'The Trials of Winnie Mandela' Reexamines a Complex Legacy

A new Netflix documentary series, The Trials of Winnie Mandela, revisits the life and legacy of the anti-apartheid activist. Featuring interviews with her granddaughters, Princess Swati Dlamini-Mandela and Princess Zaziwe Mandela-Manaway, the series includes footage filmed before her death in 2018.

The documentary is currently available only in Africa.

A Life of Activism and Contradiction

Madikizela-Mandela was a prominent figure in the anti-apartheid movement but faced accusations of involvement in violence during the 1980s. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission ultimately found her "politically and morally accountable" for crimes committed by the Mandela United Football Club, a group associated with her.

She apologized before the commission in 1997, stating:

"Things went horribly wrong…for that I am deeply sorry."

Her granddaughters say they aimed for an unbiased portrayal, acknowledging her complexity.

The Cost of Resistance

Madikizela-Mandela was subjected to solitary confinement for 491 days and tortured in 1969. She was later exiled to Brandfort in the Free State in an attempt to suppress her activism. Her marriage to Nelson Mandela ended in divorce in 1996.

A Feminist Reassessment

A new generation of South Africans have reassessed her legacy from a feminist perspective. Public memorials include t-shirts, murals, and a major Johannesburg road named after her.

Theatre director Momo Matsunyane explained:

"It's true to say that she may have been involved in some events that occurred that made her seem ruthless. It's also true that she was fiercely resilient in the face of a greatly violent and inhumane system."

Granddaughters' Remembrances

The granddaughters recall her cooking Sunday lunches and giving advice. They note that they were not fully aware of their grandparents' political significance until adulthood.