Title
Honoring Winnie Nomzano Mandela, Member of Parliament, Republic of South Africa.
Body
WHEREAS, Winnie Nomzano Mandela, a member of the Tembu Royal House, was born in 1934 in Pondoland, South Africa; and
WHEREAS, In 1958 Winnie Nomzano married political activist Nelson Mandela. Her involvement in the anti-Pass demonstration resulted in her arrest and imprisonment. Subsequently, she was banned from meetings, gatherings and forbidden to communicate with banned persons; and
WHEREAS, Following her husband's imprisonment, Winnie Mandela was maligned and persecuted by the Apartheid regime, and was prevented from entering schools, universities or publishing houses. She was restricted to Orlando Township, and later was banned and restricted to Soweto from 1975 until 1977. Under a government order, she was banished to Brandfort, and was placed under restricted order from 1977 to 1986; and
WHEREAS, In 1985 Winnie Mandela published the world-renowned book, "Part of My Soul Went With Him," and shortly thereafter founded a social work center in Soweto; and
WHEREAS, In 1990 Winnie Mandela was appointed head of Social Welfare by the African National Congress (ANC). She is a founder and member of Black Parents Association, and was elected President of the ANC's Women's League by a 70 percent margin. In the same year, Winnie Mandela became a Member of Parliament (representing the ANC) to the Republic of South Africa. She is a member of the National Council of Women's Societies in Nigeria, and is the recipient of the Woman of Courage Award as well as Honorary LLD, University of Utrecht, Holland; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor Winnie Nomzano Mandela, Member of the House of Parliament, Republic of South Africa, and the most influential and outspoken African woman in South Africa and on the continent. She is an inspiration to her daughters Zenzi and Zanela, not only as a freedom fighter but also as a grandmother, great grandmother and the "Mother of the Nation."
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution shall be presented to the Honorable Winnie Mandela, further evidencing the respect, admiration and sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
End