ANC to honour Winnie’s legacy over 10 days

JOHANNESBURG. – The ANC has a ten-day programme to honour the legacy of one of its most famous stalwarts – Winnie Madikizela-Mandela – who died on Monday.

“The indelible mark she has left through years of a relentless commitment to equity, freedom and justice compels us to rise to the occasion and ensure that we celebrate her life and preserve the values she espoused as embodied in the tradition of the congress movement,” ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule said on Wednesday introducing the programme to the media.

According to the presidency, Madikizela-Mandela was accorded a “Special Official Funeral Category 1”. State funerals are for heads of State and Govern- ment.

“A Special Official Funeral Category 1 entails elements of military ceremonial honours and is declared, in line with the presidency’s state, official and provincial official funeral policy, for persons of extraordinary credentials specifically designated by the President of the Republic of South Africa,” said Minister in the Presidency Dr Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma.

Madikizela-Mandela was a recipient of the Order of Luthuli in silver for her “excellent contribution to the fight for the liberation of the people of South Africa”.

“Mama Winnie touched the lives of many people in our country and beyond by the tenacity she displayed during the fight for freedom and the subsequent suffering she endured as a result,” Minister Dlamini-Zuma said.

Wednesday was the first day of the programme, and the day’s activities included a visit to the family by a delegation of the ANC consisting of its deputy president David Mabuza, treasurer-general Paul Mashatile, national chairperson Gwede Mantashe and the officials of the ANC Youth League, African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, a visit by the SACP central executive committee and a prayer service by the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL).

Yesterday, the entire ANC national executive committee was to visit the family home in Soweto. It would also mark the opening of the books of condolences, which can be signed by members of the public. These books will be available at each of the ANC’s 53 regional offices.

Today, a day that has also been dedicated to the memory of Solomon Mahlangu, there will be a visit to the slain struggle hero’s gravesite and a luncheon with his family. A delegation from the ANC Veterans’ League will visit the Madikizela-Mandela home and in the evening there will be an event honouring Madikizela-Mandela at Newtown’s Music Factory (formerly Bassline).

Tomorrow will be a day of service in Madikizela-Mandela’s name, where ANC volunteers will help at a hospice in Soweto.

On Sunday ANC leaders will attend church services across the country.

On Monday a tribute wall will be unveiled at Luthuli House and there will be two main ANC memorial services, one in the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg and another in Bizana, Madikizela-Mandela’s birthplace. There will also be memorial services in the other prov- inces.

Tuesday’s activities will coincide with the yearly memorial of former SACP leader and chief of staff of uMkhonto weSizwe Chris Hani, who was murdered on April 10, 1993. Magashule said this would be fitting.

“Comrade Winnie was very close to comrade Chris,” he said.

There will also be a visit to Hani’s family by former ANC presidents.

Next Wednesday there will be a memorial service at the Regina Mundi Church in Soweto, led by the government.

On Thursday the ANCWL will lead a mass prayer with the Methodist Church’s Women’s Manyano in Soweto.

Next Friday there will be a memorial service at the University of Pretoria and an ANC night vigil at Orlando Rugby Stadium.

Madikizela-Mandela will be laid to rest at Fourways Memorial Park, north of Sandton, next Saturday.

Meanwhile, the government was in discussion with Madikizela-Mandela’s family to have her memorial service moved from Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto to the Orlando Stadium.

“The change was made after the consideration of the size of the venue and the expected people to attend the memorial service,” Minister Dlamini-Zuma told the media at the Inter-Ministerial Committee briefing at Orlando Stadium yesterday. – News24