Flags fly at half-mast, official funeral for Madikizela-Mandela
With preparations underway for Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's funeral - the site manager of the Nelson Mandela capture site in Howick says Ma Winnie should be remembered as a hero.
Christopher Till - who's also the director of the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg - says Madikizela-Mandela was known the world over as an icon in her own right.
"Despite any kind of human failings, which we all have and are being mentioned in various quarters, Winnie Mandela is a figure within the lexicon of South African heroes and should be remembered accordingly.
The former freedom fighter, who died on Monday at the age of 81, will be laid to rest in 10 days' time.
"Her passing will be a great loss in the way that she responded to the plight of the people. Even in an contemporary sense - she challenged the status quo in pointing a finger at what one might describe as the loss of attention and the people being left behind and still remaining within the space that she had attempted to move them away from," Till said.
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As national flags across the country fly at half-mast in honour of the late struggle icon - our Premier's office says KZN will join the rest of South Africa and the world in commemorating her life.
"There will be a number of organisations and institutions that will be holding gatherings to celebrate and honour Mam' Winnie. I know that the ruling ANC will be planning events," spokesperson, Thandi Ngidi said.
Ngidi says although Madikizela-Mandela was born in the Eastern Cape and lived in Gauteng - she had a strong connection with the people of KZN.
A special official funeral will be held on the 14th of April.