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Twitter mourns for anti-apartheid activist Winnie Mandela

Winnie Mandela
By Shelia Poole
April 2, 2018

Condolences poured in on Twitter for anti-apartheid activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who died at 81.

Mandela, who was a controversial figure, was once married to former South African President Nelson Mandela. Most of their marriage occurred when Mandela was imprisoned on Robben Island.

Related: Welcome home: Mandela honored on visit to Atlanta

Related: Atlanta mourns Nelson Mandela

Winnie Mandela was a force to be reckoned with in her own right.  She was known as “Mother of the Nation” or  simply “Mama.” While she could be polarizing, Mandela remained beloved by many.

A spokesman said Mandela, a trained social worker, had been ill for a while and died in Johannesburg surrounded by family and loved ones.

About the Author

Shelia has worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more than 30 years. Previously, she worked at The Lexington Herald-Leader and The Louisville Defender. Her beat is a bit of a mixed bag that includes religion and spirituality, culture and trends, race and aging. She earned degrees from Spelman College and Northwestern University.

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