Winnie Mandela Quits Posts After Letter Is Published

Winnie Mandela announced Thursday that she is resigning her position in the ANC’s national executive committee and her leadership posts in the Women’s League, retaining only her ANC membership.

Her decision followed the release of an intimate letter she allegedly wrote to Dali Mpofu, a 30-year-old lawyer. The letter indicated that she had been romantically involved with Mpofu, her former deputy in the ANC’s Social Welfare Department.

The letter referred to a financial scandal within the Social Welfare Department, which Mandela headed until she resigned in April. The ANC has been investigating what it calls “serious discrepancies” in the books. ANC sources say Mandela is not directly implicated.

Mandela, who formally separated from her husband in April, said she is resigning “in the interest of my dear husband and my beloved family.” She did not deny writing the letter.

The letter, published by newspapers last weekend, bitterly attacked Mpofu for sleeping with other women and referred to “trouble” over $57,000 paid to him from a private account. Dated last March, the letter said that because of Mpofu, she and her husband had not spoken to each other for five months.

“I won’t be your bloody fool, Dali,” the letter said. “Before I am through with you, you are going to learn a bit of honesty and sincerity and know what betrayal of one’s trust means to a woman.”