ANC commemorates Winnie Mandela

Members of the ANC in the Greater Johannesburg Region painted the streets green as they gathered to celebrate the 5th year anniversary of the passing of Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela on April 02.

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This year marks the fifth year since the passing of Mama Winnie who lost the battle to a long illness in 2018.

The commemoration of the internationally renowned liberation struggle icon started with the laying of wreath at Fourways Memorial Park, a special church service in Meadowlands and commenced with a community gardening initiative in Orlando West High School.

The day saw the Hlongwane twin brothers; Thato and Tebogo who are also members of Baitukisi, a gardening initiative which works closely with Orlando West High School receive gardening equipment from the ANC, including a water tank and other materials.

The community gardening initiative started three years ago when the brothers saw a need to give back to the community by cleaning up a dumping site in the area and using it for gardening.

Due to high crime levels in the area which resulted in their vegetables and equipment being stolen, they then asked for space at the school last year.

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They now provide vegetables grown in their own garden to the school and underprivileged locals.

“This is just us doing what we are passionate about and trying to bridge the gap in our community and underprivileged residents.

“Today we are grateful to be part of the young people who receive such kind gestures from the ANC as we celebrate the life of Mama Winnie.

“This also gives us the courage to hold on and pursue gardening so that we can assist those in need,” Tebogo Hlongwane said.

He added that they welcome young people from the area who are willing to volunteer and work with them to bridge food insecurity to the community.

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According to the deputy secretary of the ANC in Johannesburg, Loyiso Masuku, the donation of the gardening equipment was part of the ANC’s youth initiatives and commemoration for Mama Winnie since gardening was one of her hobbies.

“Mama Winnie believed in helping the community and one of her passions was in gardening and she expressed love for people through such activities.

“She also understood that food resilience is one of the things that can help alleviate poverty. As the ANC, we though that we should come today and offer these young men support so that they can uplift themselves and further uplift the community,” Masuku said.

The day was joined by the family and friends of Madikizela-Mandela, local councillors, ANC comrades together with the first deputy secretary-general of the ANC, Nomvula Mokonyane and the ANC deputy chairperson of the province, Nobantu Ralehoko.

As they walked to plant the seedlings in their ANC t-shirts emblazoned with Madikizela-Mandela’s face, Mokonyane motivated young people in the area to stand for what they believe in.

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“Mama Winnie’s house was hope for our people. These two young men are now making things easier for her people. We want leaders who can get their hands dirty and the brothers symbolise that, that is what mama Winnie was about,” Mokonyane said.