Mme Winnie Madikizela-Mandela had been banished to what was formerly known as Brandfort, a small town in the Free State province around 50km from its capital Bloemfontein. This is where she spent almost a decade in exile with her family.
“I spend much of my time reading, the social conditions here are so bad that three quarters of my time is really spent on community work. There is the usual social conditions you find in any South African ghetto. There is extreme poverty, high unemployment and the children are riddled with diseases. And of course what goes with conditions like these is the alcohol problem coupled with violence, bloodshed and stab wounds. So I run an unofficial clinic here.
I am compelled to operate from here because I can’t leave the house because of my house arrest. We at least manage to get a few first aid materials to enable me to run the clinic. A few friends have come together, and they give us medicines. I run a soup kitchen for the aged here. They come from the outlying farms. They have to walk distances of twenty to thirty kilometers to come and get their pensions and to do their shopping. There are no motels for such people, so we cater for them.”
Mme Winnie interviewed by Corben Seavers for Southern Africa (1982)
The latest supplement to Chimurenga Chronic: Brandfort Liberation Capital [1977-86] – The Urban Map is a geographical layout of various networks operating in Brandforts location, Majwemasweu, during this period. From community programs, political organising, to manoeuvers Mme Winnie implemented around the state’s apparatus of surveillance – the map gives a snapshot view of the local activities.
A supplement publication to the special edition of Chimurenga Chronic: Brandfort Liberation Capital, exploring the intellectual, social and political work of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela during the period of her banishment in Brandfort from 1977-86.
To purchase the latest edition of Chimurenga Chronic: Brandfort Liberation Capital [1977-86] head to our online shop.
This article and other work by Chimurenga are produced through the kind support of our readers. Please visit our donation page to support our work.