Title: Recognizing the life and significant contributions of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of Nelson Mandela, and an icon in the international fight against apartheid and injustice in South Africa, for her leadership and her devotion to the cause of freedom for all South Africans.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Honors the life and achievements of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela as an activist and international leader who was pivotal in bringing an end to the long injustice of apartheid.
Offers condolences to the people of South Africa for the loss of a national leader and icon.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 820 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 820

     Recognizing the life and significant contributions of Winnie 
 Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of Nelson Mandela, and an icon in 
   the international fight against apartheid and injustice in South 
Africa, for her leadership and her devotion to the cause of freedom for 
                          all South Africans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 11, 2018

Ms. Maxine Waters of California (for herself, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson 
  of Texas, Mr. Hastings, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Jeffries, Mr. Smith of 
  Washington, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Rush, Mr. 
 Lowenthal, Ms. Lee, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Mr. Payne, and Ms. Moore) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Recognizing the life and significant contributions of Winnie 
 Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of Nelson Mandela, and an icon in 
   the international fight against apartheid and injustice in South 
Africa, for her leadership and her devotion to the cause of freedom for 
                          all South Africans.

Whereas Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, known affectionately as Winnie Mandela, was 
        born Nomzano Winifred Madikizela in Pondoland, South Africa, on 
        September 26, 1936, and passed away on April 2, 2018, at the age of 81;
Whereas Winnie Mandela lived much of her life under the system of apartheid, 
        which literally means ``separateness'', and which was advocated by South 
        Africa's Afrikaner National Party in 1948 and became law in South Africa 
        by 1950 through measures that separated the country's non-White majority 
        population from its White minority by, among other things, classifying 
        all South Africans by race, banning marriage and sexual relations 
        between Black and White South Africans, establishing separate public 
        facilities for Whites and non-Whites, denying non-White participation in 
        the South African National Government, dividing Black South Africans 
        along Tribal lines to prevent them from uniting, thereby reducing their 
        political power, and setting aside 80 percent of the country's land for 
        the White minority population while requiring non-Whites to carry 
        documents authorizing their presence in restricted areas of the country;
Whereas Winnie Mandela began her career as the first Black medical social worker 
        in South Africa, taking a position at the Chris Hani Baragwanath 
        Hospital in Johannesburg where she learned of the deplorable conditions 
        in which many of her patients lived under apartheid and was motivated to 
        action;
Whereas Winnie Mandela became heavily involved in activism in South Africa as 
        her awareness of the inequalities facing the country increased as a 
        result of her social work;
Whereas Winnie Mandela became interested and involved with the African National 
        Congress, the South African political party and leading organization in 
        the antiapartheid movement;
Whereas, in 1957, friends introduced Winnie Mandela, then Nomzano Winifred 
        Madikizela, to Nelson Mandela, a lawyer, member of the African National 
        Congress Executive Committee, and leading figure in the antiapartheid 
        movement, who she married on June 14, 1958;
Whereas beginning in the early days of their marriage, Winnie and Nelson Mandela 
        engaged in political activities and demonstrations for which they were 
        routinely arrested and targeted by the government and security police;
Whereas Winnie Mandela's activism included activities such as participating, 
        along with thousands of other women, in a demonstration in September 
        1958 against South Africa's so-called ``pass laws'' requiring Blacks in 
        the country to carry documentation at all times indicating their 
        assigned residence and employment and authorizing their presence in 
        certain areas of the country;
Whereas Winnie Mandela was incarcerated for two weeks and lost her job as a 
        hospital social worker as a result of her participation in the September 
        1958 demonstration;
Whereas Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962 and jailed for inciting Africans to 
        strike and, while imprisoned on those charges, was tried for sabotage, 
        found guilty, and sentenced, in 1964, to life imprisonment, leaving 
        Winnie Mandela to raise the couple's two daughters, Zenani and Zindzi, 
        on her own and without a source of income;
Whereas during her husband's incarceration, Winnie Mandela steadfastly continued 
        her activism against apartheid, which led to harsh harassment from 
        police, her arrest on several occasions, and her imprisonment in 1969 
        for 18 months in solitary confinement, where she was tortured;
Whereas despite her imprisonment and encounters with police, Winnie Mandela 
        continued her activism;
Whereas, in 1977, Winnie Mandela was banished by the South African Government to 
        the remote town of Brandfort, where neighbors were forbidden to speak to 
        her, and she was banned from meeting with more than one person at a 
        time;
Whereas the 1977 banning order against Winnie Mandela was only one of multiple 
        government orders issued to ``ban'' or restrict her social contact and 
        silence her;
Whereas Winnie Mandela succeeded in empowering and galvanizing women, in 
        particular, to rise up and speak out against the abuses of the apartheid 
        regime in South Africa, and Winnie Mandela popularized the statement, 
        ``When you strike a woman, you strike a rock'', which indicated that 
        women were determined in their efforts to end apartheid and which 
        symbolized the strength and fortitude of women who could not, and would 
        not, be moved;
Whereas, in 1985, Winnie Mandela inspired the introduction of a joint resolution 
        in the United States House of Representatives sponsored by the late 
        Representative George Crockett of Michigan, and cosponsored by fifty-
        eight other Members of Congress, to proclaim Nomzamo Winnie Mandela to 
        be an honorary citizen of the United States and condemn her banishment 
        to Brandfort, South Africa;
Whereas, on February 11, 1990, as a result of Winnie Mandela's activism, 
        domestic efforts in South Africa, and international outrage, Nelson 
        Mandela was released from 27 years of imprisonment declaring a ``deep 
        appreciation for the strength given to [him] . . . by [his] beloved 
        wife'';
Whereas although Winnie Mandela was the wife of Nelson Mandela, who became 
        President of South Africa in May 1994, Winnie Mandela was a historic 
        figure and leader in South Africa in her own right;
Whereas Winnie Mandela was elected to serve as the president of the African 
        National Congress Women's League in 1993;
Whereas, in 1994, Winnie Mandela was elected to serve as a Member of South 
        Africa's Parliament;
Whereas, in 1994, Winnie Mandela was appointed by her husband, then President, 
        Nelson Mandela, to serve as Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science 
        and Technology;
Whereas although Winnie and Nelson Mandela divorced in 1995, Winnie Mandela 
        continued to be a notable international figure;
Whereas, in 2007, Winnie Mandela was elected to the African National Congress 
        National Executive Committee;
Whereas in South Africa, Winnie Mandela became known as the ``Mother of the 
        Nation'' for her constant dedication and bravery in the struggles facing 
        her people and in the fight against apartheid; and
Whereas despite controversies surrounding her life and career, Winnie Mandela's 
        unwavering commitment to ending apartheid and securing Nelson Mandela's 
        freedom has earned her a notable place in history: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes and honors the life and achievements of 
        Winnie Madikizela-Mandela as an activist and international 
        leader who was pivotal in bringing an end to the long injustice 
        of apartheid;
            (2) recognizes Winnie Mandela's steadfast resolve to 
        support her then-husband, Nelson Mandela, during his 27-year 
        unjust incarceration in South Africa, and to fight for, and 
        secure, his release;
            (3) commends the courage, hard work, commitment, and 
        dedication of Winnie Mandela for fighting for the rights and 
        empowerment of oppressed Black South Africans and women; and
            (4) offers condolences to the people of South Africa for 
        the loss of a national leader and icon.
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