Winnie Mandela memorialized in South Africa

This week, South African freedom fighter and former leader of the African National Congress, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was memorialized in Soweto this week. Now her family prepares for the final burial.

Thousands of mourners gathered to hear a long list of tributes from political leaders to family members at the Orlando stadium this week in a four-hour tribute filled with prayer and song for a woman known as “Mama Winnie.”

Scenes from the #WinnieMandelaMemorial at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. ?: @Ihsaan_Haffo pic.twitter.com/QCeLOLZDpo

— Ihsaan Haffejee (@Ihsaan_Haffo) April 11, 2018

On Thursday, in Soweto, members of the women’s African National Congress’ Women’s League held a church service at Mundi Regina church. Throughout the country, multiple tributes occurred through the night. From a women’s only musical tribute to a number of impromptu gatherings to celebrate the life of a woman noted by South African authorities as one of the most dangerous radical activists in the country.

Scenes from Regina Mundi Church in Soweto where the ANC Women’s league is holding a memorial service for the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. #WinnieMandelaMemorial ?: @Ihsaan_Haffo pic.twitter.com/ekt8qjc98Z

— Ihsaan Haffejee (@Ihsaan_Haffo) April 12, 2018

Today, her body was retrieved from the morgue, and a street procession began. Thousands more lined the streets for her send off.

The coffin carrying the body of the late Winnie Madikizela Mandela arrives at her home in Soweto covered in a flag of the ANC. #winniemandela ?: @Ihsaan_Haffo pic.twitter.com/w64ifxXrms

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) April 13, 2018

On Saturday, the body of Madikizela-Mandela will be buried in Fourways Memorial Park located in Johannesburg. This is also the resting place of her great-granddaughter Zenani Mandela, 13, tragically killed when hit by a car in 2010.

“I have not tears.”

Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela, a fierce champion of the anti-Apartheid movement worked for decades to dismantle the brutal system of Apartheid, which bolstered white power under a brutal, and often violent regime.

US Congresswoman Maxine Waters spoke on the legacy of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, anti-apartheid activist and former wife of South Africa’s first black president, Nelson Mandela.

Madikizela-Mandela is known for the phrase, “When you strike a woman, you strike a rock,” to emphasize the strength of women in movements. Waters said that, that phrase was critical in women knowing their power. “When she said it helped to energize women around the world.”