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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to 
3recognize the life of Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe "Winnie" 
4Madikizela-Mandela, prominent anti-apartheid activist, who 
5passed away on April 2, 2018; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Winnie Mandela was born in the district of 
7Pondoland in the Eastern Cape of South Africa to Columbus and 
8Gertrude Madikizela on September 26, 1936; one of nine 
9children, she enrolled at the Jan Hofmeyr School of Social Work 
10in Johannesburg in 1953 and was known as a "remarkably 
11effective and dedicated social worker"; she married Nelson 
12Mandela in Pondoland in June 1958; the couple returned to 
13Johannesburg, where she threw herself into political work, and 
14Mandela was imprisoned; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Winnie Mandela's activism and resistance to 
16apartheid landed her in jail on numerous occasions, eventually 
17causing her banishment to the town of Brandfort and then Orange 
18Free State; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, Winnie Mandela kept the memory of her imprisoned 
20husband alive and helped give the struggle for justice in South 
21Africa one of its most recognizable faces; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Winnie Mandela remained a venerated figure in the 
2ruling African National Congress; she was a veteran of the 
3anti-apartheid struggle who continued to tell the party 
4"exactly what is wrong and what is right at any time," and she 
5refused to be bowed by the imprisonment of her husband, the 
6perpetual harassment of her family, the detentions, the 
7bannings, and the banishment; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Winnie Mandela was a defining symbol of the fight 
9against apartheid; although her reputation suffered after a 
10number of incidents, her popularity remained strong; she 
11dedicated most of her adult life to the cause of the African 
12people, and for her dedication was known as the "Mother of the 
13Nation," who inspired generations of activists; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Winnie Mandela is survived by her daughters; 
15therefore, be it
  
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
17ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the life 
18of Nomzamo Winifred Zanyiwe "Winnie" Madikizela-Mandela and 
19offer our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all 
20who knew and loved her; and be it further
  
 
21    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
22presented to the family of Winnie Mandela as an expression of 
 
 
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1our deepest sympathy.