Winnie remembered as revolutionary soldier
Mourners pay tribute at service in New Brighton
A REVOLUTIONARY woman, a stalwart and a soldier were some of the words used to describe Winnie Madikizela-Mandela at a memorial service held at the Nangoza Jebe Hall in New Brighton last night.
The hall was transformed into a sea of yellow, green and red as members of the tripartite alliance and ANC Women’s League packed the venue to pay their last respects to Madikizela-Mandela, 81, who died on Monday afternoon.
Several memorial services are being held around the country, with the official ceremony taking place at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto next week.
ANC Women’s League member Nomathile Qokoma said they would miss Madikizela-Mandela’s humility.
“She always supported us. Her death is a big loss to us all,” Qokoma, who was one of the first to arrive at the service, said yesterday.
Fellow league member Nomalungelo Sozi, said: “She was like a mother to us.
“She was always down-to-earth and you could see it whenever she came to visit us here in Port Elizabeth.
“She chose to be among the people and was an exemplary leader.
“We can honestly say we have learnt a lot from u-Mam’ Winnie.”
ANC acting regional chairman Phumzile Tshuni said April was an important but sad month for the party.
He said the party commemorated the death of Solomon Mahlangu, who was hanged on April 6 in 1979, as well as the assassination of Chris Hani on April 10 1993.
“On April 27 [1994], black people could for the first time vote, so this month is important to us,” he said.
“But today, comrades, we are here because we are mourning the death of Mam’ Madikizela.
“uMama was principled and understood the values of the African National Congress.
“Now that she’s left us, comrades, the best gift we can give her is to reclaim this metro. Irrespective of [our] colour or race, we have to stand together.”
SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) provincial secretary Tony Duba said Madikizela-Mandela “never changed although life dealt her a different set of cards than the rest of us”.
“With that in mind we may be here to mourn, as the occasion suggests, but we must also always rejoice and celebrate the life and times of the revolutionary woman that was Madikizela-Mandela.
“One never knows the values of something one possesses until you lose it,” Duba said.
Members of Cosatu and the SA Communist Party were also among the mourners last night.