There is probably no other person on the African continent in general and in South Africa in particular more popular and well-known than Nelson Mandela. He is political leader, advocate, who devoted his life to the ideals of equality and fraternity. He directed all the forces not only to overcome the racist apartheid regime in South Africa, but also led his country on the path of democratic development. His life views have become a reference point for millions, though he had shared the thorny path of long-term trials with one - his wife, soul mate and successor - Nomzamo Winfreda Madikizela-Mandela, or simply Winnie Mandela. That was her, who had waited her husband for 27 long years. This was her, to whom Nelson wrote: "Your thoughts light millions of coals in my soul." He wrote it not just for a soul mate, but for the woman he loved, for mother of their children - Zenani and Zindzi, whom she brought up alone, without the husband.
They married in 1958, when political star of Nelson had already been shining brightly. It was then, when he worked over and walked toward the goal of his life - developing of ultimately new society in South Africa. It was the times, when he fervently fought against the apartheid regime. So did Winnie. She became the rear for her husband, his support, his hope. It is not surprising why she appeared to be a symbol of struggle against apartheid for millions. It is understood why she is known as "mother of nation" even today.
Winnie always acted with fiery speeches, agitated in the press. She was repeatedly imprisoned - as well as her husband. For her beliefs Winnie spent a year and a half in solitary confinement! But after all the bullying and psychological harassment, she returned to the people, to her followers, to those who fully shared the idea of fighting against the shameful regime of racial discrimination.
She has earned the respect and love of people. However, love goes together with fear and envy. It is the more insulting, when they come from peers and relate to her husband, like-minded people, people of South Africa.
Intelligence services of South Africa have never concealed their intentions to discredit the family of Mandela, and thus all the anti-racist movement. At the beginning of 1960’s agents of the Bureau of State Security of South Africa were rubbed hard to trust the leadership of an anti-racist movement and, using the line of "the opponents of apartheid," searched for the slightest compromising concerning political leaders. They provoked new criminal cases and arrests.
Freed after 10,000 days of imprisonment, Nelson Mandela had to come back into politics and become the new head of state. Meanwhile some of his party mates have done everything to weaken the positions of Winnie Mandela. At the suggestion of the secret police, whose agents have been introduced in the personal protection of the family Mandela, a scandal on so-called case of "Winnie Mandela's football club" was triggered. Thanks to the purposeful actions a woman was accused of corruption and infidelity. Apparently "ordered" was the case of "Palace of Mandela" - a two-story house that was "too stood" against poor buildings of Soweto. They say, the building costed $400 thousand. The money allegedly was taken from donations coming from abroad to fight against apartheid.
Such mud flows even today, when Winnie is still popular, respected and listened to. Despite all the rumors and baseless accusations, Winnie Mandela has been occupying influential government positions for over 20 years. She does much for humanitarian development of South Africa. In 2007 she returned to politics and led the Executive Committee of the African National Congress. In this capacity, she has become an active opposition to current anti-immigration policies, introduced in South Africa and led to mass riots and clashes. Winnie is personally involved in the resettlement of refugees and migrants, periodically inviting them even in her own home. She pays considerable attention to the younger generation - the children who never knew the regime of discrimination - but who are no less acutely experiencing the challenges of statecraft.
Winnie has not cheated her ideals - ideals of equality of peoples, freedom and brotherhood. She never cheated the ideals of her youth, her deep convictions, once proved by young and striking Nelson Mandela. However, is the society ready to respond and take those ideals today? Will they shine as brightly and powerfully as it was in the middle of last century?
Anatoliy Lazarenko, expert of the"United World" International Foundation
