Struggle stalwart and anti-Apartheid activist, referred to as the mother of the nation, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, has been honoured posthumously by the City of Johannesburg with the Freedom of the City on 25 September.
This is the highest honour the City’s council can bestow upon a person or organisation and comes with a framed certificate and gold coin.
Madikizela-Mandela’s spirit of resistance still influences many who spoke at the council chambers, which Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba wants to rename after her.
The South African icon’s family received the Freedom of the City on behalf of her.
Her two daughters, Zenani Mandela-Dlamini and Zindzi Mandela received and signed the certificates.
Zondwa Mandela, Zindzi’s son, who thanked the council on behalf of the family, encouraged political leaders to focus on ending poverty and providing health care and free education to everyone.
He said the lack of women celebrations has led the country to the state it is currently in.
“We need a real, active celebration of women,” he said. “Speaking on behalf of my family I hope to leave a message of diversified inclusion and celebration of human excellence.”
Zondwa called on both EFF leader Julius Malema and DA leader Mmusi Maimane to never forget the forgotten voice and steer the country in the right direction.
“You have the potential to be the greatest leaders the African continent has seen.” Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba said this honour is long overdue.
“There is no doubt that many had all but forgotten, and were largely unappreciative of the role Winnie Madikizela-Mandela played in shaping our history,” he said.
“She kept the flame of liberation burning when liberation movements were forced underground.”
Mashaba said the Madikizela-Mandela family requested that the City of Johannesburg host the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Children’s Parliament, at least once a year on 26 September in the council chambers.
In honour of the late Madikizel-Mandela, whose birthday would have been on the 26 September, the ANC also announced that it will host a week in celebration of her.
The EFF also added that Madikizela-Mandela could not truly be at rest until every colonial statue is taken down in the City. They also proposed that a statue of her be erected at all entrances to Soweto.
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