South Africa’s anti-apartheid activist Winnie Mandela dies

Former South African anti-apartheid activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has died aged 81, a family spokesman said Monday.

Victor Dlamini said the she died after a long illness‚ for which she had been in and out of the hospital since the start of the year.

"She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones," Dlamini said.

Winnie Mandela was the ex-wife of the late Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president. She was one of the country's greatest icons in the struggle against apartheid.

Her activism and resistance to apartheid landed her in jail on numerous occasions.

According to her family, "she kept the memory of her imprisoned husband Nelson Mandela alive during his years on Robben Island and helped give the struggle for justice in South Africa one of its most recognizable faces.

"The Mandela family are deeply grateful for the gift of her life and even as our hearts break at her passing‚ we urge all those who loved her to celebrate this most remarkable woman," the family said in a statement.