For all the impact their reports are making on Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s constituency of Phola Park, the media may just as well be howling against the wind.
Residents at the informal settlement told the Mail & Guardian they have neither heard nor read the recent media reports of accusations made by Nicholas Dlamini and Jerry Richardson, serving jail sentences for the murders of Dr Abu Baker Asvat and Stompie Seipei respectively, that they acted on the orders of Madikizela-Mandela.
Nor have they heard about Fred Bridgland’s book, Katiza’s Journey, in which Katiza Cebekhulu further implicates Madikizela-Mandela. Or so they say. What they were keen to know though — and on this they were united with those who have heard — was what was it to the questioner anyway?
”Do you also want to know about our poverty, about our housing problems?” one have-not-heard wanted to know. Despite the fact that they were being interviewed about their support for Madikizela-Mandela, none of the residents wanted their names published.
”I have not heard anything about that,” said one woman, ”and I don’t care to know anything the newspapers have to say about Winnie. They have always hated her, and of course they will believe anything those police informers Cebekhulu and Richardson say to tarnish her name. The Winnie I know would never stab anyone.”
The Winnie described by the residents of Phola Park is strong, and has foiled all attempts to break her spirit. She is the only politician who is accessible to that community at all times. She is their friend in need and in deed. A couple of people used the expression that they shared the same blanket, and ate from the same plate with her.
”When the world turned its back on us, she was the only one to stand with us,” said Mpinga (the only name he would give), referring to the time when there was mayhem in East Rand townships.
”She helped us chase away the enemy but she never told us to kill anyone. She just told us to be strong to achieve our ends. I find it difficult that she would have told others to kill.”
”The media have already found Winnie guilty of all these things. Why don’t you wait until she appears before the truth commission” asked Mam Thembu. ”Give her a chance to put her side of the story. Then the truth will come out.”
