The biggest tree has fallen. A woman among women has fallen.
An icon of the Struggle, iqhawe lamaqhawe lihambile!
Umaphuma efumbethe esiswini sikanina aze ahambe efumbethe ukuba yinkokheli yabantu.
South Africa has a long time to wait until she gets such a lioness who fought the apartheid regime as well as the oppression and patriarchy within the ANC, her movement, with all her might.
My heart is bleeding but I know the heart of many a woman is celebrating because of what she did for them.
She fought tirelessly, defending the whole nation up until the enemy was misguided with the hope of destroying her, but she prevailed and, as usual, stood the test of time.
I am sure that much as we are crying, we are proud to be her products, we are proud because she gave us an opportunity to celebrate her life where women like Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu and Criselda Kananda Dudumashe had an opportunity to wear the women’s league blouse in her presence.
Throughout celebrating her life, she allowed us to show our small ability to honour her bravery, love, commitment and ability of an unassuming daughter of the soil.
Nothing was ever able to shut her down.
When Bab’ uGwala told us Mam’ Winnie never joined government but joined the ANC when she was fired from cabinet, we were made better persons with Sis’ Thandi Modise and Lulu Xingwana.
We wanted to fight for her to remain in cabinet and Bab’ uGwala said no one can expel Winnie from the ANC and indeed no one expelled her from her organisation.
She and Bab’ uGwala marshalled angry forces who had numerously been attacked by the third force and forces of darkness at the memorial service of Chris Hani in Pietermaritzburg’s former market square.
It was during that period at a stadium in Johannesburg where Bab’ uGwala predicted that South Africa will never be the same.
I have known so many people in the ANC, I have come across many heroes and heroines of the Struggle but I have never come across such a fighter as Mam’ uWinnie who would fight without any support from her own or, even disowned by her own, continued with the fight for liberation and her own personal freedom without any weapon.
Mama sent young people out of the country to train as freedom fighters for the liberation of this country.
Mama had love for everyone, her children, the children of the Struggle, the soldiers of Umkhonto weSizwe, she even loved those that hated her with a passion.
She was a real soldier and welcomed the whites who were a symbol of apartheid and repression.
Touch the ANC and you touch her soul. Touch her kids, touch Shell House and touch the youth league, you will know you have touched her.
Touch Chris Hani, Harry Gwala, Tony Yengeni, Jeff Radebe, Peter Mokaba, Bantu Holomisa! Touch Ace Magashule, Touch the women you will see her!
Mama would have been much satisfied if the Struggle had been won on the battlefield but she accepted the decision of the ANC leadership to negotiate with the apartheid regime.
She loved and had a soft spot for Peter Mokaba, Lulu Xingwana, Malusi Gigaba and more for Fikile Mbalula and Julius Malema for their roaring voices and ability to shake the youth to defend the ANC.
A beautiful woman inside and on the outside. A beautiful woman who had the toughest of contests.
It was one of war meant to be fought by men and not just ordinary men but only brave men and women who participated in this Struggle.
Her contest was not for the wicked but for those who had a deep understanding of the freedom of the mind; freedom from the chains of apartheid and freedom from poverty.
Her spirit was never dampened by Brandfort, instead she was more productive and liberated herself from banishment.
It is heartening that a woman who was crucified by many goes during this period of Easter.
Mam’ Winnie would come to an ANC rally draped in her John Wesley women’s manyano uniform for she knew the power of prayer.
Mama, you earned being Mother of the Nation and no one could take that away from you.
Thank you Zenani and Zindzi for sharing her.
Thank you to Sis’ Zodwa and everyone who did the work of the nation by looking after Mama with love and excellence.
Thank you for your love and patience.
Thank you for accepting everyone and opening your hearts to each and every one of us.
South Africa mourns the passing of Winnie Nomzamo Madikizela-Mandela
Comrades and Friends,
The Madikizela and Mandela families,
Members of the African National Congress,
Fellow South Africans,
The African National Congress (ANC) and the nation today mourns the passing of a titan of the liberation struggle, a revolutionary, and a stalwart of our glorious movement – Mama Nomzamo Winifred Madikizela-Mandela. The ANC lowers its revolutionary banner in honour of the memory of this great woman who was so loved and revered, whose name will forever be inscribed in history as having played a formative role in the history of South Africa. Mama Winnie, as she was popularly known, would have celebrated the rich age of 82 years in September this year, but it was not meant to be. We mourn the passing of this great patriot and Pan Africanist, whose resilience and courage inspired freedom struggles not only in South Africa, but across Africa and her diaspora. Comrade Madikizela-Mandela dedicated her life to the betterment of her people and she worked for this realization right until the end of her life.
She was an inspiration to both young and old who shared her vision of an egalitarian, prosperous and free South Africa – and generations of activists not just in South Africa but around the world today deeply mourn her as we do. Such was her impact as an activist and revolutionary around the world, that until the very end of her life, she was lauded and acknowledged for her contribution to the struggles of all oppressed peoples of the world. Not so long ago, she was conferred with an honorary Doctorate of Laws by the prestigious and internationally renowned Makere University. The life of Mama Winnie epitomized selflessness, humility, and fortitude: characteristics that she embodied throughout her life. Hers was a life where she faced the harshest of tribulations and struggles as punishment for her dedication to the liberation struggle. As her name Nomzamo testifies, she faced and underwent trials that would have broken the spirit of any human being. But hers was an extraordinary spirit that would not be quelled no matter what the hardship.
Her early exposure to apartheid in the Village of Mbongweni, Bizana in the Transkei, where she was born to Columbus and Nomathamsanqa Mzaidume Madikizela, on 26 September 1936, inspired in her a lifelong hatred of injustice and racism. It was this early exposure, and later as a young social worker in Johannesburg, that set her on a lifelong path, joining the ranks of celebrated freedom fighters of the African National Congress and the broad liberation movement in the 1950s. She counted amongst her friends and inspiration at the time the likes of Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Ma Albertina Sisulu; Florence Matomela, Frances Baard, Kate Molale, Ruth Mompati, Hilda Berstein and Ruth First. She had a deep and passionate aversion to injustice in all its forms and it was through her social work at the then Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto that she became moved by the plight and living conditions of the black majority. This motivated her to use her learning and skills to uplift them.
Imprisonment, banning, harassment, house arrest, solitary confinement and having her husband and father of her children, Isithwalandwe Tata Nelson Mandela, imprisoned for 27 years did not break Mama Winnie’s fighting spirit. Due to her unwavering leadership her home became a pilgrimage site for many leaders and members of various communities. We can without any doubt of contradiction that her entire life was lived selflessly and in servitude. This led to her kids being victims at an early age. She became a widow and single parent while her husband lived and was incarcerated at Robben Island. During this period Winnie embodied the values that her then husband Nelson Mandela stood and suffered for. Having passed on, the ANC commits to intensify the struggle that became her life. We will ensure that her spirit & resolve stay with us. She tirelessly campaigned for the release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners, gave refuge to those running from the police, harboured combatants of Umkhonto we Sizwe returning to or leaving the country, always an active part of whichever community she found herself in.
Comrade Madikizela-Mandela was an activist in her own right, and will be remembered for having stood at the forefront of the struggle for women’s rights in South Africa – taking part in a number of demonstrations against the unjust pass laws. When the ANC was banned in South Africa and the mere mention of the organisation’s name could result in imprisonment – Mama Winnie and countless other dedicated activists kept the flames of resistance burning; speaking out against apartheid, against detentions without trial, against the pass laws, and against the brutality of the apartheid regime. For this she paid a heavy price. She was first incarcerated in 1958 and over the years would face many more such detentions and banishment including solitary confinement. Despite all these attempts to break her spirit, she remained steadfast and refused to cease with her political activism, displaying exemplary courage that made her a role model for many young women activists in South Africa.
In the advent of unbanning Mama Winnie played a crucial role as the NEC member of the ANC , a position she held for 26 years and as the President of the ANCWL. During this period she became a consistent voice of reason and a champion of the voiceless. She also embraced her role as a government Minister and member of Parliament with tenacity. Mama Winnie will be remembered for her unwavering belief in the unity of the African National Congress; and her advancing years did not prevent her from remaining an active member of the ANC. As a veteran of the movement and the struggle she never hesitated to speak out whenever she saw the ANC going off course. At the same time, and despite her immense stature as an icon – she did so with humility and in acknowledgement of the many challenges still facing the movement and the country. We remember her qualities as an activist and a leader, and also her revolutionary discipline and commitment to the founding principles and values of the ANC. She lived and ended her life as a cadre of the ANC.
To the Madikizela-Mandela family, we share this incomprehensible loss of an icon of our struggle. Your loss and pain runs through our structures for Winnie belonged to greater family of the African National Congress and the formations of the liberation movement. We are grateful to her for having bequeathed us a lasting legacy and inspiration to serve our people. Be comforted by the knowledge that the name of this great daughter of South Africa will forever be illuminated. Go well, loyal and trusted servant of the Most High.
The African National Congress will be meeting with her family to plan the sending off of this giant of our revolution.
Lala kahle Qhawekazi! You will never, ever be forgotten.
Issued by Cde Ace Magashule
Secretary General
African National Congress
Revolutionaries Must Tell the Story of the Freedom Fighter Winnie Madikizela Mandela
“I have a good relationship with Mandela. But I am not Mandela’s product. I am the product of the masses of my country and the product of my enemy,” Winnie Madikizela Mandela
African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) members marched in the streets of Soweto, Johannesburg on Wednesday to commemorate the loss of anti-apartheid activist and ex-wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela, Winifred (Winnie) Madikizela-Mandela.