George Bizos looks at the Mandelas' strained relationship in this extract from his new book.
Not long after Nelson's release he confided that his relationship with Winnie was strained, not only on a personal level but because of her public behaviour.
She contradicted him while they were on a platform in Germany; she repudiated his call that the people of KwaZulu-Natal throw their weapons into the sea.
He called for reconciliation but she advocated the continuation of the armed struggle. She refused to co-operate with or even acknowledge the ANC leadership. These matters weighed heavily on his mind, particularly since he had requested that she head the ANC's social welfare desk...
