Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and the Committee of 81
“The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting”
― Milan Kundera, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting
I met Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in 1980 when she summoned leaders of the Committee of 81 to meet with her. At the time Winnie was both “banished and banned” to Brandfort and she had to get special permission to visit Nelson on Robben Island. It was on one of her visits to Cape Town that Winnie took the opportunity to send for us.
“Winnie Mandela wants to urgently meet the Committee of 81 leaders and she has limited time. You must come right now!” So, student leaders from ID Mkhize, Fezeka and Bridgetown High Schools were whisked away to see Winnie at a house in Elsies River. I was surprised to learn that whenever Winnie visited Nelson she stayed on the Cape Flats - with an Indian couple who were both medical doctors.
The second Winnie walked into the room, the room felt so small. She was very imposing; imperial and haughty. I was immediately struck by her beauty and instantly in awe of her. Winnie had gravitas; she was every inch the icon I had imagined her to be.