Struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has passed away at the age of 81.
The apartheid icon has been ill for a number of years and was most recently admitted to Milpark Hospital due to an infection affecting her kidneys.
The last time the stalwart was in a hospital was in October 2017 for a knee surgery, which she had a full recovery from.
During her ex-husband’s 27-year imprisonment for his fight against apartheid, Madikizela-Mandela campaigned for his release and the rights of black South Africans, undergoing arrest and banishment. White minority rule ended in 1994.
The former South African first lady was born in the village of Mbongweni, Bizana, in the Transkei.
The Mandela family issued a statement on Monday, stating, “It is with profound sadness that we inform the public that Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela passed away at the Netcare Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa on Monday 2 April 2018.
“She died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of the hospital since the start of the year. She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones.
“Mrs Madikizela-Mandela was one of the greatest icons of the struggle against Apartheid. She fought valiantly against the Apartheid state and sacrificed her life for the freedom of the country. Her activism and resistance to Apartheid landed her in jail on numerous occasions, eventually causing her banishment to the small town of Brandfort in the then Orange Free State.
“She kept the memory of her imprisoned husband Nelson Mandela alive during his years on Robben Island and helped give the Struggle for justice in South Africa one its most recognisable faces. She dedicated most of her adult life to the cause of the people and for this was known far and wide as the Mother Of The Nation.
“The Mandela family are deeply grateful for the gift of her life and even as our hearts break at her passing, we urge all those who loved her to celebrate this most remarkable woman.”
The family said it would release details of the memorial and funeral services once these have been finalised.
Source:Eye Witness News
Death always impacts tragic experiences to close families of the deceased. MHSRIP
Even at 81 she was still hotty. Who could guess she was older than Inonge ?
Ladies eposeniko amano.
Imagine that Dora at 81 years how she will look in a wheel-chair.
The memory of Nelson Mandela whilst in prison was always ignited buy the sight of this beautiful woman. Truly a fighter and icon.
Sadly we all have weaknesses and the aparthied regime always worked to exploit that RIP mama!
A beautiful soul indeed RIP Winner
Go well daughter of the soil. Your were beautiful from the outside and that came with a lot of pressure!
Never heard of her
Who was she? atase
Thanks
BB2014,2016
Yes indeed, a generation of Galant Africans who sacrificed their whole so we can all live in relative dignity and peace is slowly passing on. They surely did their part, mostly at tremendous personal cost and danger to their lives. Now it is our part (the new generation of African leaders) to pick up where they left off and give this beautiful continent the ECONOMIC EMANCIPATION it hungers for….which is the “HUMAN RIGHTS STRUGGLE” and CHALLENGE of our generation.
I saw this woman in Lusaka on February 27, 1990, sixteen days (Mandela release, Feb 11, 1990) after her husband Nelson Mandela was released from prison. I was among the thousands who lined up along Independence Avenue to wave and take a pick at these two icons, Mandela and his beautiful wife Winnie as they drove to State…
Continue….
House. KK (with his iconic White Handkerchief) and Mandela in front in an open Jeep, Winnie and Mama Betty Kaunda following behind in another Jeep. It is a day most of us who wittinessed it will never forget.
RIP Mama Winnie Mandela!
Mushota suffers from FACTIOUS disorder, no Doctor is qualified to treat her illness….LOL
Dora S, bakaba g’anga nga bakota.
You lived a full life mama. Go well and MHSRIP. You found the battle for all.
Iye yena iyi @Mushota nimbwa. Kind kind of a human being is Mushota. You are a bitter person I can tell you that.
Condolences to the Mandela family and her two children for there lose. May your soul rest in
perfect peace Mama Winnie
Rest in Peace, Winnie. You kept the Struggle alive and sacrificed so much; too much. Your story has not properly been told. History is on your side Mama. Today I shed a tear for you. You will not be forgotten,.
GO WELL MAMA!! I have entered the annals of African and World History! YOU FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, WISHING WOMEN OF UPCOMING GENERATIONS CAN EMULATE YOUR COURAGE AND SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE!!
oooh sorry.. YOU ( and NOT I) have entered the annals of African and
A true freedom fighter. Even when Mandela became soft, she kept on with the real fight. Prayers for the family.
Fare well freedom fighting woman of the soil! Agelessness and resistance is visible in those eyes. The temple has been torn down but she shall live on in the spirit of African liberation.
Go well the hero of all the time
Rest in peace.
Condolences to the family and to South Africa! We shall miss you Mother!
God Bless her. And may she rest in peace. We commend her for her contribution to the struggle. One of the greatest Black African women. ( I expect I need to be moderated by LKT!).
Fare you well madam Winnie
A woman to be emulated. RIP black heroine
Rip but your history shall never be rubbed
Great people always leave so soon than expected. Madam a great farewell and RIP.
Condolences to her family; It is a great loss to South Africa and to the history of the liberation struggle;but she will be remembered for all that she did; Life is fragile;
…when all is done and said , nothing…. lasts for ever … as Sydney Sheldon wrote… thoughts from Dr Muyangana
….may her memories , be remembered…
ZMA , what is , your comment on winie mandela….
Mama Afrika fare thee well ,you fought the battle of liberation well.Thanks for your enormous sacrifices it was all worth it.
A GREAT SOUL SHE WAS….SHE STOOD OUT WELL AGAINST APHARTHEID …..
Sad news indeed. Mama Winnie MYSRP. South Africa, we are with you during this difficult moment. Africa has lost a freedom fighter.
Touching to learn,but fight well fought.Africa will remember you and your works .you indeed fought for what Africa is enjoying today.Rest in peace mother of Africa
she deserved more respect than Mandela himself! we still leave in bondage, in a crisis! we hopeless and mistreat our fellow Africans, we are treating each other worse than the whites did, our sickness is unique so it deserves specialized attention! Let me just say we have made the fight for struggle and freedom by these heroes meaningless! making my hypothesis true that there is something seriously wrong with Africans! Go well Mama