Winnie Mandela Passes Away at 81

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the ex-wife of the late South Africa iconic President Nelson Mandela has passed away, aged 81.

The anti-apartheid stalwart's personal assistant, Zodwa Zwane confirmed her demise in a statement on Monday.

Her family said that she died peacefully after a "long illness for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year." “It is with profound sadness that we inform the public that Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela passed away at the Netcare Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa on Monday,” said a statement issued by Victor Dlamini, a family spokesman.

“She died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year. She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones.”

Winnie was Mandela’s wife while he was incarcerated on Robben Island, a marriage that lasted for 38 years before they separated  two years after he assumed the presidency.

Winnie, well-known for her controversial character, commanded a huge following, who referred to her as the "Mother of the Nation."

She raised their two daughters alone when Mandela was imprisoned and she kept alive his husband's political dream under the oppressive white-minority regime.

With or without Mandela, she went ahead to built her own reputation as a tough and outspoken black activist with a loyal following across the country.

"From every situation I have found myself in, you can read the political heat in the country," she said in a biography.

In a newspaper interview in 2010, Winnie was quoted saying: "Mandela let us down. He agreed to a bad deal for the blacks."