- Honourable Speaker and members
- On behalf of the Minority Front, our deepest condolences to the Mandela Family on the passing away of Mama Winnie
- Courage, kindness, style, power, love are some of the words that describes best our late Mrs Nomzamo Winnie Madikizela Mandela
- Winnie Madikizela Mandela referred to as “mother of the nation”, this title alone is one that you can never be elected for, it is a title given purely by the people as they saw a mother in her. She has played an enormous role in the freedom of all South Africans during and after the Apartheid regime. When we look at this phenomenal leader Winnie, we can be awe of her resilience, her capacity of love which she gave so freely and her undying passion for justice which was evident in her life daily with this we can all agree that she proved constant growth in her life which she still carried on motivating people to fight for equality as well as passing on these sentiments to all who came into contact with her.
- When reflecting on Mama Winnie, we are reminded that one may argue that some leaders are born; some leaders are made. But we know that Mama Winnie was a true born leader. She loved her people and she fought for them. One of her famous quotes was “Together, hand in hand with our matches and necklaces we shall liberate this country” Which is exactly what she did accomplish, as controversial as some of her efforts seemed were but controversy in Apartheid worked for those leaders who stayed in South Africa to finally turn the tide and change the regime.
- She worked tirelessly for South Africa, keeping the fires of resistance burning and her heart was always set in strengthening the ANC Women’s Youth League, a mammoth motivation to us all in our youth in the 80’s. She was also bold and was never afraid of the police state in the Apartheid regime system. Her life was devoted to South Africa and represented a symbol of resistance for everyone. It was her proximity to the people and her ability to interact with them that enabled her to never lose sight of their reality, suffering and need to be heard. She was determined to speak the truth, hence rightfully considered a born leader.
- To me, she was and will forever be an inspiration. A precious soul that always never only fought for her-self. Mama Winnie found ingenious ways of giving back to her people even when materially she had nothing left to give. She never saw colour, she saw ideas and if you cared about the masses you were on her side and she was eternally loyal to you which also makes her a born leader. I will always remember in 2002 the words she used to introduce the late Mr Rajbansi to the then HON.MEC Tokoyo Sekwala in Newcastle. She appreciated the commitment and role played by all, no matter how controversial as I stated, to change the Apartheid regime from within, much more was divulged that I will write about.
- As we pay tribute today to this phenomenal woman leader, she will forever remain in our books of history as one of the greatest revolutionaries and after we lay Mamma Winnie to rest, let us as a nation vow to follow in her footsteps and continue the work the hay ahead of us selflessly in nation building and social cohesion. To the ANC, it is important to remember her constant advice about the strength of the collective.
- Let us all make Winnie Madikizela Mandela proud when we celebrate our NDP by 2030 to resolve the many economic challenges she lamented about, that we still need to achieve freedom in.
May her soul rest in peace.
Thank you
HON. S. Thakur-Rajbansi
Time: 9.00 – 11.00