On the eighth anniversary of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s passing, Netflix published the official trailer for its upcoming seven-part documentary series, The Trials of Winnie Mandela.
Set to premiere exclusively on the streaming service on 23 April 2026, the reflection on her legacy will feature commentary from members of Stompi Moeketsi’s family, the notorious Nelson Mandela Football Club and Siboniso Tshabalala’s family.
Per Netflix, they will reflect on the lasting wounds of their deaths and Madikizela-Mandela’s involvement. Together, these perspectives contribute to a layered retelling that examines both the historical significance and the enduring complexity of her legacy.
A variety of voices
The docu-series will also draw on a range of prominent voices to contextualise Madikizela-Mandela’s life and impact.
This includes insights from people like former deputy chief justice Dikgang Moseneke, former president Kgalema Motlanthe anti-apartheid activist Dr Nakedi Mathews Phosa, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, political analyst and writer Sisonke Msimang, human rights lawyer Yasmin Sooka, visual artists Nkululeko Mahlangu and Loyiso Mkize, newspaper editor Mondli Makhanya, and Madikizela-Mandela’s longtime personal assistant Zodwa Zwane.
The Trials of Winnie Mandela was directed by the late, two-time Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Mandy Jacobson. It unfolds from the perspective of Madikizela-Mandela’s granddaughters, HRH Princess Zaziwe Manaway (née Dlamini) and HRH Princess Swati Mandela-Dlamini, who is also credited as a producer.
The series unfolds as they set out to find the essence of their iconic grandmother, affectionately known to them as ‘Big Mommy’. Through their journey, the story pieces together a portrait shaped by personal accounts, family memory, and public record.
Winnie Mandela in her own words
Audiences will hear the ‘Mother of the Nation’ in her own words as she reflects on her childhood, her activism, and her relationships as a wife, mother and comrade, drawing on never-before-seen footage from the later years of the struggle icon’s life.
The Trials of Winnie Mandela also explores the controversies that defined her public image, including the headlines and scandals that followed her, as well as her persecution by the apartheid regime. According to Netflix, this inclusion of the voices of her detractors and some of her harshest critics is expected to offer a fuller view of a life lived under unforgiving, relentless scrutiny.
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