Editing Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (section)

===Return to Soweto and Mandela United Football Club: 1986–1989===
{{Main|The 1991 trial of Winnie Mandela}}
Madikizela-Mandela returned to Soweto from Brandfort in late 1985, in defiance of a banning order.<ref name="nytReturnSoweto">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/23/world/winnie-mandela-jailed-for-return-to-soweto-home.html|title=Winnie Mandela Jailed for Return to Soweto Home|first=Alan|last=Cowell|newspaper=The New York Times|date=23 December 1985}}</ref> During her banishment, the [[United Democratic Front (South Africa)|United Democratic Front]] (UDF) and [[Congress of South African Trade Unions]] (Cosatu) had formed a mass-movement against apartheid.<ref name="mgJacobs2018">{{cite news|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-04-12-how-do-we-write-about-winnies-life-sympathetically|title=How do we write about Winnie's life sympathetically?|first=Sean|last=Jacobs|newspaper=Mail and Guardian}}</ref><ref name="capturedByPopulistPoliticsduPreez"/> The new organisations relied more heavily on collective decision-making structures, rather than on individual charisma.<ref name="mgJacobs2018"/> She took a more militaristic approach, eschewing the approach of the newer bodies, and began dressing in military garb, and surrounding herself with bodyguards: the [[Mandela United (football club)| Mandela United Football Club]] (MUFC).<ref name="mgJacobs2018"/> Living in Madikizela-Mandela's home, the putative "[[Association football|soccer]] team" began hearing family disputes and delivering "judgments" and "sentences", and eventually became associated with kidnapping, torture and murder.<ref name="mgJacobs2018"/> She was implicated in at least 15 deaths during this time period.<ref name="independent2018MartinMurderedSchoolboy"/><ref name="capturedByPopulistPoliticsduPreez">{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/Columnists/MaxduPreez/winnies-legacy-captured-by-populist-politics-20180417|title=Winnie's death captured by populist politics|publisher=News24|first=Max|last=Du Preez|date=17 April 2018|access-date=18 April 2018|archive-date=18 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418083632/https://www.news24.com/Columnists/MaxduPreez/winnies-legacy-captured-by-populist-politics-20180417|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1988, Madikizela-Mandela's home was burned by high school students in Soweto, in retaliation for the actions of the Mandela United Football Club.<ref name="saHistoryMandelaHome">{{cite web|url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/winnie-mandela039s-soweto-home-reported-burnt-down|title=Winnie Mandela's Soweto home reported burnt down|last=sahoboss|date=16 March 2011|publisher=South African History Online|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403234857/http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/winnie-mandela039s-soweto-home-reported-burnt-down|archive-date=3 April 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="mgJacobs2018"/> By 1989, after appeals from local residents,<ref name="bdFramedFromTheGrave">{{cite web|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/editorials/2018-04-17-editorial-framed-from-the-grave/|title=Editorial: Framed from the grave|website=Business Day|date=17 April 2018}}</ref> and after the Seipei kidnapping,<ref name="mgJacobs2018"/> the UDF (in the guise of the ''Mass Democratic Movement'', or MDM),<ref name="mgJacobs2018"/> "disowned" her for "violating human rights&nbsp;... in the name of the struggle against apartheid".<ref name="latimesUdfDisown">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-17-mn-2781-story.html|title=S. Africa Black Group Disowns Winnie Mandela|first=Scott|last=Kraft|date=17 February 1989|website=Articles.latimes.com}}</ref><ref name="nyTimesShedGuards" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/udf-disowns-winnie-mandela|title=UDF Disowns Winnie Mandela|last=sahoboss|date=16 March 2011|publisher=South African History Online}}</ref> The ANC in exile issued a statement criticising her judgment after she refused to heed instructions issued from prison by Nelson Mandela to dissociate herself from the Football Club<ref name="nyTimesShedGuards">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/19/world/winnie-mandela-agrees-to-shed-guards.html|title=Winnie Mandela Agrees to Shed Guards|first=John D. Battersby and Special To the New York|last=Times|newspaper=The New York Times|date=19 February 1989 }}</ref> and after attempts at mediation by an ANC crisis committee failed.<ref name="martinIndependentBeautyBraved2018">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/winnie-mandela-dead-nelson-mandeal-south-africa-apartheid-a8285496.html|title=Beautiful and brave but destroyed by her arrogance - the Winnie Mandela I knew
|first=Paul|last= Martin|date=2 April 2018|newspaper=The Independent}}</ref><ref name="isolatingCollectiveTimes2018"/>

====Lolo Sono and Siboniso Shabalala====
In November 1988, 21-year-old Lolo Sono, and his 19-year-old friend Siboniso Shabalala, disappeared in Soweto. Sono's father said he saw his son in a [[minibus|kombi]] with Madikizela-Mandela, and that his son had been badly beaten. Sono’s mother claimed that Madikizela-Mandela had labelled her son a spy, and had said she was "taking him away". At the subsequent Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings, Sono's stepmother said, fighting back tears, "I am pleading with Mrs Mandela today, in front of the whole world, that please, Mrs Mandela, give us our son back. Even if Lolo is dead, let Mrs Mandela give us the remains of our son, so that we must bury him decently. Then after, maybe, we can rest assured knowing that Lolo is buried here."<ref>{{cite web |title=TRC Episode 12, Part 02 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-QO2J8Pz9I |publisher=SABC |date=13 April 2011}}</ref> Sono and Shabalala's bodies were exhumed from [[pauper's grave]]s in Soweto's [[Avalon Cemetery]] in 2013, by the [[National Prosecuting Authority]]'s Missing People's Task Team, having been stabbed soon after their abductions.<ref name="moruduBliveAccountability">{{cite web|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2018-04-13-has-truth-become-a-casualty-of-winnies-rejection-of-accountability/|title=Has truth become a casualty of Winnie's rejection of accountability?|website=Business Day|date=13 April 2018|first=Palesa|last=Morudu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413095757/https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/2018-04-13-has-truth-become-a-casualty-of-winnies-rejection-of-accountability/|archive-date=13 April 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Seipei and Asvat killings====
{{see|Stompie Seipei|Abu Baker Asvat|Paul Verryn}}
On 29 December 1988, [[Jerry Richardson (South Africa)|Jerry Richardson]], who was "coach" of the Mandela United Football Club, abducted 14-year-old James Seipei (also known as [[Stompie Sepei|Stompie Moeketsi]]) and three other youths from the home of [[Methodist]] minister [[Paul Verryn]],<ref name="verrynNews24Intertwined">{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/bishop-paul-verryn-on-how-his-and-madikizela-mandelas-lives-were-intricately-intertwined-20180403|title=Bishop Paul Verryn on how his and Madikizela-Mandela's lives were 'intricately intertwined'|first=Jan|last= Bornman|website=News24|date=4 April 2018|access-date=8 April 2018|archive-date=8 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408065648/https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/bishop-paul-verryn-on-how-his-and-madikizela-mandelas-lives-were-intricately-intertwined-20180403|url-status=dead}}</ref> with Richardson claiming that Madikizela-Mandela had the youths taken to her home because she suspected the minister was sexually abusing them (allegations that were baseless<ref name="truth-commission" />). The four were beaten to get them to admit to having had sex with the minister. Negotiations that lasted 10 days, by senior ANC and community leaders to get the kidnapped boys released by Madikizela-Mandela failed.<ref name="exLeadersIrishTimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ex-leaders-link-winnie-mandela-to-murder-1.131369|title=Ex-leaders link Winnie Mandela to murder|newspaper=Irish Times}}</ref> Seipei was accused of being an informer, and his body later found in a field with stab wounds to the throat on 6 January 1989.<ref name=nyt>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/26/world/winnie-mandela-aide-guilty-of-murder.html|title=Winnie Mandela Aide Guilty of Murder|work=The New York Times|date=26 May 1990|first=Christopher S.|last=Wren}}</ref><ref name="mg2013bodies" /><ref name="truth-commission" />

{{main|The 1991 trial of Winnie Mandela}}
In 1991, Mrs Mandela was acquitted of all but the kidnapping of Seipei.<ref name="theguardian1" /> A key witness, [[Katiza Cebekhulu]],<ref name="saHistoryKatizaTrcTestify">{{cite web|url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/former-member-mandela-united-football-club-katiza-cebekhulu-appears-trc|title=Former member of the Mandela United Football Club, Katiza Cebekhulu appears before the TRC|last=sahoboss|date=16 March 2011|publisher=South African History Online}}</ref> who was going to testify that Madikizela-Mandela had killed Sepei, had been tortured and kidnapped to [[Zambia]] by her supporters prior to the trial, to prevent him testifying against her.<ref name="trewhelaMoralProblemDailyMaverick"/><ref name="katizaCarlinIndependent1997">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/alive-well-and-still-determined-to-nail-winnie-1287342.html|title=Alive, well – and still determined to nail Winnie|first=John|last= Carlin|date=7 December 1997|newspaper=The Independent}}</ref><ref name="truth-commission" />  Her six-year jail sentence was reduced to a fine on appeal.<ref name="guardianWinnieGuiltyFraud2003">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/apr/24/southafrica|title=Winnie Mandela found guilty of fraud|last=Staff and agencies|date=24 April 2003|website=The Guardian}}</ref>

In 1992, she was accused of ordering the murder of [[Abu Baker Asvat]], a family friend and prominent Soweto doctor,<ref name="saHistoryAsvatBio">{{cite web|url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/dr-abu-baker-asvat|title=Dr. Abu Baker Asvat|last=michelle|date=25 May 2012|publisher=South African History Online}}</ref> who had examined Seipei at Mandela's house, after Seipei had been abducted but before he had been killed.<ref>Battersby, John (9 April 1992), [http://www.csmonitor.com/1992/0409/09042.html "South Africa Police Order Full Probe Of Mandela Charge"], ''The Christian Science Monitor''.</ref> Mandela's role in the Asvat killing was later probed as part of the [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)|Truth and Reconciliation Commission]] hearings in 1997.<ref name="independentFreshMurderCharge">Bridgland, Fred (28 November 1997), [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/winnie-may-face-fresh-murder-charge-1296630.html "Winnie may face fresh murder charge"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008031137/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/winnie-may-face-fresh-murder-charge-1296630.html |date=8 October 2017 }}, ''The Independent''.</ref> Asvat's murderer testified that she paid the equivalent of $8,000 and supplied the firearm used in the killing, which took place on 27 January 1989.<ref>Daley, Suzanne (2 December 1997), [https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/02/world/panel-hears-evidence-winnie-mandela-sought-doctor-s-death.html "Panel Hears Evidence Winnie Mandela Sought Doctor's Death"], ''The New York Times''.</ref> The hearings were later adjourned amid claims that witnesses were being intimidated on Madikizela-Mandela's orders.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/36003.stm Winnie hearing adjourned after intimidation claims], BBC.co.uk, 1 December 1997.</ref>

In a 2017 documentary about the life and activism of Madikizela-Mandela, former Soweto police officer Henk Heslinga alleged that former safety minister Sydney Mufamadi had instructed him to re-open the investigation into the death of Seipei, as well as all other cases made against Madikizela-Mandela, for the purpose of charging Winnie with murder. According to Heslinga, Richardson admitted during an interview that Seipei discovered he was an informant, and that he killed the child to cover his tracks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.macleans.ca/opinion/why-winnie-mandela-could-not-be-forgiven/|title=Why Winnie Mandela could not be forgiven |date=4 April 2018|work=Macleans.ca|access-date=9 April 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> However, at a press conference a few days after Madikizela-Mandela's funeral, Mufamadi denied the allegations in the documentary, stating that Helsinga's statements were false.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/sydneymufamadi-denies-allegations-in-winnie-documentary-14468928|title=#SydneyMufamadi denies allegations in #Winnie documentary|publisher=IOL News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-sydney-mufamadi-addresses-claims-in-winnie-madikizela-mandela-documentary-20180416|title=Investigations into Winnie 'took place at behest of Tony Leon' – Mufamadi|publisher=News24|access-date=16 April 2018|archive-date=16 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416200755/https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-sydney-mufamadi-addresses-claims-in-winnie-madikizela-mandela-documentary-20180416|url-status=dead}}</ref> The documentary had previously been described by in a review by ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' as "unabashedly one-sided" and "overwhelmingly defensive".<ref name="vanityFairSundanceWinnie">{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/reviews/winnie-review-1201972227|title=Sundance Film Review: 'Winnie'|first=Guy|last=Lodge|date=30 January 2017|magazine=Variety}}</ref> Commentator [[Max du Preez]], called the decision by television station [[eNCA]] to broadcast the documentary in the week prior to Madikizela-Mandela's funeral without context a "serious mistake", and he described it as making "outrageous claims",<ref name="capturedByPopulistPoliticsduPreez"/> while former TRC commissioner [[Dumisa Ntsebeza]] questioned the motives of the documentary maker.<ref name="ntsebezaNews24Documentary">{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/dumisa-ntsebeza-accuses-winnie-documentary-maker-of-having-no-regard-for-our-people-20180417|title=Dumisa Ntsebeza accuses Winnie documentary maker of having 'no regard for our people'|first=Amanda|last=Khoza|publisher=News24|access-date=18 April 2018|archive-date=18 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418095811/https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/dumisa-ntsebeza-accuses-winnie-documentary-maker-of-having-no-regard-for-our-people-20180417|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2018, ANC MP [[Mandla Mandela|Mandla]], Nelson Mandela's grandson by his first wife, Evelyn Mase, called for Madikizela-Mandela's role in the Asvat and Seipei murders to be probed.<ref name="mandlaSabcProbeMurdersCall">{{cite web|author=Nthakoana Ngatane |url=http://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/eff-accuses-mandla-mandela-vindictiveness/ |title=EFF accuses Mandla Mandela of vindictiveness |publisher=SABC News |date=20 January 2018 |access-date=15 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="mandlaEncaProbeMurdersCall">{{cite web|url=https://www.enca.com/south-africa/mandla-mandela-wants-inquest-into-deaths-of-stompie-seipie-dr-asvat|title=Mandla Mandela wants inquest into deaths of Stompie Seipie, Dr Asvat|website=Enca.com|date=19 January 2018|access-date=7 April 2018|archive-date=7 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407055124/https://www.enca.com/south-africa/mandla-mandela-wants-inquest-into-deaths-of-stompie-seipie-dr-asvat|url-status=dead}}</ref> In October 2018 a new biography of Madikizela-Mandela concluded that she had been responsible for the murder of Asvat.<ref>[https://city-press.news24.com/Trending/Books/book-extract-the-assassination-of-dr-asvat-20181007 The assassination of Dr Asvat], Fred Brigland, ''City Press'', 7 October 2018</ref>

In April 2018, Joyce Seipei, the mother of Stompie Seipei, told media that she did not believe that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was involved in her son’s murder.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ewn.co.za/2018/04/08/stompie-seipei-s-mother-i-don-t-believe-madikizela-mandela-involved-in-murder|title=Stompie Seipei's mother: I don't believe Madikizela-Mandela involved in murder|last=Motau|first=Koketšo|date=8 April 2018|access-date=9 April 2018|language=en}}</ref> In a subsequent interview with UK paper ''[[The Independent]]'', Joyce Seipei said that she had forgiven Madikizela-Mandela, and that during the TRC hearings, Madikizela-Mandela had told her, in the context of her son Stompie's murder: "...may God forgive me".<ref name="independent2018MartinMurderedSchoolboy"/> After the TRC hearings, Madikizela-Mandela had provided financial support to Joyce Sepei's family, and Seipei's home was furnished by the ANC.<ref name="independent2018MartinMurderedSchoolboy"/>