Mbeki says that we need heroes like Tambo and Barayi more than ever
- Thabo Mbeki has urged young people to follow the example of struggle veterans Oliver Thambo and Eliha Barayi
- He spoke at a graduation ceremony where which UNISA bestowed honorary degrees on Eliha Barayi, James Motlatsi and Mavuso Msimang
- Mbeki said that South Africa needs heroes like Tambo and Barayi in order to overcome the challenges the country faces
PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed!
Former President Thabo Mbeki has said that in order for South Africa to overcome the challenges it faces today, it needs heroes such as Oliver Thambo and Eliha Barayi.
Mbeki is the Chancellor of the University of South Africa (UNISA).
Eliha Barayi, James Motlatsi and Mavuso Msimang were being honoured at the ceremony where UNISA bestowed honorary degrees on them.
Source: Facebook
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Lesotho Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro were in attendance at the ceremony where Mbeki urged the future leaders of South Africa to follow Dr Barayi.
He said that those being honoured at the ceremony had provided a great example for the youth to follow and that he accepted the challenge to get people to mobilise to produce more people like Oliver Tambo according to SABC News.
Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that it has been 27 years since the death of renowned anti-apartheid politician and activist, Oliver Tambo. 27 October was the South African hero's 103rd birthday. Many South Africans have taken to social media to commemorate Tambo.
"ThisDayInHistory 27 October 1917, @MYANC's longest-serving president, Comrade Oliver Reginald Tambo, was born. He passed on in 1993. He would have been 103 today," wrote the official ANC page.
Meanwhile Briefly.co.za celebrates the icon's birthday with five of his most famous and world-renowned quotes. Read the quotes below.
In other news, President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled a statue seeking to honour the legacy of struggle veteran Oliver Tambo on Tuesday.
The statue is situated outside OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng and is the second of its kind. The first was unveiled by former president Jacob Zuma.
The month of October has been declared by the City of Ekurhuleni as OR Tambo Month and the nine-metre tall bronze statue of OR Tambo will be unveiled exactly 103 years since the birth of the globally respected leader.
The president commented that the struggle veteran and longest-serving ANC president was the international voice of the nation's liberation movement:
"To the world, OR Tambo was the voice of South Africa’s liberation movement. He articulated the aspirations of every South African man, woman and child who yearned for freedom. His name was known around the world, from Oslo to London, from Accra to Moscow."
Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news!
Source: Briefly News
