Icon was misunderstood – youth friend
JUST like any other child, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela used to steal sweets from her father’s shop in the 1940s in Mbhongweni village in Bizana in the Eastern Cape.
This is according to maWinnie’s childhood friend Zuziwe Dlamini, who told Independent Media that the late former ANC Women’s League president was well liked in the picturesque Eastern Cape village.
She said Winnie even made her itshikini (a popular practice at schools in the former Transkei area in which two pupils declare themselves bosom buddies and shower each other with gifts).
She said maWinnie was known as Zanyiwe when they grew up.
“Zanyiwe used to steal sweets from her family’s shop and we were always together when we went to school choir competitions,” remembered the 82-year-old.
While the world outside Mbhongweni got to know Madikizela-Mandela as a fiery and feisty revolutionary, Dlamini said her friend was misunderstood.
“She never fought with anyone in the village,” said Dlamini.
Dlamini went to Mbhongweni Primary School, which was established by Madikizela-Mandela’s father.
He later set up Ngalonkulu, the only high school in the village.
Dlamini said she also played netball with Madikizela-Mandela.
“We met at Sub B (Grade 2) and were together throughout our primary school years until we completed,” said Dlamini.
Dlamini dropped out of school and got married in 1950 at the age of 15.
“I stayed at home for a while because there was no one to assist me with pursuing my studies,” she explained.
Dlamini said she then lost contact with MadikizelaMandela, but kept in touch with her younger sister Nobantu, one of the two remaining siblings.
“We met again at the funeral of her youngest sibling, Msuthu, and I spoke to her,” she said.
When Madikizela-Mandela last visited her home village in 2014 for the unveiling of the tombstones of her parents, siblings and other relatives, she could not meet her due to ill health.
Although Dlamini’s health has not improved, she still weeds her garden and hews firewood.
She said she was at a Sassa payment point at a general dealer in the village when the death of her friend was confirmed to her on Tuesday.
“I was shocked, she was my friend,” said Dlamini.
She is saddened by the fact that poor health will prevent her from attending her funeral service in Johannesburg.
“I will always remember my friend,” Dlamini said.
She continued: “Hamba kahle mngan’am, sobonana kwelizayo (Go well my friend, till we meet again in the hereafter).”