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First day of freedom

08 February : Winnie says Mandela’s release brought mixed feelings to family

A Talk Radio 702 interview with mother of the nation, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, revealed that the controversial politician had mixed feelings when she learnt her former husband was going to be released in 1990. Nelson Mandela had been imprisoned since 1964 and the South African police had delivered news of his forthcoming freedom to her and the Mandela family. At the time the family had been coming to terms with the death of Zinzi Mandela’s son’s father.

Madikizela-Mandela shared how the family were both excited and in deep mourning at the time of Madiba’s release. The icon of post-apartheid later went on to become South Africa’s President and respected worldwide leader and humanitarian.

“We knew the day would come because so many of our people had made sacrifices and many of our youth had lost their lives in the process,” said Madikizela-Mandela. “It was a fulfilment of a dream; it was a culmination of our struggle and to us as a family we were ecstatic. From that day we knew that the history of our country would never be the same.”

Source BuaNews
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