Winnie Mandela attacked by a group of people

Date: 3 Dec 1986
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Winnie Mandela attacked by a group of people

Winnie Mandela, at the time wife of imprisoned African National Congress (ANC) leader Nelson Mandela, was pelted with eggs and cool drink cans while leaving the Supreme Court in Cape Town. She blamed the attack on the apartheid government, which, she said, was working hard to discrete liberation leaders. However, pro-government newspapers reported that her association with well-known criminals provoked the attack on her. Mandela was at the Supreme Court to show support for Lindi Mangaliso, daughter of Mr Qunta, who was charged with killing her husband. Because the Qunta family were well known anti-apartheid activists, she believed that the murder trial was a smear campaign by the government to discredit Black leaders.

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How we know this

01Johnson, S. (1986). "Pelted Winnie blames 'system'", Weekly Mail: Vol. 2 (48) p. 1.

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Winnie Mandela attacked by a group of people. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012678

South African History Online (2011) 'Winnie Mandela attacked by a group of people', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012678 (Accessed: 24 September 2026).

South African History Online, Winnie Mandela attacked by a group of people [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012678, (accessed 24 September 2026).

"Winnie Mandela attacked by a group of people." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012678. Accessed 24 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "Winnie Mandela attacked by a group of people." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012678.