The former wife of Nelson Mandela, and a well-known activist in her own right, passed from illness today.
On the Passing of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, South African Activist
ISSUES • Transition, Activism
PLACE • Johanessburg, South Africa
DATE • April 2, 2018
BODY • Family of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
On the Passing of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, South African Activist
ISSUES • Transition, Activism
PLACE • Johanessburg, South Africa
DATE • April 2, 2018
BODY • Family of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
State of Transition
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, ardent anti-apartheid activist and former wife of late South African president Nelson Mandela, has passed this morning. She was 81. Her spokesperson, Victor Dlamini, confirms that she “died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year. She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones.”
Provided below, via The Times Live, is the full family statement:
“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 April 2 2018.
She died after a long illness‚ for which she had been in and out of 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 will release details of the memorial and funeral services once these have been finalised.”
Her death and ensuing funeral arrangements are being closely covered by local, regional, and global media, including AfricaNews, Jeune Afrique, and The Times Live.
Body of Work
For this news series’s sources, and further reading on the issues raised by the life and passing of Winnie Mandela,…
Updates
26May 2019: NORTH KIVU AND ITURI, DRC — WHO report a lower rate of increase in cases, but again caution that such decreased incidence could be due to surveillance teams’ constraint and access issues caused by earlier security incidents. Figures reveal a total of 1920 cases, 1826 confirmed and 94 probable cases, with 1281 deaths (fatality ratio 67%). Among cases with known age and sex, 58% (1113) were female and 29% (565) were children aged less than 18 years. 105 healthcare workers have been affected.
Tributes
26May 2019: NORTH KIVU AND ITURI, DRC — WHO report a lower rate of increase in cases, but again caution that such decreased incidence could be due to surveillance teams’ constraint and access issues caused by earlier security incidents. Figures reveal a total of 1920 cases, 1826 confirmed and 94 probable cases, with 1281 deaths (fatality ratio 67%). Among cases with known age and sex, 58% (1113) were female and 29% (565) were children aged less than 18 years. 105 healthcare workers have been affected.
Sources & Further
For this news series’s sources, and further reading on the issues raised by the life and passing of Winnie Mandela,…
