Winnie memorial views

I WANT to commend the speech of EFF leader Julius Malema on Saturday at the funeral of Mama Winnie Madikizela Mandela.

The firebrand Julius delivered a speech that touched the hearts of many South Africans and opened the minds of many to the life the mother of the nation and her daughters lived during the apartheid and post-apartheid regimes.

It touched my heart when he mentioned how Mama Winnie faced the defence force of the regime which was willing to kill. The speech revealed the pain and suffering of the queen mother during apartheid, including the states of emergency, and how Mama Winnie was willing to put her life in danger against the regime.

He reflected on how some leaders in the ANC had betrayed her and how some in the ANC Women’s League resigned because they wouldn’t be led by her, claiming she was a criminal. But these were at her funeral despite the pain and suffering they had caused her.

He also mentioned how the mother of the nation was prevented from bidding farewell to the late Peter Mokaba, whom she groomed in the youth congress and ANC Youth League. This was despite the fact that she was the president of the ANCWL and, secondly, she was very close to Mokaba.

At the same time the speech by the politically matured Julius showed how close he was to Ma Winnie, the love and care he had for her.

It also showed how strong Mama Winnie was in overcoming the difficulties and challenges she faced, surviving the storms and pain, vilified before the world, her dignity degraded. — Thando Noel Witbooi, via e-mail

LAST weekend we saw unity in action until the firebrands opened their mouths.

The doek and black attire was the name of the game the whole week, showing united South Africans. This gave hope of closing gaps that are kind of vivid to South African people.

The medals attained by SA athletes at the 2018 Commonwealth Games also provided for a demonstration of unity in diversity by South Africans.

I would have loved to hear good news when people are paying their last respects, a sort of show of respect to the person whom we all loved so dearly. Can some of our leaders remember that funerals are not platforms to divide our communities in front of visitors and all the foreign dignitaries. This is grossly unacceptable, it’s tantamount to taking out one’s soiled linen and hanging it up in front of your yard.

Another selfless stalwart by the name of Bhuti Zola Skweyiya was also called to higher service.

I wish to call on all firebrands to hold their horses and behave themselves for the sake of the bereaved family and unity of South African people.

Let’s unite behind Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who have been nominated for 19 Grammy Awards and this weekend leave to play at Queen Elizabeth’s 92nd birthday concert in London.

And also our own Zolani Tete, who is in Belfast‚ Northern Ireland, for a showdown against Omar Narvaez.

Let’s support anything that will unite us as a country. Remember, united we stand, divided we fall. — Vukile Maki, Mdantsane

I DO feel for Archbishop Desmond Tutu after the release of the film Winnie by Pascale Lamche. I’m thankful for the film.

Soon after it was shown the media (including social media) was inundated by comments, positive and negative.

On social media the Archbishop got some harsh lashing. During the funeral of Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the EFF leader, Julius Malema, at least pleased me as far as lashing the right people, perhaps not necessarily responding to the film, but also some information he found elsewhere.

I think where blame is due, and where I choose to settle it, is with the people who fabricated the story and made it sound authentic. — Sonwabile Mfecane, Mthatha