An iconic figure

IN THE pantheon of heroes of South Africa’s storied Struggle to free itself from the shackles of apartheid, there are two who stand out head and shoulders above the rest – Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and his erstwhile wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.

One was exiled to a bleak and barren island within sight of the country he tried to free, the other was effectively jailed in plain sight, harried relentlessly.

Madiba came out of jail a statesman; beloved by global leaders, celebrities and his former foes.

Winnie almost landed back in jail, after being convicted of kidnapping and an accessory to assault at her Orlando West home, following the murder of young activist Stompie Seipei.

There were other allegations against her of assault and fraud, of friendships with unsavoury characters, love affairs, and an at best indifferent attitude towards public service, either as a deputy minister or as a Member of Parliament.

But in the streets of the townships though she remains today the Mother of the Nation, the embodiment of the Struggle, the lodestar for those without hope eking out their lives in shanty towns and for those who feel that the revolution has passed them by.

Madikizela-Mandela is an icon of our times.

Undoubtedly flawed, quintessentially human, she fought a fight that played out in full view of the world, but for that reason is often overlooked.

Unlike the political prisoners who had the certainty of their fate, she had to be a single parent, often unable to provide for her children from one day to the next, defiant of the very system that had put her husband away.

Very few have paused to think of the toll exacted, or the dynamics of being reunited almost three decades later and then consigned to the shadows, unacknowledged but with a huge weight of expectation upon her.

Madikizela-Mandela is not perfect, her legacy is tarnished and should not be burnished in the revision of history.

She has stumbled often, but has remained unwavering in her commitment to the most vulnerable. It’s time to acknowledge that this country owes Madikizela-Mandela a debt that can never be adequately repaid.

Happy birthday!