First Ladies Duniani: Nelson Mandela

Monday, 23 September 2013

Winnie Madikizela Mandela

Winnie Madikizela - Mandela is a South African politician who has held several government positions and headed the African National Congress Women's League. She was born Nomzamo Winfreda Zanyiwe Madikizela on 26 September 1936 in the village of eMbongweni, Bizana, Pondoland (now Eastern Cape Province).

Winnie Mandela married Nelson Mandela, former South African president and anti-apartheid revolutionary politician in 1958. The couple separated in 1992 and their divorce was finalised on 19 March 1996.

Despite restrictions on education of blacks during apartheid, she earned a degree in social work from the Jan Hofmeyer School in Johannesburg, and several years later earned a Bachelor's degree in international relations from the University of Witwatersrand.

Winnie and Nelson Mandela have two daughters, Zenani who was born in 1958 and Zindzi born in 1960.

Winnie Madikizela - Mandela emerged as a leading opponent of the white minority rule government during the later years of her husband's imprisonment (August 1963 - February 1990). For many of those years she was exiled to the town of Brandfort in the Orange Free State and confined to the area, except for the times she was allowed to visit her husband at the prison on Robben Island. Beginning in 1969 she spent eighteen months in solitary confinement at Pretoria Central prison.

Winnie Madikizela - Mandela

Winnie Madikizela - Mandela (right) and her daughter Zenani (left)

Winnie Madikizela - Mandela (center) and her daughter zindzi Mandela (left)

Winnie Madikizela - Mandela (right) and her daughter zindzi Mandela (left)

Winnie Madikizela - Mandela (center) and her daughter zindzi Mandela (left)

From left to right: Zenani Mandela, Winnie Mandela, Zoleka Mandela (Winnie Madikizela - Mandela's granddaughter) and Cassey Moyo

Winnie Madikizela Mandela and her ex-husband Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela - Mandela on their wedding day

Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela - Mandela and one of their daughters

Winnie Mandela (center) and her daughters Zenani (left) and Zindzi (right) 1975.

Winnie Madikizela Mandela's Interviews and Speeches

Friday, 20 September 2013

Graca Machel

Graca Machel, born Graca Simbine, is the third wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela and the widow of Mozambican President Samora Machel. She is a politician, humanitarian and an international advocate for women's and children rights. She is also an international advocate for women's and children's rights and in 1997 was made a British dame for her humanitarian work.

Graca Machel was born on 17th October, 1945 in rural Incadine, Gaza Province, Mozambique. She attended Methodist schools and later studied German at the University of Lisbon in Portugal with a scholarship. Graca Machel also speaks French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and English, as well as her native Tsonga.

Graca is the only woman in history to have been First Lady of two different countries, serving as the First Lady of Mozambique from 1975 to 1986 and the First Lady of South Africa from 1998 to 1999.

Graca married her first husband Samora Machel in 1975. Samora Machel died in a plane crash over South Africa in 1986, the couple had two children, Josina Machel (daughter) and Malenga Machel (son).

She married her second husband, South African President Nelson Mandela on 18th July, 1998 on his 80th birthday. Mandela and Graca do not have any children, though Mandela has children from her previous marriages and Graca has two children from her previous marriage with former president of Mozambique.

For her long standing humanitarian work, particularly on behalf of refugee children Graca received the 1995 Nansen Medal from the United Nations. She was also one of the two winners of the North - South prize in 1998.

Graca currently serves as the chair of the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA) Eminent Advisory Board.