This Day in History: December 25, 1925
Additional Date: December 25, 1925
Christmas Fihla Tinto was born on Christmas day on 25 December 1925 in the Mqanduli district of the former Transkei, now part of Eastern Cape Province. His involvement in political activities started at an early age. In 1942, while he was still a student at St John’s College in Umtata, Tinto spearheaded a protest march against the poor food conditions at the college. During the 1976 students uprising, Tinto was detained in Pollsmoor Prison and on Robben Island until his release in 1978.In 1983, during the launch of the United Democratic Front (UDF), Tinto was elected inaugural deputy president for the Western Cape region. In 2005 he was awarded the Order of Luthuli in Silver by President Thabo Mbeki for his contribution to the liberation struggle. Tinto died on 14 August 2005 in Cape Town.