of young people. – Oliver Tambo
You were not wanted. You were, at best, tolerated. You had to be constantly on your guard, like an animal in a jungle full of beasts of prey. You experienced it all within the short distance of five miles from the gates of St. Peter’s to Park Station in the city. – Oliver Tambo
My sister had some ailment and convulsions that she suffered from, and she had been sent to some place to go and get healed there. She was brought back and prayed for by those people. She recovered; in fact, she grew to be an evangelist in her own right, healing people and traveling around. – Oliver Tambo
There is nothing in ANC policy which calls for attacks on civilians in supermarkets, schools, and cinemas unless these are regarded as military installations. – Oliver Tambo
The A.N.C. is a national movement. We all – Communists and non-Communists alike – want a nonracial, democratic, united South Africa. – Oliver Tambo
It is often suggested that the A.N.C. is controlled by the Communist Party, by Communists. Well, I have been long enough in the A.N.C. to know that that has never been true. – Oliver Tambo
The fight for freedom must go on until it is won; until our country is free and happy and peaceful as part of the community of man, we cannot rest. – Oliver Tambo
In Holy Cross, I came to like school, to like studying in a way I had never done before. – Oliver Tambo
The violence associated with the A.N.C. is minimal, infinitesimal next to the violence of the apartheid regime. – Oliver Tambo
Racial discrimination, South Africa’s economic power, its oppression and exploitation of all the black peoples, are part and parcel of the same thing. – Oliver Tambo
Responsibility for the proper conduct of children was not confined to their parents only. When they misbehaved, they misbehaved against the community. And a senior member of the community was expected to do something about it. – Oliver Tambo
It was always my desire to strike new ground and help to lend weight where it was most required. – Oliver Tambo
I would not hesitate to vote for a white person as president if I thought he was the best person for the job. – Oliver Tambo
We believe it is comprehensive international sanctions against the white regime that will save us from the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of South Africans, black and white. – Oliver Tambo
The U.S. is the last country that should see itself as an ally of the apartheid system. – Oliver Tambo
It was of limited usefulness to head great rallies. The government did not listen, and, soon enough, the tear gas and the muzzles of the guns were turned against the people. The justice of our cries went unrecognized. – Oliver Tambo
The A.N.C. was established in 1912 and the S.A. Communist Party in 1921, and so there has been an overlapping of membership all along the line. – Oliver Tambo
Whoever says that sanctions will only deteriorate the situations of blacks in South Africa does not know the criminal, murderous character of genocide that represents the system of apartheid. – Oliver Tambo
It was becoming clear that, from being at the top at Holy Cross, we were at the bottom at St. Peter’s. Objectively, this was very good, for it offered us a challenge and an opportunity to grow if we were ready to take it; and we surely were. – Oliver Tambo
