Winnie’s letter to her ‘child’
Ex-cop Rita kept the missive for 19 years
Former policewoman Rita Medina-Molina, who testified against apartheid police, has for 19 years kept a note she received from Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
Medina-Molina (formerly Havenga) was called “an ANC spy” and faced “hostility” from colleagues after testifying against them following the Shell House massacre – a shooting incident that took place outside the then ANC headquarters in the Johannesburg CBD in 1994. Nineteen people lost their lives in the city following clashes between IFP members and security officials at Shell House.
Medina-Molina, who was secretary to the Johannesburg police area commissioner, testified in court about how ANC leaders, including Nelson Mandela, called the police prior to the massacre.
“I testified that the commissioner did not intend to react quickly, and how [ANC member] Mr Obed Bapela had also called about the situation and that police must urgently come,” she told Sowetan.
Little did Medina-Molina know that her testimony against police would lead to her becoming an outcast.
Her family “kicked her out”, she lost weight and struggled to cope at work until a chance meeting with MadikizelaMandela in 1999.
Medina-Molina said Madikizela-Mandela had been visiting the Johannesburg police station when they “bumped” into each other, leading to her visiting the stalwart’s then Johannesburg office.
“I met her when my life was in turmoil after testifying against police, she made me strong through her strength ...”
At the time, Medina-Molina said she was called a “sell-out”.
On the note, dated April 14 1999, Madikizela-Mandela referred to her as “My dearest adopted daughter Rita”. She wrote: “You are one in a million! Thank you for who you are! SA is free today because of people like you.”
Said Medina-Molina: “She came to my rescue, showing me that it was okay to fight for democracy. She took me under her wing while still at SAPS. I think God led her to my path.”