Political battles play out at funeral of SA’s ‘Mother of the Nation’

POLITICAL battles played out at Winnie MadikizelaMandela’s funeral, as some leaders were booed and old rivalries were hashed out in tribute speeches to the global icon.

The special state official funeral was held at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday, following the 81-year old’s passing in hospital on April 2.

From the very start of the official programme, some of the people who filled the 40 000 capacity stadium made their views known — booing former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma when their presence was announced at the funeral.

Although only a few booed Mbeki, loud and drawn out booing was reserved for Zuma, who stepped down as the country’s head of state in February.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who had been promised to be taken to Marikana by MadikizelaMandela to formally apologise to the widows of the 34 miners who were killed, said that although she passed on before it could happen, he would honour her wishes.

“I am going to go to Marikana without you, but I will be guided by your spirit. I know that Julius [Malema] will come with me so that we can heal the wounds of those in Marikana,” said Ramaphosa in his speech at the burial.

Malema, who sat with Madikizela-Mandela’s family and other dignitaries, responded to Ramaphosa with a smile.

Madikizela-Mandela’s own daughters gave a tribute to their mother, with ambassador Zenani Mandela-Dlamini defending the legacy of a “woman who dared one of the most evil and powerful regimes of the past century and triumphed”.

She slammed those who came out following MadikizelaMandela’s death about the apartheid regime’s propaganda machine aimed at tarnishing the icon’s name, specifically mentioning the former police commissioner George Fivaz.

“Why have they sat on the truth and waited until my mother’s death to tell it? It is so disappointing to see how they withheld their words during my mother’s lifetime, knowing very well what they would have meant to her,” said Mandela-Dlamini.

She said those who vilified her mother should not for one moment think that the family would forget that. “Praising her now shows us what hypocrites you are! “The pain inflicted on her lives on in us.” She also questioned why men in the struggle weren’t subjected to the same scrutiny, and said, “double standards obscure the immense efforts of women” in the struggle.

“The battle for our freedom wasn’t some polite picnic to which you came armed with your best behaviour.”

As the event drew to a close, a sombre mood returned to the stadium.

The heavens opened, and a thunderous downpour drenched the mourners.

Thousands who sang and cheered as the funeral procession made its way out of the stadium followed it through the streets of Soweto, with some crying as they escorted their beloved “mother of the nation” to her final resting place. — Sapa