Mandela and Tambo was a South African law firm established by

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...

and

Oliver Tambo Oliver Reginald Kaizana Tambo (27 October 191724 April 1993) was a South African anti-apartheid politician and revolutionary who served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1967 to 1991. Biography Higher education Oliv ...

in Johannesburg in late 1952. It was the first "Attorney Firm" in the country to be run by black partners. In August 1952, Mandela had opened his own firm but, after just several months, he invited Tambo to join him in the establishment of Mandela and Tambo in two small rooms at Chancellor House, the building housing the headquarters of the African National Congress. The firm was inundated with clients seeking redress from acts of the oppressive apartheid regime. In South Africa, "Attorney Firms" would deal with lay clients directly and draft most of the paperwork, and "instruct" an Advocate, either practising independently or in-house with the firm, to plead before the Court. Tambo would do much of the paperwork in the office whilst Mandela did most of the advocacy before the magistrates in the courts opposite. Later others joined the firm, including

Duma Nokwe Philemon Pearce Dumasile Nokwe (13 May 1927, Evaton – 12 January 1978), known as Duma Nokwe, was a South African political activist and legislator, and served as the Secretary-General of the African National Congress from 1958 to 1969. Educa ...

Ruth Mompati Ruth Segomotsi Mompati (14 September 1925 – 12 May 2015) was a South African politician and a founding member of the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) in 1954. Mompati was one of the leaders of the Women's March on 9 August 1956. E ...

Mendi Msimang Mendi Msimang (8 December 1928 – 3 December 2018) was the treasurer of the African National Congress from 1997 until 2012.Calland, Richard (2006) ''Anatomy of South Africa: Who Holds the Power Today?'', Zebra Press, , p. 288 Biography From 199 ...

and Godfrey Pitje. The firm was closed down in 1960 as Mandela faced charges of treason and Tambo fled the country. The

law office A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients (individuals or corporations) about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to r ...

building was later gutted by fire and was an urban slum for many years before being completely refurbished and opened as the Chancellor House museum and archive in 2011. Mandela and Tambo were personally reunited in an emotional private meeting in

Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...

in March 1990.

References

Anti-apartheid activists History of South Africa Nelson Mandela Law firms of South Africa Defunct law firms of South Africa Law firms established in 1952 1952 establishments in South Africa 1960 disestablishments in South Africa Law firms disestablished in 1960 Companies based in Johannesburg {{AntiApartheid-activist-stub