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Winnie wins ubuntu award

HONOURED: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela celebrated a double in Soweto yesterday - being awarded the National Heritage Council Ubuntu Award and celebrating her 75th birthday. PHOTO:VELI NHLAPO
HONOURED: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela celebrated a double in Soweto yesterday - being awarded the National Heritage Council Ubuntu Award and celebrating her 75th birthday. PHOTO:VELI NHLAPO

WINNIE "The Mother of the Nation" Madikizela-Mandela is this year's recipient of the prestigious National Heritage Council (NHC) Ubuntu Award.

The good news was broken to an overwhelmed Madikizela-Mandela yesterday by NHC's chief executive SonSonwabile Mancotywa at a breakfast function held at the Mandela Museum House in Orlando West, Soweto.

This honour makes the ANC MP the first woman recipient.

She joins a prestigious list of top awardees, including former president Nelson Mandela, former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, former Cuban president Fidel Castro, as well as former United Nations secretary-general Boutros-Boutros Ghali.

The award is given to global individuals who have contributed selflessly for the benefit of humankind. The official award ceremony will take place at Gallagher Estate on Friday.

"I cannot describe the feeling. It is awesome to be the first woman to receive this award," she said.

"This is the greatest honour I have received so far, and the second greatest honour is the fact that the announcement has been made here among my people, the people I used to throw stones with right here."

Attended by the Mother of the Nation herself and well-wishers, mostly elderly women from Orlando West, the famous Vilakazi Street in Soweto resembled a mini-party as the celebratory women also congratulated a double for Winnie, who celebrated her 75th birthday yesterday.

Madikizela-Mandela was hugged by the excited women, some of them neighbours of the Mandelas since the 1960s, when the famous family lived at the house.

Entertainment was provided by guitarist and vocalist Eli Amor Ada, who composed a special song that he sang for Madikizela-Mandela, called Beautiful.

"I have known her since 1962 since I was their neighbour when they lived here (with former president Nelson Mandela).

"I feel great to have touched her and taken pictures with her," said Muriel Buthelezi of Orlando East.

Mancotya said the jury was unanimous in their choice of this year's recipient.

"In fact, what they said is that she should have received the award a long time ago," he said.

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