Thursday, February 08, 2007

Mama Adelaide Tambo Will Be Laid to Rest Saturday, February 10

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE ADELAIDE TAMBO

8 FEBRUARY 2007

The late ANC stalwart Mama Adelaide Tambo will be laid to rest on Saturday, 10 February, in Wattville, Ekurhuleni.

Mama Tambo lived in Wattville with her husband, the late ANC President Oliver Tambo, before they left the country to set up the ANC mission in exile.

The community of Wattville will be joined by thousands of mourners from around Gauteng and from different parts of the country in paying their final respects to a much loved and widely respected servant of the South African people.

Around 10,000 people are expected to attend the funeral, most of whom will come from Ekurhuleni and other parts of Gauteng. Groups from other provinces include members of the ANC Women's League who will be travelling by train from the Western Cape.

Mourners will also include the Tambo family and friends of the family; the leadership of the ANC, Women's League, Youth League and Alliance structures; members of parliament and provincial legislatures; representatives of various sectors; and members of the diplomatic corps.

The day's proceedings will begin with a Valedictory Service at the Tambo home in Sandhurst, Johannesburg at 07h00. This will be a private service for the family.

The cortege will leave the house at 08h00 and proceed to the Wattville Stadium, where the service is scheduled to start at 09h00.

The funeral service will be a fitting tribute to an outstanding patriot and a heroine of the nation. It will include tributes by family, friends and comrades. These will be interspersed with musical tributes by various artists and choral groups.

The sermon will be delivered by Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, and the funeral oration will be delivered by President Thabo Mbeki.

At the conclusion of the service, the cortege will proceed to the Tamboville Cemetery. Members of the Wattville community will form a guard of honour along the streets to the cemetery.

The committal and burial ceremony will include a musical tribute by a group from the Adelaide Tambo School in Jabavu, White City. This school, which caters for physically-challenged learners, was very close to Mama Tambo's heart, to which she dedicated much of her energy in recent years. Mama Tambo will be laid to rest beside her late husband, Oliver Reginald Tambo, at approximately 13h00.

The ANC joins the Tambo family in once more extending its deepest gratitude to the many thousands of people who have sent messages of condolence and who have paid tribute to Mama Tambo in memorial services across the country.

We would also want to extend thanks to all those who have dedicated time and energy over the last few days to ensure that Mama Tambo is a fitting farewell. We also want to express appreciation to members of the media who have helped to celebrate and pay tribute to a remarkable South African.

The details of the programme are as follows:

FRIDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2007

Eucharist
Wattville Anglican Church
Cnr Dube and Mokone St, Wattville
17h00

SATURDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2007

Valedictory Service
Tambo home, Sandhurst
07h00

Funeral Service
Watville Stadium
Cnr Dhlomo and Mndengetongo Streets
09h00 (Guests to be seated by 08h30)

Committal and Burial Service
Tamboville Cemetery
Cnr Xaba and Mamkele Streets, Wattville
12h30

Parts of the funeral proceedings will be broadcast live on SABC 2 from 11h00-13h00 and on Radio 2000.

Members of the public are invited to make contributions to the Adelaide Tambo School. To make SMS contributions, people can text 'mama tambo' to 36933. Each SMS costs R5 and proceeds will go towards the Adelaide Tambo School for the physically challenged.

Anyone wishing to make contributions to the funeral should contact Kim Hulett on 082 776 1688.

Issued by:
African National Congress
PO Box 61884
Marshalltown
2107

8 February 2007

More information: Smuts Ngonyama 082 994 2112

NOTE TO MEDIA:

Media accreditation is required for all members of the media wishing to cover the proceedings. Media tags can be collected on:
* Friday, 9 February (13h00-17h00) : Luthuli House, 54 Sauer Street, or
* Saturday, 10 February (07h30-08h30) : Ephes Mamkele Secondary School (adjacent to Wattville Stadium).

Press cards need to be presented on collection.
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JOHANNESBURG 7 February 2007 Sapa

CRIME, POVERTY DISCUSSED AT WOMEN'S LEAGUE LEKGOTLA

Poverty and crime were key issues the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) dealt with at its annual lekgotla in February, it said on Wednesday.

The ANCWL national executive committee held its annual lekgotla from February 4-6 in Benoni.

Spokeswoman Charlotte Lobe said the league draw up a 2007 plan
of action "aimed at intensifying the struggle against poverty."

ANCWL branches would monitor poverty alleviation programmes at
ward level and would forge partnerships with other women's and
community-based organisations to assist.

"This strategy must continue to target the poorest of the poor, especially the vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly and the physically challenged, thereby building social cohesion, strengthening families and building human capital."

Lobe said the ANCWL also addressed the problem of crime and
decided it was "critical" to develop partnerships to combat the problem.

"The ANCWL will continue with its mass campaign to mobilise
women to be at the forefront of the struggle against women and
children abuse, human trafficking, and the struggle for peace,
stability and safer neighbourhoods."

The ANCWL would convene its national general council (NGC) in
March. There, it would asses progress made in implementing
decisions of the last national conference, held in 2003.

It would also prepare the ANCWL ahead of the ANC's national
policy conference and the party's 52nd national conference, at
which a new party president will be elected.

Lobe said the ANCWL would launch NGC papers for discussions.

"Let us deepen the debates ahead of the ANCWL NGC, the ANC
policy conference and 52nd national conference," she said.

The NGC papers - available on the ANCWL website within two
weeks - were on economic transformation and international
relations.

In addition, there would also be a discussion paper focusing on the war against poverty for discussions at the NGC.

The ANCWL offered their condolences to the family, friends and
comrades of Adelaide Tambo, who died last week.

"The passing on of Mama Adelaide Tambo, must unleash new impetus in the women of our country to attend to the unfinished and yet complex struggle of the total emancipation of women," said Lobe.

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