TRC Final Report

Volume 5

Chapter 6

Subsection 23

Findings in regard to Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and the Mandela Football Club

THE COMMISSION FINDS THAT MS MADIKIZELA-MANDELA WAS CENTRAL TO THE ESTABLISHMENT AND FORMATION OF THE MANDELA UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB, WHICH LATER DEVELOPED INTO A PRIVATE VIGILANTE UNIT OPERATING AROUND MS MADIKIZELA-MANDELA AND FROM HER HOUSES IN BOTH ORLANDO WEST AND DIEPKLOOF. THE COMMISSION FINDS THAT THE COMMUNITY ANGER AGAINST MS MADIKIZELA-MANDELA AND THE FOOTBALL CLUB MANIFESTED ITSELF IN THE BURNING OF THE MANDELA HOME IN ORLANDO WEST IN JULY 1988, WHICH LED TO POLITICAL, COMMUNITY AND CHURCH LEADERS REQUESTING THAT SHE DISBAND THE FOOTBALL CLUB.

THE COMMISSION FURTHER FINDS THAT THE MANDELA UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB WAS INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING KILLING, TORTURE, ASSAULTS AND ARSON IN THE COMMUNITY. IT IS THE COMMISSION’S VIEW THAT MS MADIKIZELA-MANDELA WAS AWARE OF THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND THE DISQUIET IT CAUSED IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT CHOSE DELIBERATELY NOT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS EMANATING FROM THE FOOTBALL CLUB. THE COMMISSION FINDS THAT THOSE WHO OPPOSED MS MADIKIZELA-MANDELA AND THE MANDELA UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB, OR DISSENTED FROM THEM, WERE BRANDED AS INFORMERS, AND KILLED. THE LABELLING BY MS MADIKIZELA-MANDELA OF OPPONENTS AS INFORMERS CREATED THE PERCEPTION THAT THEY WERE LEGITIMATE TARGETS. IT IS THE FINDING OF THIS COMMISSION THAT MS MADIKIZELA-MANDELA HAD KNOWLEDGE OF AND/OR PARTICIPATED IN THE ACTIVITIES OF CLUB MEMBERS, AND/OR THAT THEY WERE AUTHORISED AND/OR SANCTIONED BY HER.

THE COMMISSION FINDS THAT MS MADIKIZELA-MANDELA FAILED TO ACCOUNT TO COMMUNITY AND POLITICAL STRUCTURES. FURTHER THAT SHE IS ACCOUNTABLE, POLITICALLY AND MORALLY, FOR THE GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTED BY THE MANDELA UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB. THE COMMISSION FINDS FURTHER THAT MRS MADIKIZELA-MANDELA HERSELF WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMITTING SUCH GROSS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS.