Jacob Zuma on Madikizela-Mandela - 'There is a pain of losing a mother, comrade and leader'
4 April 2018
Former president Jacob Zuma says no one can erase the contributions made by struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in liberating South Africa.
Zuma was speaking to the media after he made a low-key visit to the struggle heroin's home in Soweto on Wednesday to pay his respects.
Zuma said he had traveled from his homestead in Nkandla to visit the family, after hearing the news of her passing on Monday. He said his entire family had been shocked when they heard the news, even reflecting that he did not know that she had fallen ill.
"One of our pillars has fallen. One of our leaders has departed. She was a leader recognised, not just by the ANC, but the country... I was shocked, because I was in the rural areas. We were sitting when the news came that our mother is no more."