My Boss, Mrs Mandela

For the final decade of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s life, one woman remained at her side through it all. Zodwa Zwane was not a politician, a freedom fighter or a public figure. She was Mrs Mandela’s personal assistant- a constant presence beside one of the most scrutinised figures of modern history. What began as employment soon became an enduring friendship.

In My Boss, Mrs Mandela, Bonga Percy Vilakazi brings to life the extraordinary story of the woman who stood closest to Winnie in her final years. Through Zodwa’s eyes, we encounter a rarely seen version of Winnie: mischievous yet formidable, deeply wounded yet fiercely resilient- a woman both revered and profoundly misunderstood.

But this is also Zodwa’s story. From her childhood in apartheid-era Soweto, through loss, hardship and matters of faith, to the moment she finds herself working for the Mother of the Nation, Zodwa’s life becomes an intimate lens through which we witness history unfolding.