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 poor food conditions at the college. Following his expulsion for his role in the march, his outraged father sent him to work on the mines in Boksburg. At the mines, Tinto continued to be involved in protest actions. He was taken to Germiston police station in handcuffs and later deported to Transkei.
Tinto left the Transkei to work in Cape Town, where he joined the Langa branch of the African National Congress (ANC) in 1951. He was elected its chief volunteer in 1954. In 1960 he joined the organised march of 30 000 people of the Pan Africanist Congress(PAC) from Langa to Caledon Square police station, virtually on the doorstep of the parliament in Cape Town. The protest resulted in a State of Emergency being declared by the H.F. Verwoerdgovernment. In 1961 Tinto was amongst the delegates who attended the All-Africa Conference held in Pietermaritzburg in Natal.
During the 1976 students uprising, Tinto was detained in Polsmoor 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. He played a key role in various UDF campaigns and his efforts were awarded by re-election. Tinto was detained again after declaration of a State of Emergency by the government in 1985.
In 1983, during the launch of the United Democratic Front (UDF), Tinto was elected inaugural deputy president for the Western Cape region. He played a key role in various UDF campaigns and his efforts were awarded by re-election. Tinto was detained again after declaration of a State of Emergency by the government in 1985.
He was one of the first ANC Western Cape members of our new democracy's Upper House of the time, the Senate, from 1994 to 1996. In 2005 he was awarded the Order of Luthuli in Silver by President Thabo Mbeki for his contribution to the liberation struggle.