Mama Winnie to be honoured posthumously

Mama Winnie to be honoured posthumously

Sello Morake

The late African National Congress stalwart, Winnie Madikizela Mandela who passed away in April will be awarded an Izithwalande award later this year.

Mother of the nation as Winnie was affectionately known passed away in a hospital after a long illness. According to family members who spoke at his memorial and funeral Madikizela-Mandela had been strong and maintained her famous smile even on his last days. She was also known for attending Church service at the Soweto Methodist Church where she was a devout member.

Tributes and messages of comfort were delivered by ordinary people and leaders of the world throughout the corners of the earth to the Madikizela and Mandela families. Even the United Nations held a memorial service in New York in her remembrance. Much had been said about her fight against apartheid government that imprisoned her and banished her to Brandfort in the Free State, while her former husband President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was jailed in Robben Island with other struggle icons.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, when delivering an eulogy about Mama Winnie told the packed to capacity Orlando Stadium that he was going to speak with his colleagues so that ‘Big Mama’ as her grandchildren affectionately referred to her to be honoured with an Izithwalandwe award because she deserved it. Ramaphosa also told the crowd that he was going to Marikana with the Economic Freedom Fighters party leader Julius Malema as the late Mama Winnie had encouraged him to do.

Ramaphosa sought to inspire the women and young girls to be like Mama Winnie who was brave to face the powerful apartheid government that wanted to break her but her spirit was too strong to be broken. He recited the poem of Maya Angelou ‘Still I rise’ in which he paid tribute to Mama Winnie. Ramaphosa even said that Mama Winnie was the most beautiful woman that most men wanted to have by their side.

“We all women and men alike, more especially men were in awe of your eternal beauty. We thank you for your beauty. I’m sorry that your organization delayed your honour. As the president of our movement I would be proposing to our National Working Committee to award you the greatest honour of Izithwalwande, Seapara-Nkwe,” said Ramaphosa.

The Personal Assistant to Mama Winnie Zodwa Zwane said the mother of the nation liked fashionable clothes and always inspired her to be the best that she could be. She said Mama Winnie was like the stone that the builder had discarded away yet was very essential.

Zinzi Mandela who struggled a bit to deliver a tribute to her mother due to incessant coughs at the official funeral proceedings at Orlando Stadium said she never thought that her mother would pass away so soon. She indicated that those who had vilified her mother accusing her of committing crimes falsely were not forgotten. Zindzi challenged George Fivaz, as to why he was revealing the truth about the conspiracy to demonise her mother during and after apartheid era.

She said her mother and father Nelson Mandela complemented each other very well despite the lies which had been publicized over the years.

EFF Commander in Chief Julius Malema delivered a powerful and blistering attack to those ANC women’s league members who resigned from the women’s league because they did not want to be led by Mama Winnie Madikizela Mandela as the women’s league president. Malema said South Africa had been denied a leader who could have easily become the first woman president because patriarchy ruled the roost.

Malema told ANC to rename Cape Town International Airport to Winnie Madikizela Mandela airport if they were serious about honouring her. “We see you in beautiful suits, betrayers, sellouts. Mama the widows of Marikana are still in mourning. We told them that we would visit them. Mama you said we must come back to ANC but which ANC. Fellow fighters let us sent mama in a respectful manner. We will celebrate Winnie Mandela for as long we are alive. If it is true that ANC honours Winnie Mandela let them name Cape Town airport Winnie Mandela,” said

 Indeed a few days after the funeral service, Transport Minister Blade Nzimande said the name of Robert Sobukwe, Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela Mandela had been submitted for the renaming of the Airport.

The social network Twitter went berserk after Malema delivered the speech that indeed the airport should be renamed to Winnie Madikizela Mandela. Many celebrities from Black Coffee, Oskido, Dj Fresh and Anele Mdoda vouched for the Malema’s suggestion.