South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to the late Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, urging South Africans to take inspiration from her struggles.
The liberation icon died peacefully in Johannesburg on Monday, aged 81.
Winnie became an icon in the fight against white minority rule in South Africa, and remains a revered figure for her courage.
“Despite the hardship she faced she never doubted that the struggle for freedom and democracy would triumph and succeed,” Ramaphosa said of the former wife to Nelson Mandela.
“She remained throughout her life a tireless advocate for the dispossessed and the marginalised – she was a voice for the voiceless,” he added.
Ramaphosa urged South Africans to take inspiration from Mandela’s life of activism and her struggles in order to better the society.
“In the coming days, as we mourn the passing of this heroine, of our struggle, let us reflect on her rich, remarkable and meaningful life. Let us draw inspiration from the struggles that she fought and the dream of a better society to which she dedicated her entire life,” he said.
The Mandela family is yet to announce burial plans for the late icon.
