Throngs of people continue to visit the home of the late anti-Apartheid struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Soweto, south of Johannesburg.
Her death on Monday saw political leaders, prominent business personalities, and members of the clergy converging at her home to offer condolences.
The country is marking 10 days of mourning for the struggle icon with events planned across the country and in many parts of the world. Chants of liberation struggle songs reverberate outside the her homestead across the night.
Her death has brought together political rivals and fellow comrades who used to despise her militancy during the 80s, at the height of the anti-Apartheid struggle. But for most of the Soweto residents, Winnie, as she was affectionately known, her role in the liberation struggle will remain engrained in their minds.
During her lifetime, Winnie earned respect for being able to embrace other divergent political ideologies which clashed with those of the ANC.
The President of the left-leaning Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO) Strike Thukoane has lauded Madikizela-Mandela’s forthrightness and advocating for pro-poor socio-economic policies.
A first year student at the University of Johannesburg is using her artistic prowess to pay tribute to her. Nineteen year old Nthabiseng Kekana from Alexandra Township, north of Johannesburg, has painted a portrait of her heroine. She says Mam Winnie has inspired her and her peers to be strong and become the best women they can be.
”It was a tribute to Mama Winnie to thank her for her sacrifice and I wanted to symbolises that Mama Winnie is not fallen and she is up with the stars looking upon us,” said Kekana.
While politicians jostle for media space to speak about Mam Winnie, the 19 year old Nthabiseng Kekana from Alex is using her artistic prowess to pay her last respect to someone she said inspired her to be best woman she can be #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/GqUX8P1B3l
— Ntebo Mokobo (@MokoboNtebo) April 6, 2018
Women around the country have heeded the call to wear all black and doeks this Friday to honour Mama Winnie under the hashtag, “all black, I am Winnie”. Hundreds of women who passed through Orlando West in Soweto at Madikizela-Mandela’s were clad in mainly ANC colours. They include ANC supporters, television personalities, socialites and teachers. Here is why they supported the call.
The ANC Women’s League in Mpumalanga has promised to keep alive the legacy of anti-apartheid struggle icon, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. This is after members of the Women’s League in the province gathered outside their offices in Mbombela to mourn the passing of Madikizela-Mandela.
Women’s League Acting Chairperson, Busisiwe Shiba has raised concerns that very little has been done by the country to honour Madikizela-Mandela and her contribution to the liberation struggle.
“We are going to look at it as a structure that we are having so many buildings around Mpumalanga and places where we can pick one that we can name after her. But I am going to lobby other structures so that we can be able to have just one building name after Mam Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.”
In Limpopo, the ANC Women’s League has honoured the liberation struggle icon with the opening of a condolences book. Party members and locals alike have been signing the book, in honour of Madikizela-Mandela.
Admired for her courage, moral integrity and noble qualities Mama Winnie, as she was affectionately known, was honoured as the heroine of women struggles.
“The book means her memories will be engraved in people’s hearts for ever. An honour befitting a heroine who championed the cause of the poor and the down-trodden.”
