Skip to main content

Find help and COVID-19 support and news

Home – Haringey London Council logo

Login to My Account
More online services

Search form

Sign in

  • Services for residents
  • Pay, report, apply
  • Business information
  • Local democracy
  • Services for residents
  • Pay, report, apply
  • Business information
  • Local democracy
  • Home
  • Births, Death, Marriages and Civil Partnerships
  • Business
  • Children and Families
  • Community
  • Contact
  • Council Tax and Benefits
  • Environment and Waste
  • Housing
  • Jobs and Training
  • Libraries, Sport and Leisure
  • Local Democracy
  • News and Events
  • Parking, Roads and Travel
  • Planning and Building Control
  • Regeneration
  • Social Care and Health

Statue of anti-apartheid campaigner Oliver Tambo unveiled in Haringey

Publication date:
October 28, 2019

On Sunday, dignitaries and politicians from the UK and Africa were in attendance at Albert Road Recreational Ground in Haringey, as a statue of world-renowned anti-apartheid campaigner, Oliver Tambo was unveiled.
 
The guest of honour was the South African High Commissioner to the UK, Her Excellency Thembi Tambo, who is Oliver Tambo’s daughter and lived with him in Haringey.
 
The late South African activist and long-time president of the African National Congress, who was close friends with Nelson Mandela, lived in Haringey in exile for over two decades, settling with his family in Muswell Hill. The role he played as the ANC’s figurehead in Europe was vital in publicising the plight of black South Africans and canvassing international support for the fight against the white-minority apartheid government.
 
The statue was unveiled in front of park-goers on 27 October 2019, which would have been Oliver’s 102nd birthday in the year of the 25th anniversary of South Africa’s first ever democratic elections. The statue is made of bronze, is 1.7m tall, weighs 200kg and was commissioned by the Oliver Tambo Memorial Working Group.
 
The event was hosted by Haringey Council Leader, Cllr Joseph Ejiofor, and Haringey Mayor, Cllr Sheila Peacock. Other attendees included Lord Boateng, the first ever Black British High Commissioner to South Africa; former South African High Commissioner, Lindiwe Mabuza; the Shadow Foreign Secretary, Emily Thornberry MP; Catherine West, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green; the member for Enfield Southgate, Bambos Charalambous MP; and representatives from the Cameroonian, Sudanese and Namibian High Commissions.


 
South African Commissioner to the UK, Her Excellency Thembi Tambo, said:

I am delighted that there will be statue of my father, O.R. Tambo in the Albert Road Recreation Ground. It is close to where my parents made the family home after we were forced, for political reasons, to leave South Africa. The statue is recognition of my father’s values and his decisive and leading role in the struggle against apartheid and for a democratic non-racist, non-sexist South Africa.

I hope people come and see the statue and find out more about what my father and indeed my mother did. The statue is also a way of honouring the solidarity and support we received from the people of Haringey, London, in our struggle. The people of South Africa do not forget that support and I look forward to renewing the partnerships between the people of Haringey, London, the UK and the people of South Africa.

Cllr Joseph Ejiofor, Leader of Haringey Council, said:

Oliver Tambo was a gigantic figure in the history of South Africa and Haringey. His tireless campaigning raised worldwide awareness of the crimes of the apartheid government and the myriad atrocities suffered by the black majority population.

We are so proud that our borough was the Tambos’ family home as they fought for justice in South Africa and I’m delighted that we are able to show our appreciation in this way. I hope that the Tambo family will see this statue as a fitting tribute to his legacy and that it will be a source of great inspiration and encouragement to all those working towards change and social justice.

ITV London News attended and produced the following report:

 

Sign up for regular COVID-19 updates

Connected Communities logo

Coronavirus - Protect yourself and others. NHS.UK/coronavirus, GOV.UK/coronavirus

Tell us what you think about this page

Please use this space to tell us how we can improve this page, or the website in general.

If you have a service problem or complaint you need help with then please visit our contact pages.

* = response required

Ease of use

Overall, how easy was it to get the help you wanted today?

Service required

What was the main service you were interested in today?

Purpose of visit

What was your main purpose for coming to the website today?

Covid-19

Did you visit the website for information related to COVID-19?
Did you find what you were looking for? (optional)

Device and browser information

It will help us understand any problems if you can tell us a bit about what you are using to browse the website:

Which type of device are you using right now? (optional)
Which browser are you using? (optional)

Your comments

Please use the following space to tell us more about your visit today. 

Please note that if you want to report a problem with a council service or have a general service request, you will need to contact Customer Services directly.

Haringey Together

Find out how you can help and what to do if you need support.

Connected Communities


Haringey case numbers

Weekly case numbers and rates

Weekly case numbers and rates


Haringey People Extra
e-newsletter

Sign up for regular updates on COVID-19

Sign up to our weekly newsletter


 

Advertising

Our advertising policy

  • Home
  • Births, Death, Marriages and Civil Partnerships
  • Business
  • Children and Families
  • Community
  • Contact
  • Council Tax and Benefits
  • Environment and Waste
  • Housing
  • Jobs and Training
  • Libraries, Sport and Leisure
  • Local Democracy
  • News and Events
  • Parking, Roads and Travel
  • Planning and Building Control
  • Regeneration
  • Social Care and Health

A to Z Directory of Haringey Council Services

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z

Ways of keeping in touch with us

Contact us

For non-urgent queries you can use our online contact form.

Have your say

Help us make sure we’re achieving our aims and tell us what you think.

Mobile apps

Useful and convenient council services in the palm of your hand.

Email alerts

Tell us what you're interested in and receive updates direct to your inbox.

Twitter

Get the latest important announcements as they happen.

Facebook

Be part of the Haringey community online as well as off.

Flickr

View images of happenings and events from our vibrant borough.

YouTube

See and hear about Haringey issues and news on our very own YouTube channel.

  • Accessibility
  • Translation services
  • About this site
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Cookies

This site is © Copyright Haringey Council