Every time I read Winnie Mandela’s biography, I noted that she was born in the same year as my late mother. In spite of this fact, I never quite saw her as an elderly person-the image I retained of Winnie was of that beautiful, young, female activist who though married to the great Nelson Mandela, was more or less a single mother, since her husband was in prison practically all the time!
In spite of some unpleasant reports that later emerged about Winnie, I remain somewhat sympathetic to her–whoever is without sin should cast the first stone! She played a glorious and important role representing Nelson Mandela and the Black struggle in South Africa while her iconic husband was imprisoned for 27 years. She sacrificed her youth, family life, marriage and the usual joys of love, marriage and family for the black liberation struggle from apartheid in South Africa. The price Winnie paid was quite high and in my view, she deserves our understanding, appreciation and eternal gratitude. She was not a perfect human being but who is? Nelson Mandela himself wasn’t perfect, nor was J.F Kennedy, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair or anyone else!
One of the unfortunate ironies of the post–apartheid South African narrative was that while the nation agreed to wipe away and forget the crimes of the white Afrikaaner racists as a condition for inter-racial reconciliation, all the sins of the woman who endured much of the pain of the apartheid era on behalf of the blacks were exhumed and strenuous efforts made to tarnish and destroy her reputation and legacy. I am happy that in the wake of her death on April 2, 2018, some positive balance has been restored concerning her essence, impact and contribution. We will not forget her sacrifice and commitment
Born Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela on September 26, 1936, Winnie Mandela will be remembered as an anti-apartheid activist and politician and the wife (regrettably actually ex-wife) of Nelson Mandela. She was a Member of Parliament from 1994 to 2003 and from 2009 till her death. She was also a deputy minister from 1994 to 1996; member of African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee; and head of the powerful ANC women league. Winnie Mandela was generally regarded as “Mother of the Nation” which was indeed the role she played while Nelson Mandela languished in jail. Winnie had the seeds of leadership in her, serving as head girl in high school; and becoming a pioneer amongst Africans in the field of social work. I recently discovered to my surprise, that Winnie Mandela’s mother Gertrude was a domestic science teacher who had a white father and a Xhosa mother!
Winnie was a qualified social worker, who married Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg in 1958 and had two children Zenani and Zindziwa born in 1958 and 1960 respectively. She earned her degree in Social Work in 1956, and later another degree in International Relations from the University of Witwatersrand. She met Nelson Mandela in 1957 when he was still married to Evelyn Mase and was charmed by him. From 1963 when Mandela was arrested and jailed following the notorious Rivonia Trial, the young Winnie became actively wedded to the anti-apartheid struggle until 1990 when he was freed. Unfortunately, the couple separated in 1992 and were divorced by 1996 due to credible allegations of her infidelity.
Winnie became an activist and leader in her own right after her husband’s detention. She was regularly arrested and detained; often confined, restricted or banished in separate places; and spent 18 months in solitary confinement in Pretoria Central Prison in 1969.
Allegations of endorsing the practice of “necklacing” (burning people alive with tyre and petrol based on accusations that such people were spies for the regime), kidnapping and murder; notorious and unacceptable activities of the “Mandela United Football Club” which she was actively associated with and which was regarded as her de facto bodyguard and protection unit; and charges of fraud and corruption tarnished her reputation, but did not detract overall from her critical role in the liberation struggle. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission established by her husband’s government indeed established her political and moral responsibility for gross violations of human rights committed by the football club.
She remained a popular ANC leader till her death, and was always an electoral asset to the party, even though the ANC leadership appeared always to seek to sideline and undermine her. She died at the age of 81 suffering from diabetes and had undergone major surgeries before her demise. President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged at her funeral that the ANC failed to stand by her during her legal troubles. Her funeral, which was attended by a large mass of people on April 14, 2018 at Orlando Stadium was mostly planned by her daughters and Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, with the ANC leadership reportedly struggling to find space for themselves at the events. Her interment was preceded by a private memorial service.
Winnie’s Xhosa name, “Nomzano” meant “she who tries” and indeed she tried her best and made a strong and historical contribution to the black struggle in her native land. History will be kind to her memory.
Opeyemi Agbaje
