Winnie Mandela Stompie Seipei

Africa National Congress stalwart Winnie Madikizela Mandela acknowledges a crowd of ANC Women League supporters gathered in Soweto on September 26, 2016 to celebrate her 80th birthday. / AFP PHOTO / MARCO LONGARI

“Winnie Mandela did not kill my son” – Stompie Seipei’s mother

Stompie’s mother says she decided to forgive Winnie more than 20 years ago.

Winnie Mandela Stompie Seipei

Africa National Congress stalwart Winnie Madikizela Mandela acknowledges a crowd of ANC Women League supporters gathered in Soweto on September 26, 2016 to celebrate her 80th birthday. / AFP PHOTO / MARCO LONGARI

A week after Winnie Mandela passed away, a lot has been written and said about her. The overwhelming majority of which have been glowing tributes. But her legacy has always carried the weight of the Stompie Seipei case.

The 14-year-old Stompie was brutally murdered in 1989, with his remains found near Winnie’s home in Gauteng. By 1991, she had been convicted of his kidnapping and given a suspended sentence and a fine. As reported by the Sunday Times though, the boy’s mother bears no grudges with Mrs Mandela.

Winnie Mandela and Stompie Seipei

As we reported last week, Winnie Mandela was effectively a victim of the apartheid PR machine. Various officials have since admitted to fabricating stories about her, claiming there was a desperation to stop the revolutionary in her tracks.

Mama Winnie has her regrets. She has previously apologised for “carelessness” on her behalf which eventually lead to Stompie’s murder. A concession that was met most warmly by Joyce Seipei.

She told the publication that she had met Mandela whilst attending the Truth and Reconciliation committee of 1997. It was there where Winnie wholeheartedly apologised, and Joyce was “compelled to forgive her”.

Joyce Seipei says she forgives Ma Winnie

“It was not an arranged meeting. My daughter, Martha Paki, who was three or four at the time, greeted Mama Winnie as she was going to the toilet.”

“I was already inside, but she asked my daughter who she was with. The three – Winnie, Zindzi and my daughter – came to me in the toilet holding hands and smiling with each other. I still remember her soft, calm voice as she humbled herself before us.”

“When someone says ‘sorry’, you are compelled to forgive them. But in this case, Mama Winnie didn’t do anything, yet she came and humbled herself before us and said sorry for what had happened.”

The ANC have confirmed that Winnie Mandela’s memorial and funeral service will take place on Wednesday 11th April and Saturday 14th April respectively.