UN chief condoles death of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

United Nations April 3 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was saddened by the death of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela a former wife of Nelson Mandela and an anti-apartheid leader in her own right a UN spokesman has said.

"The Secretary-General is saddened by the passing of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela a leading figure at the forefront of the fight against apartheid in South Africa " Stephane Dujarric the spokesman told reporters on Monday Xinhua reported.

"She was a strong and fearless voice in the struggle for equal rights and will be remembered as a symbol of resistance " said the spokesman.

The Secretary-General extended his deepest condolences to the people of South Africa and to Madikizela-Mandela s family he said.

Madikizela-Mandela died in Johannesburg on Monday at the age of 81. She died peacefully surrounded by her family following a long illness that kept her in and out of hospital since the start of the year her family said in a statement.

Madikizela-Mandela was one of the greatest icons of the struggle against Apartheid.

--IANS
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