Graduates group donates books to Madikizela, Mandela families

THE South African Associate of Women Graduates (SAAWG) has donated two books to the Madikizela and Mandela families as part of its appreciation for the struggles the families went through during apartheid.

The book features the graduates’ stories and the road they travelled to graduation.

Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, received the books when he attended Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s memorial service in Khayelitsha earlier this week.

Addressing hundreds of mourners at OR Tambo Hall in Khayelitsha, where the memorial was held, SAAWG national president Siwe Coka said she was “emotional” but there was a need to donate the books.

“I am so emotional because the stalwart, the heroine we are celebrating today, made it possible for women like me to be leading this kind of an association,” Coka said.

“I am grateful. The sacrifices that they went through, the Mandela and the Madikizela families, have made some sort of an investment for a large number of graduates,” she said to loud applause.

Coka said the Madikizela and the Mandela families “made it possible for us to challenge and disrupt tertiary institutions that were prowhite, under very difficult circumstances”.

“We just want to say to Mama, we are so ashamed that it took death for us to acknowledge the role you have played in the lives of many women graduates.

“We are ashamed it took death for us to realise gender equality exists.

“During the transition stage, between 1990 and 1994, she made it a point that women in this country were catered for.

“With these books we will honour her as we celebrate her life.

“Mandla, take these two books to the Mandela and the Madikizela families and tell them we are honouring Mama.”

Mandla Mandela said he handed the book to Zondwa Mandela yesterday.