Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo
Encyclopedia
The Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo is a South Africa
n honour. It was instituted on 6 December 2002, and is granted by the president
of South Africa, to foreign citizens who have promoted South African interests and aspirations through co-operation. solidarity, and support. The order has three classes:
The order is named after the late Oliver Tambo
, who was the African National Congress
's president-in-exile for many years.
The badge of the order is oval, and depicts a [yin-yang] symbol between two arrowheads, framed by two mole snakes. The symbol represents the meeting of diverse spiritual energies, and the snakes represent solidarity and support. The South African coat of arms
is displayed on the reverse.
The ribbon is white, with recurring grey yin-yang symbols down the centre. All three classes are worn around the neck.
Recipients are also presented with a carved wooden walking stick, which has a serpent wound around the shaft and a spoon-shaped head displaying the badge of the order and the national arms. The walking stick symbolises support and solidarity, and a commitment to stand by the recipient in return.
On January 28, 2008, New Zealand anti-apartheid activist John Minto
raise a furor over his letter to Former South African President Thabo Mbeki
after being nominated for the award saying that he would refuse, on principle, to accept any award from the ANC.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n honour. It was instituted on 6 December 2002, and is granted by the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of South Africa, to foreign citizens who have promoted South African interests and aspirations through co-operation. solidarity, and support. The order has three classes:
- Supreme Companion, for heads of state and, in special cases, heads of government,
- Grand Companion, for heads of government, ministers of state, supreme court judges, presidents of legislatures, secretaries of state, ambassadors, commanders-in-chief et al.,
- Companion, for legislators, envoys, senior military officers et al.
The order is named after the late Oliver Tambo
Oliver Tambo
Oliver Reginald Tambo was a South African anti-apartheid politician and a central figure in the African National Congress .-Biography:Oliver Tambo was born in Bizana in eastern Pondoland in what is now Eastern Cape...
, who was the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
's president-in-exile for many years.
The badge of the order is oval, and depicts a [yin-yang] symbol between two arrowheads, framed by two mole snakes. The symbol represents the meeting of diverse spiritual energies, and the snakes represent solidarity and support. The South African coat of arms
Coat of arms of South Africa
The present coat of arms of South Africa was introducedon Freedom Day April 27, 2000. It replaced the earlier national arms, which had been in use since 1910. The motto ǃke e: ǀxarra ǁke is written in the Khoisan language of the ǀXam people and translates literally to "diverse people unite"...
is displayed on the reverse.
The ribbon is white, with recurring grey yin-yang symbols down the centre. All three classes are worn around the neck.
Recipients are also presented with a carved wooden walking stick, which has a serpent wound around the shaft and a spoon-shaped head displaying the badge of the order and the national arms. The walking stick symbolises support and solidarity, and a commitment to stand by the recipient in return.
On January 28, 2008, New Zealand anti-apartheid activist John Minto
John Minto
John Minto is a New Zealand based political activist known for his involvement in various left-wing groups and causes, most notably Halt All Racist Tours. A 2005 documentary on New Zealand's top 100 history makers listed him as number 89. Today he is involved with the protest group Global Peace...
raise a furor over his letter to Former South African President Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
after being nominated for the award saying that he would refuse, on principle, to accept any award from the ANC.