Winnie Madikizela-Mandela reached octogenarian status this month and marked it at a celebratory party surrounded by top officials, musicians and family members.
She shared her special day with well-wishers at the renowned Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town last week Wednesday.
Among the guests were first lady Bongi Ngema-Zuma, Madikizela-Mandela’s daughter Zindzi Mandela, Julius Malema of the Economic Freedom Fighters party and Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille, among others.
Graceful and dignified, in a much admired white and blue gown, the anti-apartheid activist made her entrance on the arm of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa‚ who later addressed the guests on the attributes of the former wife of statesman Nelson Mandela.
“Much as Julius Malema and I disagree on many things, we agree on Mam’u Winnie [Mrs. Mandela’s] everlasting beauty‚” Ramaphosa said, to cheers and applause from the attendees. “You are indeed the mother of the nation. But you also have another attribute, which is your enduring vitality.”
He continued, “Winnie Madikizela-Mandela personifies everything about the African saying, ‘Woman, you are a rock.’ Not like a simple rock, but like a diamond, built to last a lifetime. Enduring the worst in the times of oppression, she ensured that the people would not lose heart … Regardless of her own pain, she ensured that the children and families of liberation were clothed and fed.”
He quoted poet Maya Angelou, saying “And, at 80, she still rises.”
After the deputy president, Zindzi Mandela shared some of the personal qualities and characteristics of her mother that many did not know.
“My mother is a very keen gardener,” she said “I, for example, was two hours late for my wedding because my mother had to water the garden. But that is my mother. She loves to be surrounded by beautiful things, and she loves to make beautiful things grow. It’s just her nature.”
The dinner proceedings began after 9 p.m. with a light starter of asparagus‚ followed by fish or meat‚ and citrus fruits for dessert.
Later, Madikizela-Mandela took to the podium and thanked the guests. Recovering from back surgeries in March and April‚ she told the room that when she gets well‚ she plans to lead a campaign for the widows and orphans of the “Marikana Massacre.”
“Amandla [Power]‚” she called out‚ which was followed by an expressive “awethu” (to us!).
Madikizela-Mandela was born in the village of eMbongweni on Sept. 26‚ 1936. Both parents were teachers, and she followed their path, studying social work at the Jan Hofmeyer School. Her meeting with Nelson Mandela took place in 1957 at age 22. They were married in 1958 and were a couple until 1992.
STUDENTS THREATEN SCHOOL SHUTDOWNS OVER RISING SCHOOL FEES
(GIN)—South African students at the University of the Witwatersrand are all fired up and can’t take any more!
After news that the education minister will be pushing through “fee adjustments” for 2017—up to 8 percent—student president Kefentse Mkhari declared, “Comrades, we aren’t going to entertain that 8 percent. What we want is simple. We want free education now. Not then. We are shutting down.”
Students have begun marching through the university’s Johannesburg campus to “conscientize students” who are still in class‚ one student leader said.
The crowd chanted, “On your marks‚ get set‚ we are ready for free education,” as they marched.
So far, there have been protests at Wits, the University of Pretoria and University of Cape Town.
In an effort to balance the competing demands of students and school administrators, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande has proposed a middle ground on the fee issue. Nzimande now says the state will pay for poor and middle-class students’ fee hikes, while letting the wealthy pay for their own.
Nzimande said the plan will mean 70 percent to 80 percent of undergraduate students across the country will either be covered by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme or face no fee increases next year. Those who protest for zero-percent fee increases for all students are protecting the rich, he said.
“We can’t destroy our universities in the name of defending no-fee increases for the rich,” said Nzimande, while acknowledging students’ right to demonstrate.
“Government is alive to the legitimate cries of students regarding fees and to those of the universities who must continue to pay for specialist books and equipment in foreign currency and ensure that academic, support and service staff are adequately paid for their work,” he told the media at a conference in Pretoria.
It’s still unclear how government will pay for its gap-funding grant. “As to where and how the money will come from, unfortunately I’m not the minister of finance,” said Nzimande, inviting uncertainty over how government will fund the program.
“We are tired of talk shops and task teams without implementation,” complained a student leader. “We cannot every year protest for a moratorium. There needs to be a greater structural solution to the crisis that is higher education. … We could not afford the fees in 2015, and we still can’t afford them today, thus the call for free, quality and equal education.”
Nzimande’s school fee offer is also unpopular with some school administrators. “Another zero-percent fee increase will destroy our universities,” said Jonathan Jansen, former Free State University rector. “You can build up a good university over 100 years, but you can destroy one in three months.”
Protesting students are also demanding a change in the current curriculum, adding more about the experiences of Black people. Up to the minute reports on the school strikes can be found on Twitter at #Feesmustfall.