• Tweet

THUDEROUS MOOD: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

UNSATISFACTORY: Nelson Mandela receives the ANC centenary flame.

RELATED ARTICLES

• Country's democracy not a miracle - Zuma
• 'Do something positive on Madiba's birthday'
• Madiba in new fashion label
• Mandela daughter named an ambassador
• Race to honour Mandela, the king of Marathons
• Raffle scam uses Mandela

In a letter to ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu, a livid Madikizela-Mandela said the family was "still grappling with the most shabby treatment throughout the years".

The letter, which Sowetan has seen, was in response to a request by Mthembu's office for a meeting on July 5 to discuss, among others, her travel arrangements to attend the Mandela lecture delivered by President Jacob Zuma in Thohoyandou, Limpopo.

The lecture was part of a series in honour of past ANC leaders as part of the the party's 100th anniversary celebrations.

Madikizela-Mandela snubbed the invitation.

She also rejected the request for a meeting citing a number of incidents which pointed to a frosty relationship between the Mandela family - of which she is part - and the ANC.

But Ndileka Mandela, the granddaughter of Madiba from his first marriage, delivered a message from Mandela during the lecture.

Madikizela-Mandela suggested in the letter that the ANC had not always treated the family of democratic South Africa's founding president with the requisite respect.

During the party's birthday rally in Mangaung in January, where dignitaries from all over the continent were invited, the Mandela family "did not even have a table and the situation was saved by (business woman) Bridgitte Radebe". Radebe is the wife of Justice Minister Jeff Radebe.

Madikizela-Mandela complained that she had been sidelined during the preparations of the centenary celebrations and reduced to "a spectator throughout".

"I was not deployed anywhere. I am the one person who has first (hand) information about the leaders you are celebrating. I would have given you the song that was composed for that day," she wrote.

She said in the past the ANC never had any interest in celebrating Mandela's birthday except to "gate-crush on family's arrangements".

She also criticised the manner in which the ANC, through chairperson Baleka Mbete, brought the centenary flame to Mandela in his village of Qunu in Eastern Cape in May.

"The manner in which the flame was brought to Tata (Mandela) left much to be desired. There was no parade of the soldiers as there was to me. It was clear that it was done to someone's ego not to the family," the letter reads.

Madikizela-Mandela said she was aware that Gauteng ANC leaders had brought the flame to her house in Soweto last month under protest and no one from ANC national headquarters accompanied them.

"It is clear a certain faction fought for it to be brought to me. I am aware that (Arts) Minister Paul Mashatile and comrade David Makhura fought for it to be brought to me."

Mashatile is the chairman of the ANC in Gauteng while Makhura is the provincil secretary.

She said although she had been in and out of hospital since January 25, she had not received "even one phone call from Luthuli House".

Instead Mthembu had given an interview "saying I was recuperating from an ankle operation when you did not even care what kind of an operation I had. I never had an ankle operation, I had a knee operation."

"No one has cared to establish how we are doing as a family. It is quite clear that we do not matter at all.

"We only do when we have to be used for some agenda."

Mandela and Madikizela-Mandela were divorced in 1996 but she has remained central in family matters.

ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said the ANC would not comment on Madikizela-Mandela's assertions.

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Wed Jun 19 19:13:26 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 11, 2012

Tsar-Rasputin

I agree Mama, not ANC per say, but Shawara
Report Abuse

Jul 11, 2012

sakhomba

when different forces pull in different directions there is one result....and that is- the centre can not hold.
Report Abuse

Jul 11, 2012

MORNACH!ES015

Blame Zooomerrrr Mmarena....That Showerhead is a nonsense nxa !!!!!
Report Abuse

Jul 11, 2012

Slender08

He he he somebody is bitter. Can someone enlighten me why are Winnie's daughter's using tata's surname? Aren't they married? rolling eyes!!!!!!
Report Abuse

Jul 11, 2012

Kgaoza606

What a circus that's taking place in the party, Juju, Zuma and now Winnie is joining in with these accusations that are just emerging out of nowhere...
Really wish some leaders were as hands on and decisive as Dr/Minister Aaron Motsoaledi...
Report Abuse

Jul 11, 2012

DeCock01

Thank God!! Finally!! Zuma has been using Mandela since his run-in with Thabo....Zuma is a piece of ishhh....the Mandela lecture is a typical example....Zuma can go to hell...
Report Abuse

Jul 11, 2012

Bra_NeatDick

mama Winnie, couldn't you just use Madikizela as your surname and stop clinging into the Mandela surname as well since you are a divorcee yourself.

Mandela is your ex-husband's surname, isn't it. who's using who now??
you don't have a problem when the ANC acts as if the whole country is owned by one family, you've got away with a lot through the very same surname.
Report Abuse

Jul 11, 2012

MsKinkyakaKamaSutra

Instead Mthembu had given an interview "saying I was recuperating from an ankle operation when you did not even care what kind of an operation I had. I never had an ankle operation, I had a knee operation."
************************************************************************************************888
This is a masterpiece...............

Report Abuse

Jul 11, 2012

16-12-1838

What a hypocrite! She of all people has no right to criticise, even if it is the honest truth in this case. She has been living off that name forever and has done nothing but abuse the privilege.
Report Abuse

Jul 11, 2012

Mellow

She was quoted saying "We [the Mandela family] only matter when we have to be used for some agenda"
........................................................................................................................
Ooohhh Winnie the pooh last time I checked Mama Graca Machel was the w!fe and like you and Madiba's grandkids arent using this poor old man julle is net die selde
Report Abuse

Read all 181 comments