OR Tambo Golf Invitational aims to honour his memory, make the sport more accessible
Oliver Tambo’s vision and leadership abilities were the unifying factor that kept the ANC together for three decades.
Honour Oliver Tambo's legacy by playing golf, a game he cherished. Picture credit: Supplied
JOHANNESBURG - He was one of South Africa's national heroes and icons and the longest-serving president of the African National Congress (ANC).
Oliver Tambo’s vision and leadership abilities were the unifying factor that kept the ANC together for three decades.
The OR Tambo Golf Invitational will be held in October each year in honour of his birthday, which is in October.
The second annual golf day will be held at the Clovelly Golf Club in Fish Hoek, Cape Town, on 15 October.
Founder and director of the yearly Oliver Tambo Golf Invitational, Nomatemba Tambo, said the event's goal was to allow impoverished youngsters to participate in the exclusive sport by building the OR Tambo Golf Academy.
"This invitational serves as the vehicle to bring South Africans from diverse walks of life together and intends to celebrate and honour OR Tambo's memory in a manner that will make him accessible to the many South Africans who know little of the contribution he made," Tambo said.
The event also aims to bring together the South African and international community, from those in the business fraternity to politics, sports, and entertainment, to celebrate the values of equality, non-violence, inclusivity, justice, unity, empowerment, and international solidarity.
OR Tambo passed away 31 years ago. Though he fought for a free and democratic South Africa all of his life, he tragically was never able to cast a ballot in the 1994 election.
"I believe that this is an ongoing opportunity that not only speaks to the history of OR Tambo but resonates with the needs of the communities of South Africa for greater inclusion in allowing greater access to the world of golf through golf training programmes, coupled with the offerings of educational tuition," Tambo said.
She added that the OR Tambo Golf Academy would hold the funds generated from the occasion for the following projects:
- The building of a Golf Academy in Maraisburg.
- The rehabilitation of an existing driving range in Maraisburg and Alexandra Township for the training of disadvantaged youth, with equipment.
- Providing financial support for Caddies who wish to develop managerial skills, with a course is run by UNISA’s College of Education.
- Providing training for township auctioneers, an existing programme. All golf days have auctions, but not many black auctioneers. This is also a skill that could be employed to introduce the general concept of auctioning goods in the townships.
- Donation to the Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation for the work they do in schools in the Eastern Cape.