Nelson and Winnie Mandela

Arielle J. Patterson

Behind every strong man is a strong woman. That is definitely the case for Nelson and Winnie Mandela.

Photo credit: Daily Mail

Nelson Mandela was a well-known civil rights activist during apartheid in South Africa. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years and after gaining his freedom, he became President of South Africa.

Winnie Mandela, an activist as well, met her future husband in the mid-1950s when he was an attorney fighting apartheid.

Despite the couple’s 18 year age difference and concerns from Winnie’s father, they married in June 1958.

Due to Mandela’s activism, Winnie was often left to take care of their two children alone when he would be arrested. Winnie was Mandela’s rock while he was in prison. He even sent her a birthday card from prison that read, “What a difference it makes in my life to have you.”

Mandela’s long-term imprisonment did cause tension in their marriage. Mandela was finally freed in 1990 and two years later the couple separated.

Although they were no longer together, Nelson and Winnie Mandela constantly supported each other. When Mandela became president, Winnie became deputy minister of arts, culture, science and technology.

In 1996, the couple divorced after almost 40 years together. However, this did not end their relationship together. Winnie visited Mandela almost every day while he was in the hospital and sat by his bedside.

While Winnie was not mentioned in Mandela’s will when he passed, their love and admiration for each other was undeniable.