Farewell to Mother of the Nation

The death of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has come as a blow to South Africa as a nation, according to the Bishop of Johannesburg, the Right Reverend Dr Steve Moreo.

“The Mother of the Nation, as she was so aptly known, was an influential figure through the many years of struggle against apartheid when she showed herself time and again to be an inveterate struggler for the cause of justice,” he said.

“This was at a time when she had to bear the full might of a security state against her while her husband was in prison.

“During her life, she kept close contact with all parts of the church. A practising Methodist, she used her strong ecumenical links to reach out to other denominations, not least that of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa in general, and the Diocese of Johannesburg in particular.

He added that there were many occasions when her insight and background information assisted the Anglican Church in the dark days of the 70s and 80s to be part of a Christian witness in bringing about the demise of apartheid.

“In this, she worked closely with Archbishop Desmond Tutu when he was Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral in Johannesburg and then later when he was bishop, and, of course, during his tenure as the general secretary of the South African Council of Churches. She was with Archbishop Tutu as he welcomed her and her then-husband, Nelson Mandela, to Bishopscourt on the first night of Mandela’s release.

“It is against this backdrop that, on behalf of all Anglicans in the Diocese of Johannesburg, I express my deep sympathy on the occasion of her death. May the soul of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela rest in peace and rise in glory.”

Details: Anglican Church of Southern Africa 011 375 2700.

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