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03 May, 2018
Debate: Condolence Motion on the passing of Ms Winnie Madikizela Mandela
Honourable Speaker and Members, Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, MP and UDM Deputy-President A big tree, an outstanding servant of the people, a struggle icon has fallen. Dr Maya Angelou, in her poem “The Great Tree has Fallen” says, and I quote: “…. when great souls die, after a period, peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.” As we mourn and are still trying to come to terms with the untimely death of Mam’ uWinnie, no one can deny the fact that our lives are better because she existed. Mama was a fearless freedom fighter, who brought her superlative courage to the struggle during the darkest hours of oppression. She was a colossus that bestrode the lives of the poor and downtrodden, shielding them from the vicious onslaught of the apartheid regime. It was therefore not surprising that South Africans, who understand the passage of the struggle for freedom, regarded her with veneration. It is because these South Africans understand that both in the war against the apartheid regime and in peace, Mam’ uWinnie served South Africa unfailingly and wholeheartedly for decades. For these reasons, it was also not surprising that, when Mama uWinnie passed away, the world rang with tributes to this great leader of our time. We were however flabbergasted by the ostentatious vulgarity of the criticism of her legacy by some of her detractors and the brazen lies they told to tarnish her image. Despite your venomous attacks on her, our love and respect for her remains undiminished. Disappointingly, even the behaviour displayed by some of those who tried to defend her legacy was at times marked by puerility. This group displayed an exclusivist notion to national interest and the right to defend her legacy, which was extremely intolerant of dissenting views, whether valid or not. It the saddest irony of history and a damning indictment of our leadership that we used her passing to divide the very same nation she fought tooth and nail to unite. Colleagues, you know that I prefer truth to comfort! Granted, Mama was not without faults. She made mistakes just like everyone else. However, to reduce her legacy to her mistakes understands neither the dangers of the struggle for freedom, nor the monumental sacrifices on which our pedestal of hope is premised. In this regard, we owe it to the youth of this country and future generations to tell an objective account of Mam’ uWinnie’s historical contribution to our liberation struggle that is free of distortions. Madam Speaker, Throughout our struggle for freedom, Mam’s uWinnie was sustained not only by her love for our people, but by her sincerity and commitment towards building a democratic, united, non-racial and non-sexist South Africa. In your honour Mama, we will continue to fight for the improvement of the lives of the poor and to ensure that land is returned back to our people. We will not let your passing, as our struggle icons, to be the end of era of South African greatness! We will continue to individually and collectively work hard towards building a South Africa in which we look forward to the sunrise of our tomorrow! Menze Thixo aphumle ngonaphakade. Umkhanyisele ngokhanyiso olungacimiyo. Thank you.
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13 Apr, 2018
The hype around uMama Winnie reveals hypocrisy of some leaders of the Mass Democratic Movement
As we say our last bon voyage to Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, we must also appreciate her enormous sacrifice, whilst her own party had been reluctant to rescue her from a situation where she desperately needed help. When we talk about uMama Winnie we must have some understanding that she paid a steep personal price for believing in her convictions and walking the talk – whether you agree with what she had done, or not. She had landed in a scalding cauldron of hate in the late 1980s, when the four youths had been kidnapped from her home in Soweto and the battered body of Stompie Sepei had been found thereafter. Justice Michael S. Stegmann, who found her guilty of kidnapping and being an accessory to the assaults, ruled that uMama should spend six years in jail. She had appealed this sentence, and subsequently it had been reduced to a R15,000 fine and a suspended sentence. I remember, like it was yesterday, that I received a call from Chief Mditshwa (the then Transkei Consular General iin Johannesburg) who had been at court that day supporting uMama. He had frantically said that there had been a crisis, and that he had no idea where the money for the fine could be sourced from as the family could not afford that kind of money. I then called to the then Bank of Transkei and asked late Mr Merence Mbana to prepare for a transfer from my personal account and to pay the entire sum of money straight into the court’s bank account. Naturally, as limited as technology had been at the time, we had to fax the proof of payment. There had been many within the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM) who chose to distance themselves from her and her hopeless situation. It was convenient to ignore her in her time of need. The reason for this short history lesson is that people might not know what the implications would have been if she could not pay the R15,000 fine. She would not have been able to play the critical role she had in the transition of an apartheid South Africa, to the new South Africa. Judging by the revelations of the operators of the StratCom, I am convinced that I had made the right decision to bail her out. Of course, we are happy that she is getting the twenty-one-gun salute, but the hypocrisy of the MDM leadership leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. Many of our liberation heroes spent their most productive years in jail and had been forced to use every trick in the book to continue with the struggle whilst behind bars. We are thankful for those stalwarts’ personal sacrifices in the name of a marginalised and downtrodden people. Ulale kakuhle Mama. Issued by: Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP UDM President
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04 Apr, 2018
UDM Youth Vanguard pays its respects to a woman of note: uMama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
The United Democratic Movement Youth Vanguard (UDM Youth Vanguard) grieves the passing away of the woman of who breast-fed the nation; hence we call her “The Mother of the Nation”. The UDM Youth Vanguard pays its respects to The Mother of the Nation who dedicated her entire life to the struggle. We join fellow South Africans in lauding a woman who distinguished herself as an unrelenting campaigner for the human rights of the oppressed masses of the past. In those years, non-white women where certainly the utmost marginalised and vulnerable members of society: she did the women of this country proud. Mama Winnie should therefore be admired by young South Africans as an example of what it means to have tenacity and to work hard to achieve one’s goals (even such a lofty goal as fighting for the liberation of an entire people). Mama Winnie, you set an example during each phase of your life, that should teach young people (especially young women and girls) what it means to be a strong and dedicated. Mama, the spirit you displayed must remain an inspiration to the young to continue with the struggle to transform South Africa into a Winning Nation. The UDM Youth Vanguard wishes that the Madikizela-Mandela families must mourn the passing away of uMama without tears; only because she had worked tirelessly and had done her part to make this Country free of minority domination and social cruelty. May your soul find rest in right place in Paradise; which we believe is better than Eden. Rest in peace Mama wesizwe soMzantsi Afrika. Issued by: Mr Mbongi Majija Chairperson of the UDM Youth Vanguard National Task Team
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03 Apr, 2018
UDEMWO mourns the passing of the Mother of the Nation
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) joins the nation in mourning the passing of the phenomenal woman of our time. Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is one of the few women (if any) who is admired by most women across the political sphere. Mama lived with the poorest of the poor; she shared so many pains with those forgotten citizens of this country. UDEMWO salutes her for all the hard work and dedication she has displayed for all her life. She was such a humble and down to earth mother of all. Her strong and phenomenal character gave a real definition of a true Mbokodo. Many women around the country and the world were inspired by her spirit. UDEMWO chooses to continue with the legacy of strong and dedicated women for the betterment of this country. We will always remember the role she played during hard times of this country. When she selflessly dedicated her life during apartheid era. In spite of all the hardships she went through, she always wore that beautiful smile. She is without a doubt “The Mother of the Nation”. Rest in peace Mama.
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02 Apr, 2018
Lala ngoxolo Mama Winnie
As South Africa moves farther and farther away from the dreadful and dark years of apartheid, we are more frequently confronted with the passing of those who played critical roles in the struggle. Today, we say goodbye to a woman who will be remembered as a feisty and vocal freedom fighter who did not hesitate to speak her mind; she certainly stirred lively debate wherever she went. After the Rivonia Trial; she became Madiba’s public face during the 27 years of his imprisonment. She also sacrificed almost three decades of her life during which she and uTata should have been free to go about their daily lives as a normal family with human rights and civil liberties. But that was not this couple’s fate; they had a higher calling! She was herself never deterred from playing the role she had to; which saw her go to jail several times and she found herself harshly exiled in Brandfort. Often were her children ripped from her arms whilst the security forces found reasons to apprehend her. When one visits the cell in which she had been incarcerated at the Women’s Jail at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, a chill runs down one’s spine when one grasps what a black woman’s life was worth in those years and what they had to endure in that miserable cage. She sometimes made for a controversial figure and whether one agreed with her views or not, one must admire the fact that she never lacked the courage of her convictions. She called a spade a shovel; and then some. She was strong, passionate, articulate and charismatic. She did not shirk confrontation, but also had a sense of humour and a light-hearted side. Ulale kakuhle Mama; I will personally miss you, but, on behalf of the United Democratic Movement I want to pass our condolences to the entire family and the extended family of the Madikizelas and the Mandelas, as well as the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We also pay our respects to the African National Congress as her lifelong political home.
