A month of celebrating phenomenal South African Women: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
The month of August is slowly coming to an end. This month has been rewarded with great stories being told, of great South African women.
"To those who oppose us, we say, 'Strike the woman, and you strike the rock'." – 1966
However, as the month slowly draws to a close, we should not forget the turmoil women are currently going through in South Africa. The increase in gender-based violence is unacceptable, and we need to keep shining the spotlight until it ends!
READ: A month of celebrating phenomenal South African Women: Dr Shakira Choonara
Today, we pay tribute to a legend, a woman of the hour, persistence, and strength, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
We cannot say the name without taking a moment of silence for this great woman. A woman of the African soul. A hero in her own right.
Winnie was a South African anti-apartheid activist and second wife to former president Nelson Mandela. A member of parliament from 1994 to 2003, she served as the deputy minister of arts and culture from 1994 to 1996.
Born on the 26th of September 1936, Winnie Mandela sadly passed away at the age of 81 in 2018. All her supporters knew her as the “Mother of the Nation”.
READ: A month of celebrating phenomenal South African Women: Major Mandisa Nomcebo Mfeka
Winnie and Nelson Mandela were married for 38 years and had two children together. When Mandela went to prison, Winnie became his voice during his 27-year sentence. During that period, she rose to prominence within the anti-apartheid movement. She was also detained on numerous occasions but kept coming back stronger than before.
A woman that never gave up on freedom and equality. We salute you!