Winnie – gone but never forgotten
PARKTOWN – The Nelson Mandela Foundation pays tribute to the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela at Constitution Hill on 9 April.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation hosted a sombre but touching memorial service for the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela on the morning of 9 April.
The event was attended by a variety of anti-apartheid activists including Advocate George Bizos, former first lady, Graça Machel and former minister of finance, Trevor Manuel. The event was led by singer and performer Unathi Msengana.
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Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo addressed the crowd, calling on South Africans to fight racism and violence against women in the name of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. He said, “We need to draw from the fearlessness that Mama Winnie had.”
He added that the ills in South Africa, such as corruption are growing due to fear.
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Machel spoke after consoling an emotional Ndileka Mandela who struggled through her speech. Ndileka is the Mandelas’ eldest grandchild.
Machel said, “We, as a family, were blessed to have Madiba as the head of our family. But also blessed to have Mama Winnie as our matriarch.”
She called on South Africans to report back what they have done to change another’s life in the name of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, in one year.
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Chief executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Sello Hatang, gave the closing address. “We have lost greatness but we will recognise that we have lived in greatness.”
He commended Madikizela-Mandela for her brave and strong spirit even though she was part of the tortured generation during apartheid.
Details: www.nelsonmandela.org
