Mam’ Winnie got a raw deal
Speakers slam ANC at memorial
Former president Nelson Mandela’s eldest granddaughter says late Struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela got a raw deal in life.
“Because we know in life she got a raw deal. We want her to be buried in dignity.
“I will have to leave after here because we are busy with big mommy’s funeral preparations,” Ndileka Mandela, who struggled to hold back tears, said.
She was speaking at the memorial service for Madikizela-Mandela at the Women’s Jail at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, yesterday.
The venue for the memorial service which was organised by the Nelson Mandela Foundation was significant because that is where Madikizela-Mandela and other women activist were imprisoned.
Amid outpourings of grief and messages of condolences, Madikizela-Mandela’s cell mate, Cecile Palmer, lashed out at the ANC, saying it had appointed a weak woman as minister of women.
“I want to ask you directly why is it that you put a weak woman as the head of women’s ministry?” Palmer asked.
“It is time you got serious about what you are doing.”
Bathabile Dlamini is the Minister of Women.
Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said: “While we have made advances in many respects, she will not have a very good report to give about what we are doing.
“She will tell them that the level of corruption in this country has reached proportions that no one could ever have imagined before. She will say this is not the kind of country that we sacrificed for. She is going to report on what we are doing about corruption.”
Zondo suggested that South Africa needs to draw lessons from the fearlessness that Madikizela-Mandela had in order to deal with corruption.
“Corruption is deepening because we are fearful,” he said. “We need to take the level of fearlessness that Mama Winnie left us.”
Energy Minister Jeff Radebe called on the Nelson Mandela Foundation to continue to speak truth to power.
“The truth might sometimes be uncomfortable to some but the foundation should not be a coward,” Radebe said.
Most people cried when a video in honour of Madikizela-Mandela was played.
Former first lady Graca Machel said South Africa was worse than when Mandela passed away five years ago.