Online Reporter
Get ready for a deep dive into the life of one of history’s most polarising figures.
Netflix has officially released the trailer for “The Trials of Winnie Mandela,” a seven-part documentary series set to premiere on April 23.
Timed to the eighth anniversary of her passing, the series promises to look past the icon status to find the real woman behind the headlines, the good, the bad and the controversial.
A family affair
This isn’t your typical history lesson. The story is told through the eyes of Winnie’s granddaughters, Princess Zaziwe Manaway and Princess Swati Mandela-Dlamini. Together, they go on a journey to find the essence of the woman they called “Big Mommy”.
The series uses never-before-seen footage from Winnie’s later years, featuring the activist in her own words.
You’ll hear her reflect on everything from her childhood and her role as a mother to the brutal psychological warfare she endured under the apartheid regime.
No topic is off-limits
The streaming platform says this series is “not glossy”, promising an unflinching look at the scars on Winnie’s legacy where no topic is off-limits.
The documentary directly addresses the heavy scandals that have long shadowed her.
It explicitly tackles the controversies and scars of her legacy, including the kidnapping and murder allegations involving the Nelson Mandela Football Club and the deaths of Stompie Moeketsi and Siboniso Tshabalala.
By featuring heartbreaking reflections from their families alongside interviews with both her staunchest supporters and harshest detractors, including high-profile figures like advocate Thuli Madonsela, deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke and former President Kgalema Motlanthe, the filmmakers aim to provide a complete, raw picture of a life lived under relentless scrutiny.
Other interviews include anti-apartheid activist Dr Nakedi Mathews Phosa, political analyst and writer Sisonke Msimang, human rights lawyer Yasmin Sooka, visual artists Nkululeko Mahlangu and Loyiso Mkize, newspaper editor Mondli Makhanya, and Madikizela-Mandela’s longtime personal assistant Zodwa Zwane.
The series is a labour of love from the late, two-time Emmy-winning director Mandy Jacobson, who spent years developing the project before she passed away in 2024.
It is produced by Indelible Media and The African Oral History Archive, with Princess Swati serving as a producer. — IOL
dyton mupawaenda