South Africa declares 10 days of mourning for Madikizela-Mandela

Crowds have been gathering outside Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's home following the veteran political campaigner's death on Monday.

People pay their respects to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Durban, South Africa, April 2, 2018.
Reuters

People pay their respects to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Durban, South Africa, April 2, 2018.

South Africa on Tuesday declared 10 days of national mourning for Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the anti-apartheid activist and ex-wife of Nelson Mandela who died after a long illness.

Reuters

People pay their respects to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela with messages of condolence and flowers in Durban, South Africa, April 3, 2018.

A memorial service for Madikizela-Mandela will be held on April 11 at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Johannesburg's Soweto area, and a "special official" funeral with military honours will take place at Orlando Stadium in Soweto three days later, the office of President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

Reuters

Winnie Madikizela Mandela (C), ex-wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela, smiles as she arrives for the 54th National Conference of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), Johannesburg, South Africa, December 16, 2017.

The Regina Mundi church was a refuge for anti-apartheid activists during white minority rule.

Reuters

People pay their respects outside the home of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in Soweto, South Africa, April 2, 2018.

Madikizela-Mandela's house in Soweto has been visited by mourners since she died on Monday at age 81.

Women's league members from South Africa's ruling party sang outside the home on Tuesday and Julius Malema, an opposition leader, spoke to a crowd of supporters, saying South Africans must "bid farewell to a giant."

Reuters

Members of the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) pay their respects at the home of the late Winnie Mandela in Soweto, South Africa, April 3, 2018.

The South African flag will fly at half-mast at official locations and at South African diplomatic missions abroad during the mourning period, which will end on April 14, the day of Mandela's funeral, Ramaphosa's office said.

Reuters

Members of the African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) pay their respects at the home of the late Winnie Mandela in Soweto, South Africa, April 3, 2018.

Madikizela-Mandela was persecuted by the apartheid government, and venerated by many South Africans, for her activism against white minority rule. She was a veteran political campaigner, and fought relentlessly for an end to apartheid.

Her reputation was sullied by scandals in her later years, including a 1991 conviction for kidnapping and assault.

Read her obituary here.

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