Winnie Mandela Dies At Age 81

The ex-wife of the former South African president, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, a hero of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, but also one of its most controversial figures, has died aged 81.

The former South African First Lady died at a hospital in Johannesburg after a long illness, her personal assistant, Zodwa Zwane, said.

Seen as the “mother of the nation” by many who admired her steely leadership, firebrand rhetoric and courageous activism against a brutal racist regime, Madikizela-Mandela was also repeatedly accused of being linked to violence and corruption.

She was one of the few remaining representatives of the generation of activists who led the fight against apartheid.