The tensions between former South African President Nelson Mandela and his former wife Winnie Mandela have erupted into an ugly public feud with the ex-wife accusing the ex-president of betraying black South Africans.
Winnie Mandela's attack represents a fight of epic proportions for South Africans, since the Mandelas were for a time considered the spiritual Mother and Father of the nation that emerged from generations of legalized racial segregation in 1994.
Winnie has accused the former president of betraying South Africa's poor by ignoring their needs and said he allowed himself to be used, when he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize with former apartheid leader F.W. de Klerk.
Another South African icon, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, also took a verbal blow from Winnie. She called Tutu a "cretin" and said the sacrifices of other apartheid-era heroes have been overshadowed.
While the comments represent a sorry break between the Mandelas, they shouldn't come as a surprise to observers of South African politics.
Winnie Mandela has positioned herself as the true champion of South Africa's huge poor population.
While Nelson Mandela and Tutu placed reconciliation with whites high up on the post-apartheid political agenda, Winnie cared little about smoothing race relations in South Africa, after the 1994 election.
She also openly endorsed the practice of necklacing, putting burning gasoline-filled tires over the heads of black traitors.
On one score, Winnie Mandela is correct. Scores of true heroes from the liberation struggle have gone overlooked. That's unfortunate, but why does that make it open season on her ex-husband's legacy.
As time goes on, Winnie Mandela, a source of pride to many, is tarnishing her own legacy with the shrill sounds of a woman scorned.
After their divorce, Nelson Mandela remarried and most importantly moved on with his life. It doesn't sound like the years have been as kind to Winnie.
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By: MS PEGGY on 3/10/2010 6:55PM
She had POWER when Mandela was imprisoned. When he was released her power was eclipsed. When they divorced her power was again eclipsed by him. She's no longer his wife but still wants POWER. She is in a competition to remain on the world stage instead of just retiring and being content being herself. Winnie needs to be careful to not gain the reputation of being a power-hungry, modern day Jezebel. She's no doubt a strong woman, but ...
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By: Rasool on 3/11/2010 7:24AM
Nelson Mandela came to the U.S.A. and when asked about the struggle of African Americans he stated that he didnt want to get into the internal affairs on the U.S. He seemed to not understand that our struggle is his also. All that time in jail soften him like a marshmellow. He has lost touch with the masses, unlike Ms Minnie who has remained steadfast and can see the big picture.
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By: john moore on 3/11/2010 9:54AM
Winnie is right, a trip to south africa in 2008
from SC USA. People said blacks had no jobs and
very very very poor. The whites said they were
living a good life.
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By: patti777 on 3/12/2010 1:17PM
In 1863, in America, black slaves were set free with no money, no food, no land, no livestock, and it has taken us 147 years to creat even a semblance of economic parity! Today, a disproportionate number of us continue to live in cyclical poverty, are unable to benefit from public education (for whatever reasons), and are unable to attain any tangible assets. We still praise the strides made by our own movement toward equality led by Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Medgar Evers and so many others who gave their lives for what they believed in.
So what makes Winnie think that her people will achieve equality overnight? Nelson Mandella led the charge that destroyed the systematic, government sanctioned, discrimination, and segregation that enslaved his people. The laws have changed, and Mandella deserves credit for that. His people now have access to freedoms that they never experienced before, and that should be praised. The hearts of men take generations to change, and no legislaton can speed up that process.
In America a lot of rednecks have to die off before those good old boy values cease to be passed along. Many blacks remember the "strange fruit" of the south and that bitterness still festers among us. We need to forgive the hatred of the past if we are to create a new future.
So Minnie, take your meds and shut up. Mandella did his part, and it was a great part. He is an old man now and has passed the baton to a new generation. Let go of your bitterness Minnie and become a constructive part of that generation.
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By: SteveLC on 3/13/2010 9:44AM
Winnie is right in part, while the world most racist white man F.W. de Klerk. gets an award fof his behavior. He should had been put in prison,so now he and the other white leaders during his reign, feels that they have not really done any thing wrong. The Black Africans are still suffering. While I don't condon Winnie behavior, Nelson Mandela should have demanded that the white Africans do whatever possible to erase the criminal racism and poverty. F.W. de Klerk should had donated that money to the schools.
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