A powerful new play, The Cry of Winnie Mandela, has taken centre stage at The Market Theatre, shedding light on the untold stories of Black women who endured the agonising wait for their husbands during apartheid, per africanews.com. Adapted from Njabulo Ndebele’s novel of the same title, the production delves into the life of anti-apartheid icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, exploring themes of loneliness, betrayal and resilience.
The play, which opened on March 1 and will run until March 15, portrays Madikizela-Mandela’s tumultuous journey as she navigated the harsh realities of apartheid while her husband, Nelson Mandela, spent 27 years in prison. Thembisa Mdoda, who plays Winnie, brings to life the struggles of a woman who became a symbol of resistance but faced immense personal and political scrutiny.
Director Momo Matsunyane emphasises the importance of highlighting the role of Black women during apartheid. “These women not only fought for liberation but also held their families together in the absence of their husbands,” Matsunyane said. “The play challenges the narrative that Black women should be silent victims. It shows them as open, vulnerable, and unapologetically human.”
One of the most poignant scenes features a fictionalised Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearing, where Winnie defends her actions during apartheid. “I will not be the instrument that validates the politics of reconciliation,” she declares, echoing the real-life defiance that defined her legacy. The play also addresses the public humiliation she faced, including allegations of infidelity and her eventual divorce from Nelson Mandela.
Through a series of interconnected stories, the play introduces the “Ibandla Labafazi Abalindileyo” (Organization of Women in Waiting), a group of women sharing their experiences of abandonment and betrayal. One woman recounts how her husband left her after 14 years abroad, while another reveals her spouse started a new family with a white woman upon his release from prison.
Accompanied by protest music from the era, The Cry of Winnie Mandela is a stirring tribute to the resilience of Black women. As Matsunyane puts it, “Apartheid dismantled the Black family, but these women rebuilt it with their strength and determination.”
The play is a must-see for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of South Africa’s past and the enduring spirit of its women.
- Featured image: The cast members perform during a rehearsal of a theatre play called “The Cry of Winnie Mandela” at Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025/AP Photo
