Winnie Madikizela-Mandela , more known under the name of Winnie Mandela is a South-African political woman , member of ANC, born the September 26th 1936. She was the second wife of Nelson Mandela, old President of South Africa (today remarié with Graca Machel, widow of the former president of the Mozambique).

From its true name Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe Madikizela , Winnie Mandela was born in the village from Bizana, in the area of Pondoland (is the Cape Province, future Cape-Eastern Transkei then ).

She worked initially in the administration of the Bantoustan of Transkei then is established with Johannesburg in the Transvaal.

She passes a diploma for the occupation of welfare worker to the school Jan Hofmeyer de Johannesburg, and several years later a license of international relations of the University of the Witwatersrand will obtain.

It meets Nelson Mandela, leader of the ANC, became his second wife and emerges quickly like an icon of the fight anti Apartheid during the long years of prison of her husband (August 1962 - February 1990).

It was assigned with residence in the town of Brandfort (free State of Orange) and was authorized with renconter his/her husband only twice a year, every 6 months, with the prison of Robben Island, close to the Cape. Called the mother of the nation, the speech of Winnie Mandela evolves to radicalism. Its reputation is damaged when she endorses the slogan " a Boer, a balle" but especially when, in a speech the April 13rd 1985 with Munsieville, it justifies the torment of the tire ignited around the neck of the " traitres" blacks. " With our boxes of matches and our tires ignited, we will release this pays".

Its reputation is even tarnished when its bodyguard and former lover, Jerry Richardson, show it to have ordered to him to kill young a 14 year old activist of the ANC, Stompie Seipei Moketsi, in January 1989, that she shows espionage with the profit of the white government.

In 1990, it is with the arm of her finally free husband that it seems to regain of its legimity but this one rather quickly takes its distances with his wife. In 1991, it still supports it when South-African justice condemns it for kidnapping and of complicity in the murder of Moketski. Its six years of prison sentence will be reduced to a fine in call.

During the transitional period towards a multiracial democracy, its speech is definitely less reconciling that of her husband towards the white minority.

In April 1992, Nelson Mandela announces its separation with his wife and puts an end to her 38 years of marriage. The divorce is marked in March 1996.

Winnie Mandela takes the nickname of Madikizela-Mandela then.

Of 1993 with 1997, it chairs the league of the women of the ANC.

In May 1994, It takes share with the first government post-apartheid of her husband as a vice-minister of arts, the culture, science and technologies. It must resign 11 months later following accusations of corruption.

It remains popular near the radical base of the ANC, that which still dreams at the great evening.

In December 1997, it gives up its candidature for the vice-presidency of the ANC after new revelations on its implication in the murder of Stompie Seipei Moketsi before the Vérité commission and Réconcialition of the archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Complex woman, in spite of her radical speech against the white, it shows a real sadness at the time of the assassination of Marike de Klerk, the wife of the last white president Frederik de Klerk, and which it described as large friend.

The April 24th 2003, it is recognized guilty by the South-African justice of 43 charges of fraud, of 25 charges of flights whereas his/her brother, Addy Moolman, are him also condemned. She is condemned to 4 years of prison.