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Winnie Mandela, South African anti-apartheid activist, dies at 81

Posted at 8:42 AM, Apr 02, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-02 11:09:33-04

Winnie Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid activist and former wife of the late President Nelson Mandela, has died at the age of 81, a family member told CNN on Monday.

The outspoken campaigner was known as the “Mother of the Nation” because of her struggle against white minority rule in South Africa.

She was married to Nelson Mandela for 38 years, including the 27 years he was imprisoned on Robben Island near Cape Town.

The couple were divorced in 1996, two years after Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black President. They had two daughters together.