Winnie Madikizela-Mandela makes comeback

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the embattled ex-wife of Nelson Mandela, staged yet another political comeback today when she was re-elected to the top flight of South Africa’s ruling party.

Madikizela-Mandela, who is charged with 85 counts of fraud, received the sixth most votes in the election for African National Congress’s 60-member executive committee.

Despite years of controversy, the president of the ANC’s Women’s League remains popular with poor urban blacks, who see her as the mother of their fight against racism.

But her career has been tainted with controversy over the past decade.

In 1991, she was convicted of kidnapping and assault and sentenced to six years in prison. The sentence was reduced to a fine on appeal.

She is currently on trial for fraud and theft involving about €100,000 in fraudulent bank loans.

She has also been criticised for rarely attending parliament and has been accused of letting the once vibrant Women’s League languish under her leadership.

The ANC’s five-day national convention ends today in Stellenbosch, near Cape Town. It has provided an indication of who might be in line to succeed Thabo Mbeki as president when he steps down after a second term in 2009.

Mbeki was elected to serve another five years as party leader on Monday night. His nomination and that of five other senior party officials was unopposed.

Of those elected to the executive committee today, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel won the most votes, with wealthy businessman Cyril Ramaphosa finishing a close second.

Most analysts do not view Manuel or Madikizela-Mandela as likely presidential candidates, but Ramaphosa is considered a possible contender.

Once in the running to succeed Nelson Mandela as president, Ramaphosa was beaten by Mbeki for the post.

Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who has recently also emerged as a potential heir to Mbeki, came in third in today’s election.

Formed 90 years ago, the ANC led the fight against apartheid rule and dominates South African politics. Apartheid ended with all-race elections in 1994.