Winnie Mandela, political activist and former First Lady of South Africa, has passed away at the age of 81.
Born in 1936 in Transkei, South Africa, Winnie Mandela was a symbol of Anti-apartheid political activism. Winnie Mandela served as a member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress party and worked with the Women's League. her supporters called her "Mother of the Nation."
She married Nelson Mandela in 1958. They remain married until two years into his presidency in 1996. For over half of that time, Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, yet they remained together. After the divorce, Winnie kept her former husband's last name and remained a presence in his life, visiting him in the hospital up until the time of his death in 2013.
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Jennifer Hudson portrayed Winnie Mandela in the 2011 film Winnie Mandela, starring opposite Terrence Howard as Nelson Mandela.
Family spokesman Victor Dlamini said to the press:
"She died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of the hospital since the start of the year. She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones."
Winnie is survived by her two children, Zenani and Zindziwa.