BRANDFORT, Free State – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Leader Julius Malema has declared that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's unwavering spirit and dedication were instrumental in ensuring Nelson Mandela's survival during his 27 years of imprisonment. Malema made the powerful statement at the EFF's Freedom Day rally held in Brandfort, Free State, on Sunday, as South Africa commemorated 31 years since its first democratic election.
Addressing a sea of red-clad EFF supporters at the Majwemasweu sports facility, located across from Madikizela-Mandela's former home where she was banished under apartheid rule, Malema paid tribute to the late struggle icon. He emphasised her critical role in keeping Mandela's name and the liberation struggle alive during the darkest days of apartheid.
"If it were not for Winnie Mandela, the man Nelson Mandela might not have survived the 27 years of his imprisonment," Malema asserted. "She kept his name alive, she kept the struggle burning, she ensured that the world never forgot Robben Island."
Brandfort: A Site of Resistance
Malema chose Brandfort as the location for the Freedom Day rally to specifically honour Madikizela-Mandela, who was forcibly relocated to the area by the apartheid regime in 1969. Separated from her children and community and placed under constant surveillance, the regime hoped to break her spirit.
However, Malema explained, their plan backfired. "Comrades, Mama Winnie was forcibly relocated to this place called Brandfort by the Apartheid regime, separated from her children and community, and placed under constant surveillance. The regime hoped this isolation would break her," he said.
"Instead, Brandfort became a place of resistance. She used her home to educate, organise, and support the local community. She turned her punishment into power."
The Face of the Anti-Apartheid Struggle
Following Nelson Mandela's arrest in 1962, Madikizela-Mandela became the face of the anti-apartheid struggle, enduring immense personal hardship and persecution for her unwavering commitment to liberation. Malema highlighted her resilience, noting that she was held in solitary confinement for 491 days.
"It must be said without apology: if it were not for Mama Winnie, the name of Nelson Mandela might not have survived the 27 years of his imprisonment," Malema reiterated. "She kept his name alive. She kept the struggle burning. She ensured that the world never forgot Robben Island."
Criticism of the Post-Apartheid ANC
While honouring Madikizela-Mandela, Malema also used the rally to take a swipe at the post-apartheid African National Congress (ANC). He accused her comrades of betraying her after 1990 by embracing neoliberalism, negotiating compromises, and sidelining those who still carried the "flame of radical change."
"She opposed the direction of the ANC’s policies – its retreat from nationalisation, its betrayal of the Freedom Charter, its closeness to white capital, and its failure to deliver land and justice to the people," Malema stated.
"For this, she was isolated, vilified, and kept out of positions of power. She remained loyal to the people, but not to the betrayal of their dreams," the EFF leader added.
Malema also lamented the current state of affairs in South Africa, questioning the meaning of freedom in a country plagued by corruption, inequality, and disillusionment, where basic service delivery remains elusive for many.
"We claim we are free while our people live in sewage; where children are unemployed and parents find solace in substance abuse," he said, painting a stark picture of the challenges still facing the nation 31 years after its first democratic election.
