SOWETO: Thousands of mourners flocked on Wednesday to the heart of South Africa’s sprawling Soweto township, a centre of anti-apartheid resistance, to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela’s former wife and struggle hero Winnie Mandela.

Her grandson Bambatha Mandela described Winnie, who died on April 2 after a long illness, as “an extraordinary woman, a mother, a soldier, a fighter”.

“Even at 81 [she] was one person I thought would live forever,” he said in an emotional tribute. “I had the privilege of being the first grandchild they could raise after [Nelson Mandela] returned from prison.”

The choice of Soweto’s 37,000-capacity Orlando stadium for both the memorial service and the full state funeral planned for Saturday was highly symbolic.

Unlike many struggle-era leaders who moved from townships like Soweto to formerly white suburbs after apartheid fell, Winnie Mandela remained embedded in the community where she met Nelson Mandela at a bus stop in 1957.

“I don’t think I want to wake up alongside my enemies,” Bambatha remembered his grandmother as saying.

Deputy President David Mabuza said that many South Africans were left “weeping” after learning of her death.

The charismatic master of ceremonies cried “Long live the fighting spirit of Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela”, and “Viva Soweto!” to spirited chanting from the crowd.

I don’t know where South Africa would be without her — no one can fill her space.” Rita Ndzanga, a frail former anti-apartheid fighter who was detained alongside Winnie Mandela, drew rapturous cheers from the crowd as she spoke about their experiences together.

“I remember when we were arrested in our fight against pass laws for women,” she said, describing how they were both breastfeeding at the time.

As well as numerous ministers, religious leaders and family members, George Bizos, an anti-apartheid icon who was close friends with Nelson Mandela, also attended.

Mananki Joyce Seipei, the mother of a boy whose kidnapping Winnie was convicted of in 1991, was reportedly encouraged by the ANC to attend Wednesday’s event. She told local media she was “very sad to hear that Winnie is no more because she and I had made peace”.

Winnie Mandela was found guilty of kidnapping Stompie Moeketsi, a 14-year-old boy who was then beaten to death by her bodyguards in her home in 1988.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2018