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Facilitating strategic partnerships and collaborations to preserve the legacy of OR and Adelaide Tambo

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The Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations Office played a central role in the facilitation and coordination of the virtual signing ceremony that was hosted by the Gauteng Region of UNISA, wherein an MoU was signed to cement the relations that the OR and Adelaide Tambo Foundation has with the university.

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The virtual signing ceremony was followed by an inaugural Memorial Lecture to commemorate and honour one of South Africa’s revered iconic leaders of the liberation struggle, the late Oliver Reginald “OR” Tambo.

The event took place on the 30 June 2021, in a month that is dedicated to the youth of this country, in remembrance of the courageous acts of the 1976 generation, as well as the many other generations of South African youth, who were later referred to as the “Young Lions” by the late President OR Tambo.

The signing of this MoU will provide both the university and the Foundation with the opportunity to pass on the legacy of ethical servant leadership, as espoused by OR Tambo throughout his life of leadership, starting as a student leader to being the leader of the oldest liberation movement, an organisation that is respected globally.

On the occasion, the Gauteng Regional Director, Ms M Masalesa, opined that the collaboration and partnership with the Foundation will play a critical role in preserving the legacy of both Adelaide and OR Tambo. She reiterated this commitment by stating that: “We would definitely like the legacy to remain alive throughout our lives.”

Notably, the event was graced by the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, who was a guest speaker at the occasion. In her presentation, Prof LenkaBula linked the importance of this collaboration to the academic project of constructing knowledge and research to advance the development of both the youth and young adults to intellectuals who will contribute immensely to the developmental agenda.

The partnership will focus on three key areas of collaboration, namely: the Annual Tambo Day - focusing on the various interests that Tambo had ; the Tambo Critical Debate Series - focusing on Tambo as a youth/student; and Research Development - to preserve and promote the legacy of OR and Adelaide Tambo.

The Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations Office views this partnership as an opportunity to showcase OR and Adelaide Tambo’s internationalist outlook, by exploiting the opportunities offered by the newly promulgated national policy framework on internationalisation to nurture developmental programmes for the benefit of young students and the youth.

* By Ms Kgomotso Mabusela

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Publish date: 2021/08/24