Winnie Mandela Dies At 81

South African anti-apartheid icon  Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has died at 81.

Her personal assistant Zodwa Swane confirmed her death today and said a statement would be released later.

However according to a family spokesman,  Winnie died peacefully following a long illness.

“She died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year,” Victor Dlamini said in a statement. “She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones.”

“She fought valiantly against the apartheid state and sacrificed her life for the freedom of the country,” the statement continued. “She kept the memory of her imprisoned husband Nelson Mandela alive during his years on Robben Island and helped give the struggle for justice in South Africa one its most recognisable faces.”

She was the former wife of late South African President Nelson Mandela. They were married for 38 years before they got divorce.