The African Diaspora for Development says they will remember Winnie Madikizela-Mandela for the assistance she provided to displaced foreign nationals during the xenophobic attacks in 2008.
Madikizela-Mandela passed away last week at the age of 81 and will be buried on Saturday. A delegation comprising of diplomats, African business leaders, migrant community leaders and traditional leaders visited her house to pay their tributes.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Jean-Pierre A. Lukamba Om says, “I met her in 2008 during the xenophobic attacks when she brought some clothes and invited me to assist her in distributing them to the victims of xenophobic attacks who were kept at Cleveland Police Station.”
Lukamba Om, who was also a victim of these attacks says, “She spoke out also against these attacks on African fellow who she says assisted South African in standing in solidarity with them against cruel government of apartheid which killed many innocent South African including school kids.”
“She told us that we shouldn’t feel unsafe because South Africans who are xenophobic are just few. She also addressed South Africans telling them that they should know their history and where they came from, by knowing that they will be aware that they are African first and they should treat their fellow African as brothers and sisters well,” He adds.
Lukamba Om described Mam’ Winnie as the mother of our continent, iconic African woman, political activist, a mother and Human and political rights activist.
He says the late stalwart was passionate about the rights of Africans and women.
Lukamba Om says Madikizela-Mandela will be honoured on African Day.
