Winnie Mandela Biography and Wiki
Winnie Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid activist as well as a politician, and the second wife of Nelson Mandela. She was born on 26 September 1936 in Bizana, South Africa as Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela and she was also known as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela OLS MP. Winnie Mandela died on 2 April 2018, Netcare Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
She was buried on 14 April 2018 in Fourways Memorial Park, Randburg, South Africa. She worked as a Member of Parliament from 1994 to 2003, and from 2009 until her death, and was a deputy minister of arts and culture from 1994 to 1996. A member of the African National Congress (ANC) political party, she served on the ANC’s National Executive Committee and headed its Women’s League. Madikizela-Mandela was known to her supporters as the “Mother of the Nation”.
Born to a Mpondofamily in Bizana as well as a qualified social worker, she married anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg in the year 1958; they remained married for 38 years and had two children together. In the year 1963, after Mandela was imprisoned following the Rivonia Trial; she became his public face during the 27 years he spent in jail.
During that period, she rose to prominence within the domestic anti-apartheid movement. She was detained by apartheid state security services on various occasions, tortured, subjected to banning orders, banished to a rural town as well as spent several months in solitary confinement.
In the mid-1980s Madikizela-Mandela exerted a “reign of terror”, and was “at the centre of an orgy of violence” in Soweto, which led to condemnation by the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and a rebuke by the ANC in exile. During this period, her home was burned down by residents of Soweto.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) established by Nelson Mandela’s government to investigate human rights abuses found Madikizela-Mandela to have been “politically and morally accountable for the gross violations of human rights committed by the “Mandela United Football Club”, her security detail.
Madikizela-Mandela endorsed the necklacing of alleged police informers and apartheid government collaborators, and her security detail carried out the kidnapping, torture, and murder most notoriously the killing of 14-year-old Stompie Sepei whose kidnapping she was convicted of.
Nelson Mandela was released from prison on 11 February 1990, and the couple separated in the year 1992; their divorce was finalised in March 1996. She visited him during his final illness. As a senior ANC figure, she took part in the post-apartheid ANC government, although she was dismissed from her post amid allegations of corruption. In the year 2003, she was convicted of theft as well as fraud. She temporarily withdrew from active politics pror to returning several years later.
Winnie Mandela Death, Funeral
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela died on 2 April 2018 at Netcare Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa at the age of 81. She suffered from diabetes and had recently undergone several major surgeries. She “had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year”.
In the lead-up to Madikizela Mandela’s funeral, in a politically fraught environment soon after the ouster of former president Jacob Zuma, Jessie Duarte, a senior ANC leader, warned critics to “sit down and shut up”, with Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema saying that “anyone who accuses Mama Winnie of any crime is guilty of treason”.
Madikizela-Mandela was granted a “Special Official Funeral” by the South African government. Her public funeral service was held at Orlando Stadium on 14 April 2018. Planning for Madikizela Mandela’s funeral was largely handled by her daughters and Julius Malema as well as the ANC reportedly had to “fight for space” on the programme. At the public service, ANC and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa “acknowledged” that the ANC failed to stand by Madikizela-Mandela’s side during her legal troubles.
Julius Malema delivered an impassioned speech in which he criticised the United Democratic Front for distancing themselves from Madikizela-Mandela in the year 1980s. Malema also criticised members of the National Executive Committee of the ANC Women’s League for resigning in the year 1995, because they regarded Madikizela-Mandela as a “criminal”.
Madikizela-Mandela’s daughter Zenani attacked those who “vilified” her mother, calling them hypocrites. After the public service, her body was interred at a cemetery in Fourways in the north of Johannesburg during a private memorial service. A number of ANC figures prepared to defend themselves against the allegations made at the funeral, however, the ANC urged “restraint”.
Winnie Mandela Age
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela died at an age of 81 years old, she was born on 26 September 1936 in Bizana, South Africa and died on 2 April 2018 at Netcare Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa. Her birth sign was Libra.
Winnie Mandela Education
Madikizela attended high school in Bizana where she was the head girl. After leaving school, she went to Johannesburg to study social work at the Jan Hofmeyr School of Social Work. She earned a degree in social work in the year 1956, and several years later earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Winnie Mandela Young
Winnie held a number of jobs in several parts of what was then the Bantustan of Transkei; including with the Transkei government, living at various points of time at Bizana, Shawbury and Johannesburg. Her first job was as a social worker at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto.
Winnie Mandela Family, Parents and Siblings
Winnie was born to his father Columbus Madikizela and mother Gertrude Madikizela, her parents were both teachers. Her parents, Columbus and Gertrude had a white father and Xhosa mother. She was the fifth born of nine children seven sisters and a brother. Her mother died when Winnie was 9 years old, resulting in the break-up of her family as all the siblings were sent to live with different relatives. She belonged to South African nationality and Thembu ethnicity.
Winnie Mandela Husband Nelson Mandela: Was she married?
Winnie was married to Nelson Mandela for 38 years, since 1958, including 27 years during which he was imprisoned. Although they were still married at the time of his becoming president of South Africa in May 1994, the couple had separated two years earlier.
Their divorce was finalized on 19 March 1996. Winnie and Nelson Mandela had two children together namely: Zindziswa Mandela and Zenani Mandela-Dlamini.
Winnie Mandela Children, Daughters
Winnie Mandela had two daughters as her only kids known as Zindziswa Mandela and Zenani Mandela-Dlamini. Zindziswa Mandela, also known as Zindzi Mandela-Hlongwane, was a South African diplomat and poet as well as the daughter of anti-apartheid activists and politicians Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
Zindzi was the youngest and third of Nelson Mandela’s three daughters. She was born on 23 December 1960 in Soweto, South Africa, and died on 17 July 2020 at an age of 59.
Princess Zenani Mandela-Dlamini is a South African diplomat as well as a traditional aristocrat. She is the sister-in-law of the King of eSwatini, Mswati III as well as the daughter of Nelson Mandela and his second wife, Winnie Mandela. Zenani is 61 years old as of 2020, she was born on 4 February 1959 in Soweto, South Africa.
Winnie Mandela Grandchildren
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Grandchildren includes:
Zoleka Mandela via Zindziswa Mandela Prince, Cedza Dlamini via Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, Zamaswazi Dlamini via Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, Zozuko Dlamini via Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, Zondwa Mandela via Zindziswa Mandela, Bambatha Mandela via Zindziswa Mandela, Zwelabo Mandela-Hlongwane via Zindziswa Mandela, Zaziwe Manaway via Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, Zinhle Dlamini via Zenani Mandela-Dlamini and Zwelabo Mandela via Zindziswa Mandela.
Winnie Mandela Net Worth
Winnie’s net worth is publicly not available. Her primary source of income was her career as a politician. Through her various sources of income, we believe that Winnie has been able to accumulate a good net worth but preferred to keep it private. We will update this section once this information is available.
Winnie Mandela Measurements and Facts
Winnie Mandela ImageHere are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Winnie Mandela.
Winnie Mandela Bio and Wiki
- Full Names: Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela
- Popular As: Nelson Mandela’s second wife
- Gender: Female
- Occupation / Profession: Politician
- Nationality: South African
- Race / Ethnicity: African
- Religion: Christianity
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Winnie Mandela Birthday
- Age / How Old?: Died at an age of 81 years old
- Zodiac Sign: Libra
- Date of Birth: 26 September 1936 and died on 2 April 2018
- Place of Birth: Bizana, South Africa
- Birthday: September 26
Winnie Mandela Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: To be updated
- Height / How Tall?: 1.63 m
- Weight: 154 lbs
- Eye Color: Dark Brown
- Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
- Shoe Size: To be updated
- Dress Size: To be updated
- Breast Size: To be updated
- Waist Size: To be updated
- Hip Size: To be updated
Winnie Mandela Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Columbus (Teacher)
- Mother: Gertrude (Teacher)
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): 1 brother and 6 sisters
- Marital Status: Married
- Husband/Spouse: Married to Nelson Mandela (Former President of South Africa)
- Dating / Boyfriend: Not Applicable
- Children: Sons (None) Daughter(s) (Zindziswa Mandela)
Winnie Mandela Networth and Salary
- Net Worth: Under Review
- Salary: Under Review
- Source of Income: South African activist
Winnie Mandela -Apartheid
Winnie Mandela was regularly detained by the South African government due to her political involvement. Between August 1963 to February 1990 she emerged as a leading opponent of apartheid. She was exiled to the town of Brandfort in the Orange Free State and confined to the area, except for the times she was allowed to visit her husband at the prison on Robben Island.
At the beginning of the year 1969, she spent eighteen months in solitary confinement at Pretoria Central Prison. She organised local clinics, campaigned actively for equal rights, and was promoted by the ANC as a symbol of its struggle against apartheid.
Winnie Mandela Political Career
In December 1993 and April 1997, Winnie Mandela was elected president of the ANC Women’s League, although she withdrew her candidacy for ANC Deputy President at the movement’s Mafikeng conference in December 1997.
In 2003, she resigned from all leadership positions in the ANC, including her parliamentary seat and the presidency of the ANC Women’s League.
On 21st December 2007, she was elected to the National Executive Committee. In the year 2009 general election she became fifth on ANC’s electoral list, behind party president and current President of South Africa Jacob Zuma, former President of South Africa Kgalema Motlanthe, Deputy President of South Africa Baleka Mbete, and Finance Minister Trevor Manuel.
Winnie Mandela Film, Movie
Winnie Mandela is the year 2011 drama film adaptation of Anne Marie du Preez Bezrob’s biography Winnie Mandela: A Life. The film is directed by Darrell Roodt and stars Jennifer Hudson, Terrence Howard, Wendy Crewson, Elias Koteas, and Justin Strydom. Image Entertainment released the film in theaters on 6 September 2013.
Winnie Mandela Facts
Madikizela-Mandela was known to her supporters as the “Mother of the Nation”. She was born to a Mpondo family in Bizana, and a qualified social worker, she married anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg in te year 1958; they remained married for 38 years and had two children together.
Winnie Mandela Crimes
Winnie criticized the fact that she was not consulted for the making of a film about her life, stating, “I have absolutely nothing against Jennifer [Hudson, the film’s star], but I have everything against the movie itself. I was not consulted. I am still alive, and I think that it is a total disrespect to come to South Africa, make a movie about my struggle, and call that movie some translation of a romantic life of Winnie Mandela.”
Also, some South African actors criticized the selection of American actors for South African roles; Oupa Lebogo, general secretary of the Creative Worker’s Union (CWU) said of Hudson’s casting, “This decision must be reversed, it must be stopped now. If the matter doesn’t come up for discussion, we will push for a moratorium to be placed on the film being cast in South Africa. We are being undermined, there is no respect at all.”
A preview of the film released in November 2010 was referred to by the filmmakers as originating from computer hackers, saying it was an “unauthorised download originated from a secure website belonging to our sales representative, Filmbridge. The material was not formally edited, graded, or sound-mixed. At this stage, the producers have elected to make no further comment and are investigating the matter.”
Winnie Mandela Books
- Part of my soul went with him – 1984
- 491 Days: Prisoner Number 1323/69 – 2013
- Ein Stueck Meiner Seele Ging Mit Ihm – 1985
Winnie Mandela Quotes
- “I am the product of the masses of my country and the product of my enemy.”
- “I will not allow the selfless efforts of my husband and his friends to be abandoned. I will continue the struggle for a free and equal South Africa.”
- “If you are to free yourselves you must break the chains of oppression yourselves. Only then can we express our dignity, only when we have liberated ourselves can we co-operate with other groups. Any acceptance of humiliation, indignity or insult is acceptance of inferiority.”
- “To those who oppose us, we say, ‘Strike the woman, and you strike the rock’.”
- “It is only when all Black groups, join hands and speak with one voice that we shall be a bargaining force which will decide its own destiny.”
- “There is no longer anything I can fear. There is nothing the government has not done to me. There isn’t any pain I haven’t known.”
- “They think because they have put my husband on an island that he will be forgotten. They are wrong. The harder they try to silence him, the louder I will become!”
- “It was in the townships where we shed so much blood. Nothing could have been achieved without the sacrifice of the people. Black people.”
- “I’m not sorry. I will never be sorry. I would do everything I did again if I had to. Everything.”
- “We have no guns — we have only stones, boxes of matches, and petrol. Together, hand in hand, with our matches and our necklaces, we shall liberate this country
Frequently Asked Questions About Winnie Mandela
Who is Winnie Mandela?
Winnie Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid activist as well as a politician, and the second wife of Nelson Mandela. She was born on 26 September 1936 in Bizana, South Africa as Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela and she was also known as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela OLS MP. Winnie Mandela died on 2 April 2018, Netcare Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
How old is Winnie Mandela?
Winnie was a South African national born on 26 September 1936 in Bizana, South Africa, and died on 2 April 2018 at Netcare Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.
How tall is Winnie Mandela?
Winnie stood at a height of 5 feet 4 inches.
Is Winnie Mandela married?
Yes, she is married To Nelson Mandela. Winnie and Nelson Mandela had two children together namely: Zindziswa Mandela and Zenani Mandela-Dlamini.
How much is Winnie Mandela worth?
Winnie had not yet revealed her net worth. We will update this section when we get and verify information about the wealth and properties under her name.
Is Winnie Mandela dead or alive?
Winnie Mandela died on 2 April 2018 at Netcare Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa at an age of 81 years old.
What Happened To Winnie Mandela?
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela died at the Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg on 2 April 2018 at the age of 81. She suffered from diabetes and had recently undergone several major surgeries. She “had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year”.
Winnie Mandela Social Media Contacts
- Youtube
- Tiktok
- Website
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