The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has honoured struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela on what would have been her 85th birthday, by naming the party’s headquarters in downtown Johannesburg after her.
EFF leader Julius Malema made the big reveal on Sunday afternoon, 26 September 2021, at Ghandi Square, where the party was also launched its manifesto ahead of the local government elections.
The EFF’s new offices are called Winnie Madikizela-Mandela House.
The struggle stalwart died in 2018 – and the EFF headquarters isn’t the only thing set to be named after her. The City of Johannesburg is already in the process of renaming William Nicol, one of the province’s busiest roads, after Madikizela-Mandela. While Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthetwa announced recently that the small town of Brandfort in the Free State, would be renamed to Winnie Mandela.
WINNIE MADIKIZELA-MANDELA’S DAUGHTER WELCOMES EFF BUILDING
Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s daughter, was present with other family members at the EFF event and has thanked the red berets for keeping her late mother’s legacy alive.
“I flew all the way from the Republic of Korea to be with you on my mother’s birthday. My family wants me to tell you how much we appreciate the EFF in that it has never and will never forget my mother. Her memory lies in each and everyone of us. We thank you for keeping her legacy alive.”
Mandela-Dlamini currently works as South Africa’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea and cut the ribbon for the building alongside Malema.
Malema said the new EFF headquarters are home for the disenfranchised.
“I now want to tell you that it is actually warm outside the ANC. I found a home for the youth, the abused people, the exploited farmworkers, and that home is Winnie Madikizela-Mandela House,” Malema said.