Comrade Winnie Madikizela-Mandela on the 20th Anniversary of Mandela's release

Let us work to achieve Madiba's ideal of a democratic and free society in which all people live together in harmony and equal opportunity

It is not easy for me to bring myself to think back to the time and the man that I lived and worked side by side with, who was then taken from my side and incarcerated for 27 years. But in order to describe the release we are celebrating today, I need to go back briefly to the beginning.

The beginning for me is not the 11th February 1990, but 47 years ago when he was imprisoned for the last time or even earlier, when our relationship began. From that time he would be at home on the rare occasion so when he returned, either from prison or from any underground activity, it was always a celebration for the family. But each return was simply another departure. This period of bliss lasted less than 2 years of our entire married life, from 1958-1960, which saw the imposition of the state of emergency of 5 months, from then on, life was never the same.

When we met, he was a treason trial prisoner. The day that trial ended in 1961, he came home with the then NEC members led by Joe Modise who packed a few clothes for him and said he will be back after a week-that week was to last for 27 years. From that day we lost contact. He was banned and not allowed to address gatherings. The same night he addressed an ANC Convention in Pietermaritzburg that was the day he disappeared in the midst of security branch that had surrounded the hall to arrest him. Only Uncle Walter Sisulu knew how they smuggled him out of that hall.

Mandela before prison

47 years ago a man of many traits was taken from his family and we and those who were involved with his struggle knew him in many different guises:

• First and foremost, he was of African royal Stock and his entire bearing was regal, yet he had a common touch and discriminated against no one.
• He was a resolute politician of note within the African National Congress, the foremost organization in the movement for liberation in South Africa. He was a Leader, loved and recognised by Africans at home and across the continent as well as by a small handful of white compatriots and freedom loving people across the globe.
• He was a Freedom fighter and the Commander- in -Chief of Umkhonto Wesizwe, the armed wing of the ANC.
• He was an astute Lawyer, who together with his friends and Comrade Oliver Reginald Tambo had already taken up the cause of the underdog in South Africa. A cause which they had started to champion when they met and became friends at the University and went on to become leaders of the Youth League of the ANC and later the ANC itself. It was O R Tambo who in 1980 started the Free Mandela Campaign. It was to be this comrade, this man, lawyer, politician, diplomat and supreme lobbyist for the freedom of all South Africans that Madiba would ultimately owe the biggest debt of gratitude for his release- a mantle that was to be carried by Aubrey Mokoena of the Release Mandela Campaign, The Release Mandela Committee Bishop Manas Buthelezi, and Nkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi and the international community, the world over.
• He was, however, also an activist whose exploits had begun to capture the imagination of many.
• When he was not with his organization and his people, he was a family man.

As a person he was loving, fond of children, a people's person and a very hard worker. His fearlessness, his unassailable morality, his unwavering commitment to the struggle for total freedom and his insistence on marching to his own beat were the hallmarks of his character. Yet he also had the ability to take on adversaries and win them over and to take complex issues and bring them back down to earth. He was no angel too, like most human beings he too never claimed to be a saint.

I am told he did not change even in prison, but he honed his leadership and communication skills.

Before the 11th February 1990

This was perhaps the most trying time for his entire leadership in Prison. The transfer from Robben Island to Pollsmor Prison was very traumatic for all of us, the prisoners and the families. I was in banishment in Brandfort at the time and under house arrest. I knew then that his jailers had a plan as no reason was given to us for the transfer.

It was in Pollsmor that I started noticing that he did not look well. Although we had a contact visit, all he was able to tell me was that he was fortunately with Cde Karthrada in his cell, at least he had company. But he soon started coughing badly, he told me his cell was damp and that on rainy days it was flooded with about 2 inches of water. I phoned Hellen Suzman who came to visit me in Brandfort. She was the only voice to raise the alarm for me in the apartheid Parliament. That was when he contracted the T.B and underwent a massive operation as the left lung was completely submerged in fluid.

Both Princesses Zenani , Zindzi and myself were at his side when he was wheeled to theatre. The significance of that trip to Cape Town marked the turning point of South Africa's political landscape. I met Minister Kobie Coetzee on the plane to Cape Town. I was meeting him for the second time. I was once at the Durban Airport with my friend Professor Fatima Meer when she pointed to a short white man taking his luggage from the boot of his car. She said that is the apartheid Minister of Justice.

I went over to him and asked him when would he release our loved ones from prison, his stern response was "When you stop your terrorist activities Mrs Mandela, we know all about your underground terrorism, they must blame you not us, we long told him to renounce violence and he won't! We know you influenced him not to!"

On the plane Mr Coetzee asked me to come and sit next to him. We continued our discussion of the Durban Airport. He was very polite on that occasion. He asked me what I thought the Nationalist Party should do as the country was sliding into completely uncontrolled violence. My response was, but you know Sir that you have to open a dialogue between our leaders and yourselves. Then he said but you know you do not have leaders. I said that's true, you are holding them in the Pietermaritzburg Treason trial and in Pollsmor Prison. I warned him that he dared not insult us with his homeland puppets because the masses will revolt and I would lead them.

On our second day in Cape Town, four large security branch men came to our hotel with a message from Mr Coetzee. He ordered me to visit him in his residence. I was terrified that my people would see me in the security branch car and I would be labeled an informer. I used our secret line and phoned Cde O.R Tambo in Lusaka. He said I should go to see him.

Mr Coetzee was all by himself. I sat in the middle of the lounge, he moved me to a more "comfortable position", I knew he was recording me but I was also strapped and recording him. Again I repeated that it was the same leadership including the Lusaka Leadership he needed to consult with. He asked me to persuade Tata Madiba to give them a chance and that he would report our discussion to their Cabinet, but to Mr P.W Botha first.

Through our underground communication channels I conveyed this to Cde O. R Tambo and sent him the tape of my recording of Kobie Coetzee. On many occasions thereafter I would go to Pollsmor and wait for hours. Tata would be out for secret talks with Coetzee. That is how the talks began between the Nationalist Government and the ANC in Lusaka. On all occasions I conveyed further discussions to O. R Tambo. That is why Madiba was released a year later after all the others, he literally overseered the release of all the others.

11th February 1990

At 4:14pm that Sunday afternoon in 1990 many South Africans and others across the continent and the globe got to see him for the first time and many wondered if they could trust this man to lead this country, into a new era, into peace, into a non-racial democracy. He and his organisation, the ANC, had been labelled as bloodthirsty terrorists, hell-bent on killing all whites by a country that itself had become known as the skunk of the world.

Our own struggles to end Apartheid outside of prison had reached a fever pitch and some of our tactics were criticized by those who had the privilege of commenting from their armchairs and subsequently peacetime heroes and International spokespersons of the masses. So it was not surprising that while many celebrated, there were many who feared his release.

As we walked out of Prison, side by side again, I can still picture the warm welcome when he raised his fist in the Amandla Salute to all of you, who through your mass struggles, had led to his release.

When he emerged he was still every bit the man I described earlier, but something had changed. The world had begun to recognize these qualities. He was now a legend and becoming an icon of tolerance and humanity, a symbol of freedom who was soon to prove that he is the greatest statesman that Africa and indeed the world has produced in this century.

Before this could happen though, he had to lead a process to negotiate the transfer of political power in this country, to convince our militant organization and its enemies that freedom could be achieved and apartheid toppled without resorting to further bloodshed or descending into a civil war.

This was not easy, but peace has been achieved and political democracy is firmly entrenched. We salute him and the entire leadership that gave up their lives for us to be free. But I salute more the 1976 children's uprising, the Tsietsi Mashinins, the Barney Malokoanes of the day and all those who did not make it back home from the Camps and also the Steve Bikos, the Sobukwes, the list is endless!

The essence of Mandela - democracy, freedom and harmony

Democracy has been achieved if you limit its description to political democracy, so has freedom and peace. We have a non-racial, multi-party democracy, an independent judiciary and one of the best constitutions in the world. But we need to ask whether the social transformation that would allow for all members of our societies to benefit from this has really happened. Do we have equal opportunity? Do the poor enjoy this democracy, freedom and harmony in equal measure to the rich?

You cannot talk about equal opportunity without defining the areas of opportunity. Is there equality in access to food, shelter, electricity, water, education, wealth shelter and enterprise? Can we all afford the same healthcare? Do we have similar access to culture and leisure? What of safety and security and so many other opportunities that define our equality of life? Are rural areas equal to cities? Does a Black child have the same access to opportunities as a white child? Are black and white really equal? Not Yet! Is the budget democratic?

To become equal those who have little or nothing, and millions of our people have nothing, they need to be given more. They need to be given a larger share of our resources. They need to be given hope. And very importantly they need to have confidence in those they have entrusted with political power to prioritise them and their needs.

I am raising these issues because they are our reality and not as narrow populists. A populist is someone who attempts to exploit the condition of his fellow citizens who are not as fortunate or intelligent in order to hold on to power and privilege. I seek no power or privilege.

An opportunist is someone who plays on the fears and prejudice of the majority to deflect attention from his or her shortcomings and to divert resources to oneself and to one's family. I consider this to be a crime. Especially where resources are scarce and huge proportion is diverted to sustain lavish lifestyles and what is now called BLING!

But if these issues I have raised are populist then I am one. If fighting for freedom and equal opportunity that Madiba and all spoke about is opportunistic then so be it. Since 1964 when Madiba spoke his famous words the struggle for me has been about DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM, HARMONY AND EQUAL ORPORTUNITY

Legacy of Madiba

Nelson Mandela and his institutions have focused on addressing many of the shortcomings I raised above in a way only someone of his immense stature could do. Much of what they do, however, cannot be done by any government alone. Madiba has mastered the best local and global resources to assist in this effort. This is a lasting tribute to his legacy.

But it would be a mistake to consider only one part of Nelson Mandela as his legacy-his philanthropy. He is a symbol of reconciliation and peace. But he is also a potent symbol of Struggle over oppression. He has become an inspiration to all people who suffer oppression. He has demonstrated that one can wage a just war to achieve freedom and people's power.

It is these qualities that he developed before and during his years in prison-a refusal to give up on his principles and his bravery, matched by a unique understanding and forgiveness of his opponents-that have guided his actions and made him the first Black President of South Africa and a unique figure on the world stage who commands tremendous moral authority and is the best symbol of excellence that Africa has produced.

What can we draw from this legacy? What do we learn? Is it that respect for human dignity and personal courage that has given Madiba his authority and respect? It is these qualities that make people trust and believe him and want to follow him. I doubt if there is anyone who will have that exact mix of charisma, intelligence and common touch as Madiba has.

But that on its own is not enough. To be good leaders we have to draw on his gift of understanding, his common sense, his good judgment, his behaviour and his good timing. It is not enough for us to celebrate and quote him-we must walk in his shoes and complete the long walk he has started.

Tribute

The greatest tribute we can pay to him is to understand his cause, to emulate his qualities and to work, with more urgency and practically, for the ultimate fulfilment of his vision. The vision he was prepared to die for, but the vision he is alive to bear witness to - a South Africa in which there is true democracy, tangible freedom, real peace, and harmony and genuine equality- needs to become a cause that we make our own.

Our lives have truly been enriched by him. It has been a unique and unparalleled privilege for South Africa's to have a man who has remained true to his royal heritage, true to his militant forebears, true to his Comrades and friends, true to his Organisation, true to his family, true to his culture and African roots and true to You all his beloved People!

My contribution to the celebration of this giant is to share with you my brief thoughts on what I believe to be the essence of Madiba (to me he is Madiba, he is Tata, he is a few other names, some unmentionable to me and his children, like all parents!) The Queen can call him Nelson that is fine. But I get concerned when I hear everyone refer to him like the-children, strangers etc. I can suggest Ah Dalibhunga!! Tata Mandela Baba Madiba, President Nelson Mandela and many other ways that those who are not his age or friends should address him. He must be addressed in a manner that befit and honour him in an appropriately.

After over 60years of struggle and political activity Madiba has come to embody the essence of freedom, the essence of democracy, the essence, or what should be the essence of the African National Congress. He has come to affirm the abiding vision of the ANC itself-and it was this vision (and not any individual) that he once declares his willingness to die!

We do not need to look any further for the words that describe the vision than the statement he made in the dock before he knew whether he and his fellow trialists would receive the death sentence. It is referred to as the "I am prepared to die" speech and that is fitting. But fortunately for us he was describing that which "he hoped to live for!" as well, and live he did. He is still very much alive! So what was this ideal and has it been achieved?

We all remember that he said:

"I have cherished the ideal of a DEMOCRATIC and FREE society in which all people live together in HARMONY and EQUAL OPPORTUNITY."

I wish to repeat A Democratic and Free Society in which all people live together in Harmony and Equal Opportunity! Has this ideal been achieved? Are our actions today likely to bring the realisation of these ideals any closer?

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is the former wife of President Nelson Mandela, an ANC NEC member and ANC Member of Parliament. This article first appeared in ANC Today, the weekly online newsletter of the African National Congress

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