I’LL DRINK TO THAT
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela celebrates her 80th birthday with the ANC Women’s League, which hosted a carnival in her honour in Soweto yesterday.
BIRTHDAY celebrations for ANC stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela were taken to Soweto yesterday as she turns 80 years old today.
The famous Vilakazi Street in Orlando West was closed off and the area was abuzz with activities as the ANC Women’s League organised a cultural carnival for township residents as part of celebrating with Madikizela-Mandela.
Majorette dancers, a motorcycle parade and dancing and music show were but some of the acts lined up as part of yesterday’s celebrations.
Also present were ANC leaders in cabinet, including Water Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane and Public Service and Administration Deputy Minister Ayanda Dlodlo.
Born in Bizana, Eastern Cape, in 1936, Madikizela-Mandela rose to prominence as she defined herself as a fearless leader, outside of her former husband, the late Nelson Mandela, when she confronted the apartheid establishment.
She was regularly detained and tortured during Mandela’s imprisonment, including being banished to Brandfort in the Free State in 1977 as she developed a provocative stance against the apartheid regime.
Today the ANCWL is also planning a blousing ceremony during which Madikizela-Mandela will be showered with gifts before being spoiled to a gala dinner later.
ANCWL president Bathabile Dlamini heaped praises on Madikizela-Mandela for the role she played in the struggle and said the league was planning to celebrate its stalwarts.
Dlamini also unveiled a birthday message book gift on Friday which was used by South Africans to write their birthday wishes to Madikizela-Mandela.
“Comrade Winnie is a people’s person, so there are people who might want to send messages but they wont be able to talk to her directly,” she said.
Madikizela-Mandela is viewed as a unifying figure though outspoken. Her soft spot for the EFF saw its leadership and that of the ANC rejoin for her birthday under one roof last week in Cape Town, despite the two parties’ usual confrontational relationship.
She said the EFF and the ANC were one and called on the red berets to return to the ruling party’s fold.
Thandiswa Meko, who was among those who donned their traditional regalia at the event, said she revered Madikizela-Mandela. She remarked that Madikizela-Mandela was celebrated while she was still alive.
“Most of the time we celebrate people when they are no longer [alive] and they never really know how much they were appreciated,” Meko said.