Winnie’s legacy

Winnie Mandela’s hallowed place in the pantheon of South Africa’s liberators was marred by her personal corruption, murderous violence and the implosion of her fabled marriage to Nelson Mandela. She derived her vaunted status from their shared struggle, yet chafed at being defined by him. With her infamous statement: “Our boxes of matches and our necklaces will liberate this country”, she endorsed the vile practice of burning black Africans alive using tyres and petrol.

She terrorised her own neighbourhood with a group of thugs called the Mandela United Football Club, respon- for child abduction, torture and murder. In 1997, she was finally brought before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission but the hearing had to be adjourned when witnesses were intimidated on her orders. Archbishop Tutu exhorted her to tell the truth and she finally admitted “things went horribly wrong” but that was as close as she ever got to an apology. (REV DR) JOHN CAMERON

Howard Place, St Andrews