Mandela, Winnie MadikizelaMandela, Win‧nie Ma‧di‧ki‧ze‧la /ˈwɪni məˌdiːkiːˈzeɪlə/(1936–) a South African politician who was the wife of Nelson Mandela from 1958 until 1996. She was admired during her long opposition to the white government and its policy of apartheid, but many people believe that she was involved in the murder of black political opponents during the 1980s.