13 Facts About Adelaide Tambo

Adelaide Frances Tambo was a South African anti-apartheid activist and former political exile.

Adelaide Tambo was involved in South African politics for five decades and was married to Oliver Tambo, president of the African National Congress, from 1967 to 1991.

Adelaide Tambo was well-known for her role in the struggle against anti-apartheid.

Adelaide Tambo's grandfather collapsed and she had to sit with him until he regained consciousness.

Adelaide Tambo attended the St Thomas Practising School in Johannesburg and Orlando High in Soweto.

Adelaide Tambo started working as a nurse at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

Adelaide Tambo joined the ANC Youth League at 18, which she was tasked to open branches in Transvaal and elected chairperson of the George Goch branch.

Adelaide Tambo left the country along with her husband, Oliver Tambo in 1960 and worked as a courier for her husband.

Adelaide Tambo was one of the founding members of Afro-Asian Solidarity Movement and Pan African Women's Organization in 1963.

Adelaide Tambo received the Order of the Baobab in Gold, one of the highest honours bestowed by the post-1994 South African government.

Adelaide Tambo was married to Oliver Adelaide Tambo in December 1956 during the Treason Trial and the couple had three children; one of whom, their son, Dali, is a television talk-show personality.

Adelaide Tambo died on 31 January 2007, aged 77 at her home in Johannesburg, from undisclosed causes.

Adelaide Tambo was buried next to her husband in her home town of Wattville on 10 February 2007.