She’s just irreplaceable, says Sorisha

HER grace, her smile and her ability to light up a room when she walked in are what Durban businesswoman Sorisha Naidoo loved most about mawinnie Madikizelamandela.

Naidoo, 40, the wife of millionaire businessman Vivian Reddy, shared a close relationship with Madikizelamandela.

She had met Madikizelamandela in Sandton nearly 10 years ago and the two just clicked, she said.

“The first time I met her, she referred to me as her daughter and that stuck with me for a long time. She asked me about myself, what I was doing at the time, what I wanted to do and how she could assist me. She really listened to me,” said Naidoo.

That mother-daughter type of bond between the two grew through the years, with Madikizela-mandela also referring to Naidoo as her daughter in public.

In 2013, at a Durban launch of Madikizela-mandela’s 491 Days book which was hosted by Reddy, Mama Winnie left the crowd in stitches when she took aim at Naidoo’s svelte figure, saying it was “un-african to be so skinny”.

“I’m just not happy that my daughter is so thin… she must come to Joburg for a week so we can feed her properly,” Madikizela-mandela said at the time.

Naidoo said that she could always turn to Mama Winnie for sound advice.

“She also asked me for a lot of advice, which I found incredible. She was a stately, graceful and beautiful woman. Whenever she saw me, whether she was sick or going through something, she always had time for me. She’s just irreplaceable,” said Naidoo.

She said Madikizelamandela had had a huge impact on her life.

“About a year ago, my dad was not well and Mama texted me. I told her my dad wasn’t well and she said she also wasn’t well.

“She then told me not to worry because she would send someone to be with me at this time. She then flew her personal assistant, Zodwa, who is an amazing individual.

“Zodwa spent the entire day with me to pass Mama Winnie’s thoughts and prayers to me. This was so mindblowing. You would never expect someone to do that for you,” said Naidoo.

She said Madikizelamandela had taught her life was short and people should reach out to each other in times of need.

“Our mother of the nation has been one of the most inspirational women. I would like to thank her family for sharing her with the entire nation. The two of us shared a bond which I will love and treasure forever,” said Naidoo.