“A gigantic tree has fallen”. This is how President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa described the death of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, during a visit to her Soweto home. Ramaphosa fondly remembered his last meal with Winnie Mandela, referring to her as a tree that provided shade for the people of the country.
He told journalists that he spent an afternoon with her at Soweto’s business hub, Vilakazi street, during one election registration weekend last month. “My last lunch with her was a most memorable one here in Vilakazi street. I sat next to her and I was overwhelmed when I saw her enjoying her meal. I was enjoying her company…”
Ramaphosa highlighted Madikizela-Mandela’s contribution towards creating Villakazi street as a business hub in Soweto. “The few businesses that were established in Vilakazi street were established out of her inspiration. She inspired a lot of the business people who are now doing business in this iconic real estate location in the world, where two Nobel Peace prize winners – late former President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu – have their homes.”
Madikizela-Mandela died at Milpark hospital last Monday after a long illness. Ramaphosa eulogized her further, “She was one of those who knew that apartheid would be defeated even when people would have thought that she would weaken, that she would buckle under. Madikizela-Mandela never did and her voice continued to reverberate throughout the length and breath of our country”.
Ramaphosa declared that a national official funeral will be held for Winnie Mandela on April 14 at Orlando stadium. He said that a national official memorial service will precede that on April 11. Madikizela-Mandela’s grandson, Zondwa Mandela, said the family appreciated the support of all South Africans.
