Popularly known as mother of the nation, the South African anti-apartheid activist and former wife of first black president, Nelson Mandel, dies after months of ill-health at 81

WINNIE Madikizela Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid activist and former wife of the late President Nelson Mandela, has died at the age of 81, personal assistants disclosed on Monday, April 2.

The outspoken campaigner was known as the “Mother of the Nation” because of her struggle against white minority rule in South Africa.

She was married to Nelson Mandela for 38 years, including the 27 years he was imprisoned on Robben Island near Cape Town.

The couple – famously pictured hand-in-hand as Mr Mandela walked free from prison after 27 years – were a symbol of the anti-apartheid struggle for nearly three decades.

However, in later years her reputation became tainted legally and politically.

Victor Dlamini, family spokesman, said in a statement: “She died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year.

“She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones.”

Winnie Madikizela Mandela, was born in 1936 in the Eastern Cape – then known as Transkei.

She was a trained social worker when she met her future husband in the 1950s. They were married for a total of 38 years, although for almost three decades of that time they were separated due to Mandela’s imprisonment.

Despite their separation two years after his release, and their divorce in 1996, she kept his surname and maintained ties with him. They had two daughters together.

– Apr. 2, 2018 @ 16:20 GMT

AE