Staff Reporter
The late struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, an outstanding
veteran of the liberation struggle, was posthumously honoured on Saturday
with the ANC’s Isithwalandwe during her party’s manifesto launch in
Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.
“We dip our banner in honour of giants and stalwarts such as Winnie
Madikizela-Mandela,” said President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Madikizela-Mandela died in April last year after a long illness.
She fought apartheid and played an active role in the building of ANC
underground structures, campaign for international solidarity and freedom struggles.
Known as the Mother of the Nation, she paid a heavy price for her political
convictions, her outspokenness including campaigns for the release of
political activists, especially for Robben Island prisoners.
She was banned, detained and banished to a lonely life in Brandfort in the
Free State in the 1970s.
Throughout her life, she remained a committed freedom fighter who championed the cause of a non-racial and non-sexist South Africa.
Ramaphosa also bestowed the Isithwalandwe/Seaparankoe to former ANC treasurer-general Mendi Msimang, former Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa and internally acclaimed trumpeter Hugh Masekela.
“The African National Congress bestows Isithwalandwe/Seaparankoe, its
highest order, on comrades who have made an outstanding contribution to
the liberation struggle.
These comrades, as illustrated by the literal translation of Isithwalandwe “are the ones who wear the plumes of the rare bird” and have shown themselves to be among the bravest warriors of our people in pursuit of social justice,” said Ramaphosa.
“All ANC members must strive to emulate the example of selfless service
and dedication set by these great leaders. In recognition of the tasks set by
the 54th National Conference of the ANC and the ideals for which our movement was founded, the National Executive Committee declares 2019 as ‘The Year of United Action to Grow South Africa,‘” said Ramaphosa.
“We must prioritize the rights of women and end discrimination and prevent violence against women and girls. We have made huge strides in improving the position of women in society. However, gender-based violence has become a national crisis and we now need to be more determined to end the violence that is being perpetrated against the women of our country,” said Ramaphosa.
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