Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
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Mother of the Nation Winnie Madikizela-Mandela |
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|---|---|
 |
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| First Lady of South Africa | |
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In role 1994–1996 |
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| President | Nelson Mandela |
| Preceded by | Marike de Klerk |
| Succeeded by | Graça Machel |
| Member of South African Parliament | |
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Assumed office May 2009 |
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| Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology | |
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In office 1994–1996 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by |
Pallo Jordan Derek Hanekom |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela 26 September 1936 Bizana, Pondoland, Transkei, South Africa |
| Spouse(s) | Nelson Mandela (1958–1996; divorced; 2 children) |
| Children |
Zenani (b. 1959) Zindziwa (b. 1960) |
| Alma mater | University of South Africa |
| Profession | Social worker, politician |
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (born Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela on 26 September 1936) is a South African activist and politician who has held several government positions and headed the African National Congress Women's League. She is a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee.
She was married to Nelson Mandela for 38 years, 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 finalised on 19 March 1996, though Winnie Mandela continued to be a presence in Mandela's life in later years despite his remarriage in 1998. Winnie could be seen almost daily visiting her former husband Nelson Mandela at the Mediclinic heart hospital in Pretoria where he was receiving treatment. Of all the major figures who came to global prominence during the South African liberation struggle, Ms. Madikizela-Mandela was seen as the most at home in the world of celebrity culture, and for many of the years just before Mr. Mandela's release from 27 years in prison, she was his public face, bringing word of his thoughts and his state of mind. She was offered academic honours abroad.
A controversial activist, she remains popular among her supporters, who refer to her as the 'Mother of the Nation', yet reviled by others after the South African Truth and Reconciliation commission found that she had personally been responsible for the murder, torture, abduction and assault of numerous men, women and children, as well as indirectly responsible for an even larger number of such crimes.
Her Xhosa name is Nomzamo ("She who tries"). She was born in the village of eMbongweni,Bizana, Pondoland, in what is now South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. She was born the fourth out of eight children, which included seven sisters and a brother. Her parents, Columbus and Gertrude, were both teachers. Columbus was a history teacher and a headmaster, and Gertrude was a domestic science teacher. Gertrude died when Winnie was nine, resulting in the break-up of her family as all the siblings were sent to live with different relatives. Madikizela-Mandela went on to become the head girl of her high school in Bizana. After she matriculated she went to Johannesburg to study social work at the Jan Hofmeyer School, despite restrictions on education of blacks during apartheid. She earned her degree in social work in 1956, and several years later earned a bachelor's degree in international relations from the University of Witwatersrand. She held a number of jobs in various parts of what was then the Bantustan of Transkei, including with the Transkei government, living at various times in Bizana, Shawbury and Johannesburg. Her first job was as a social worker at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto.
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