~ PHOTO: Nomzamo Mbatha Instagram
As
South Africa mourns the death of struggle hero Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (81),
many prepare to gather at the Newtown Music factory in Johannesburg tonight to
pay their respects to the mother of the nation.
Performing at the gathering titled ‘All Black
for Winnie’ is internationally
recognised actress Nomzamo Mbatha who’ll
take on the role of the late Mam’ Winnie with Thuso Mbedu playing the
role of Winnie’s oldest daughter Zindzi Mandela in a play prepared for the tribute.
Nomzamo
says the tribute to Mam’ Winnie is very emotional for her and she is praying
for strength in order to see the presentation through without breaking down. “I
prayed to try God to help me not to break down on that stage and to remember
mama and her voice,”
Nomzamo
says every encounter with Winnie was special. “Her aura, her ability to bring
strength, her resilience, and fearlessness when walking into a room – even on a
bad day when you are down – a close encounter with her made you believe that
you will be alright.”
Winnie
passed away on Monday before Nomzamo Mbatha’s accountancy degree graduation
ceremony at the University of Cape Town. After hearing the news of Winnie’s
passing Nomzamo says she nearly did not attend her graduation because she was
too emotional. “I was broken but then I realised that I had to attend my
graduation because women like her left a legacy for me. She is the reason I can
get an education and go to any university in the world.”
At her graduation ceremony, Nomzamo says she
was grateful and honoured to stand on that stage to pay tribute to Mam’ Winnie.
“It was a gut-wrenching moment and I hope wherever she is; she heard my cry on
that stage coming from the bottom of my belly saying to her that, we see you and
you are still with us forever.”
Nomzamo
says she was close to Winnie and it’s not only a loss to her but to the entire
nation. “It is a huge loss to the nation; anyone who knows me knows that I hold
uMama (Winnie Mandela) so dear to my heart. I was broken when the news came
out.” The actress says the feeling reminded her of all the family members she
had lost.
“The
moment and her death brought back memories; my grandmother was a lioness; she
is the reason I am the way I am today. She raised me, she loved me fearlessly.
My father was an amazing man – who was the best guy that I knew and always
pushed for education and I knew If I had dropped out of university and not gone
back, wherever he is he would have looked at me and said: “but sis?” Nomzamo
says her baby sister Clara who committed suicide in 2014 was the reason for her
putting the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) helpline on her
dress. “Putting that suicide, depression and anxiety line was to say ‘black
child you don’t have to suffer in darkness.’ If you can’t afford help; there
are toll-free lines to help you.” Nomzamo says she is an advocate of change and
it’s her calling to bring awareness about depression, anxiety, and especially
suicide. “I wanted to honour my familys’ memory, “she says. Nomzamo says she
was glad she managed to be brave enough to do that and she wants to be brave
when she gets on the stage to honour Mam Winnie.