News Alert: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela dies at 81. She was a prominent anti-apartheid activist and former wife of Nelson Mandela.

At the time of her death, long after her divorce from the country's first democratically elected president, Madikizela-Mandela was still called the Mother of the Nation. And in many ways, she epitomized the "new" South Africa far more than her idealized former husband. She was a political insider who often played the role of outsider. While other leaders moved to luxurious, previously all-white suburbs, Madikizela-Mandela stayed in Soweto, the black township southwest of Johannesburg.

Democracy Dies in Darkness     News Alert Mon, Apr 2, 2018, 10:21 AM     Winnie Madikizela-Mandela dies at 81. She was a prominent anti-apartheid activist and former wife of Nelson Mandela. At the time of her death, long after her divorce from the country's first democratically elected president, Madikizela-Mandela was still called the Mother of the Nation. And in many ways, she epitomized the "new" South Africa far more than her idealized former husband. She was a political insider who often played the role of outsider. While other leaders moved to luxurious, previously all-white suburbs, Madikizela-Mandela stayed in Soweto, the black township southwest of Johannesburg. Read more » Advertisement You received this email because you signed up for news alerts from The Washington Post. Manage my newsletters and alerts | Unsubscribe Privacy Policy | Help ©2018 The Washington Post, 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071