Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, ex-wife to South Africa’s first black President Nelson Mandela has died.
Winnie, 81 passed on Monday at a hospital in Johannesburg in South Africa where she had been hospitalized for an illness earlier this year.
She played a significant political role in South Africa, notable among them, championing the struggle against the apartheid regime which had sidelined blacks.
As a vocal member of the African National Congress, Winnie Mandela led protests against white administration at the time when Nelson Mandela was jailed on charges of treason.
However, the brave advocate of politcal change, once revered as Mother of the Nation would later be accused of instigating violence in Soweto using a soccer vigilante group during the 1960s. Later, she would be banished from Soweto.
In 1969, she spent eighteen months in solitary confinement at Pretoria Central Prison but despite this brutal treatment, Winnie was relentless in campaigning for equal rights.
Since South Africa gained independence, Winnie has serves in political positions including; Member of Parliament and the head of the ANC Women’s League.
Born September 26, 1936, in Bizana, in the Transkei, South Africa, Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizea would later after completing her social work degree from Jan Hofmeyr School in Johannesburg meet with Nelson Mandela.
Mandela had at the time been involved in the political movement and soon, the realm of politics would prove irresistible for his lover, Winnie.
Only three months ago, Winnie Mandela was awarded a Honorary Doctorate of Laws by Makerere University for the bravery with which she fought the maltreatment and harassment by the oppressive apartheid administration between 1960 and 1990.