The South African government has announced a state funeral for Winnie Nomzamo Madikizela-Mandela, the anti-apartheid campaigner and former wife of the country’s first black president, Nelson Mandela.
“Freedom
fighter Winnie Nomzamo Madikizela-Mandela will be laid to rest on 14
April 2018, during a state funeral,” a government statement read.
Ahead
of the funeral, an official memorial service of Madikizela-Mandela will
take place on 11 April 2018. President Cyril Ramaphosa made the
announcement on Monday night after visiting the family home of the
former activist in Orlando, Soweto.
“At a national government
level, we have declared that Winnie Mandela will have a national
official funeral. We would like to express our gratitude and our thanks
to the many across the country and the world who are wishing us well,”
said President Ramaphosa.
In a televised tribute, Mr. Ramaphosa
described Madikizela-Mandela a “champion of justice and equality” whose
“dedication to the plight of her people gained her the love and the
respect of the nation”.
“For many years‚ she bore the brunt of the
senseless brutality of the apartheid state with stoicism and fortitude,”
he said. “Despite the hardship she faced‚ she never doubted that the
struggle for freedom and democracy would triumph and succeed.
“She
remained throughout her life a tireless advocate for the dispossessed
and the marginalised. She was the voice for the voiceless.”
The late Winnie who was married to Mandela for 38-years died on Monday at the age of 81 following a “long illnes
South Africa announces state funeral for Winnie Mandela
Wednesday, 4 April 2018
0 comments: