Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

Date of Birth: September 26, 1936

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: April 2, 2018

Biography

Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela, known as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, was a prominent South African anti-apartheid activist and politician. Born on September 26, 1936, in the village of Mbongweni, Bizana, in the Transkei region, she rose to international prominence as the wife of Nelson Mandela, the future president of South Africa. However, her own contributions to the struggle against apartheid were significant and independent of her husband. Winnie earned a degree in social work in 1956 and later a bachelor’s degree in international relations. She worked at the Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, where she witnessed firsthand the harsh realities of apartheid. This experience galvanized her commitment to social justice and political activism. Throughout the apartheid years, Winnie was a vocal and unyielding opponent of the regime. She was arrested, detained, and placed under house arrest multiple times. Her activism and leadership often placed her at odds with both the apartheid government and, at times, elements within the African National Congress (ANC). Despite these challenges, she remained a key figure in the anti-apartheid movement. After Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in 1990, Winnie continued to be active in South African politics, serving in various capacities within the ANC. However, her career was not without controversy, including allegations of human rights abuses and corruption. She and Nelson Mandela divorced in 1996. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela passed away on April 2, 2018, but her legacy as a fierce opponent of apartheid and a champion for the oppressed remains influential in South African history.

5 Interesting Facts about Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

1. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was detained, arrested, and imprisoned multiple times during her life, spending over a year in solitary confinement.

2. She became the first black professional social worker at the Baragwanath Hospital in Johannesburg.

3. Winnie was known as the “Mother of the Nation” in South Africa for her steadfast role in the anti-apartheid struggle.

4. Despite her contributions, she was a polarizing figure due to allegations of human rights abuses, including her association with the Mandela United Football Club.

5. She was elected as a Member of Parliament in South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994 and served as the Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

1. “I am the product of the masses of my country and the product of my enemy.”

2. “To those who oppose us, we say, ‘Strike the woman, and you strike the rock.’”

3. “I will die a black woman, an African, a South African.”

4. “I have been called the Mother of the Nation, but I am the product of the masses of my country.”

5. “The years of imprisonment hardened me… Perhaps if you have been given a moment to see the other side of the fence.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of her career, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela had an estimated net worth of around $5 million.

Children

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela had two daughters with Nelson Mandela: 1. Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, born 1958 – Zenani is a diplomat currently serving as South Africa’s ambassador to South Korea. 2. Zindziswa Mandela, born 1960 – Zindziswa (Zindzi) was a South African politician and diplomat who served as South Africa’s ambassador to Denmark until her death in 2020.