Winnie Mandela poised for comeback

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the 'Mother of the Nation', is making a return to South African public life. Since 2003, when she was found guilty of multiple counts of fraud and theft relating to a funeral fund, Madikizela-Mandela has been in the political wilderness, with a suspended prison sentence hanging over her. The nadir, perhaps, came when she was refused a Canadian visa and was unable to travel to Toronto for a gala performance of The Passion of Winnie, an opera based on her life.

But now, with Jacob Zuma set to take over as president after elections on April 22, and an appeal to disqualify her from standing for office safely quashed, the librettist can write another act.

Madikizela-Mandela is certain to win a seat in Parliament, and likely to get a cabinet job. As one of the only ANC politicians to stay living in Soweto, Madikizela-Mandela has a formidable power base amongst South Africa's poorest. And many voters have memories long enough to recall her success as an uncompromising opponent of apartheid.

Winnie married Nelson Mandela in 1958. During his long spell in Robben Island prison, she became, in her own right, a leading opponent of white minority rule. Her methods were often inflammatory. Speaking in 1985, she advocated 'necklacing' – trapping someone in a petrol-soaked tyre and setting fire to it - anyone from the townships who dared act as an infomer.

"With our boxes of matches and our necklaces we shall liberate this country", she said. In 1991 Madikizela-Mandela was sentenced to six years in prison, after her bodyguard said that she ordered him to kidnap and kill 14-year-old Stompie Seipei Moeketsi, an alleged informer. The sentence was later reduced to a fine.

Madikizela-Mandela separated from Mandela in 1992, and the couple later divorced in 1996, with her accused of serial adultery. "I was the loneliest man during the period I stayed with her," he said. "If the entire universe persuaded me to reconcile I would not."

When democracy returned to South Africa in 1994, Madikizela-Mandela  initially held the post of Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, but was soon ousted for incompetence, corruption and fraud. During the Thabo Mbeki years, nobody wanted anything to do with her. Now she's back. ·