Press Release – Commemorating the Legacy of Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela – 7 Years
On

Today marks seven years since the passing of one of South Africa’s greatest daughters, Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. A fearless revolutionary, a mother of the nation, and a symbol of unbreakable resistance, her legacy continues to ignite our struggle for justice, dignity, and equality. 

Before she became a political icon, Mama Winnie served her people as a social worker and nurse. It was through this work, in hospitals and on the ground, that she witnessed firsthand the brutality of apartheid and the scars it left behind — on bodies, on families, on entire communities. It was this proximity to suffering that shaped her unwavering fight for liberation. 

In the face of systemic violence and relentless oppression, Mama Winnie stood tall, unyielding and unafraid. She did not flinch when apartheid tried to silence her, nor did she retreat when her name was dragged through the mud by those threatened by her power. She was the flame that could not be extinguished, the voice of the people when all others fell silent. 

As the People’s Movement for Change (PMC), we draw deep inspiration from her courage. Her life is a testament to the truth that liberation is not given, it is fought for. Her commitment to the poorest and most marginalised, especially women and children, continues to shape our vision of a just and equitable South Africa. 

Let us remember that Mama Winnie was not just a witness to history, she shaped it. From the dusty streets of Bizana to the heartbeat of resistance in Soweto, her presence stirred hope.

She believed in the power of the people, and her revolutionary spirit demands that we continue the work she began — the work of dismantling economic injustice, empowering our communities, and restoring power to the people. 

We honour her not with statues or speeches alone, but through our relentless pursuit of a society where no child goes hungry, no woman suffers in silence, and no family is left behind. In Soweto, Elsies River, Umlazi, Mitchells Plain and beyond, Mama Winnie lives on in every act of resistance, every movement toward dignity, and every cry for freedom. 

Rest in power, Mama. Your fight is our fight. Your spirit marches with us.

Grant Harmse
Head of Communications
People’s Movement for Change
0659784075
communications@pmc.org.za

Family. Community. Opportunity. 

Issued by the People’s Movement for Change (PMC)