Dozens of congregants from various denominations held a night vigil at the Rotary Stadium in Ngangelizwe township in Mthatha to commemorate the life of Mama Winnie Madikizela Mandela.
It was hosted by Umhlobo Wenene FM and OR Tambo District Municipality.
The congregants say they will remember the fallen struggle stalwart as a fearless woman who challenged the apartheid system.
OR Tambo District Municipality Executive Mayor Nomakhosazana Meth says Madikizela-Mandela has left an indelible mark in the history of the liberation struggle.
She says: “OR Tambo is a very poor district, a district which has been declared the poorest of the poor but we are here to say thank you Mama! You’ve done so much for the people of South Africa, especially the woman.”
“You’ve shown us how to be a strong woman, you’ve done everything that was never thought a woman would do. You sacrificed everything,” adds Meth.
Umhlobo Wenene FM Marketing Manager Faith Ngandi says the station wanted to honour Mama Winnie for her sacrifices.
“As a national radio station, we saw it befitting that we come to this municipality to form this partnership to mourn the passing of mama. We know that she dedicated her life to fighting for our freedom to ensure that we can stand on any platform and speak. We can do whatever we want with our lives because she decided to put her life on hold,” says Ngadi.
A national memorial service for the struggle icon will be held at the Orlando Station in Soweto on Thursday and she will be laid to rest during a special official funeral on Saturday.
