By Nkosana Lekotjolo

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela said she “felt exactly at home” after inspecting her old Soweto house, which reopened on Thursday after a R9-million face-lift.

The museum, situated on Vilakazi Street, Orlando West, up the road from the home of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, attracts visitors from all over the world.

“To see the house transformed is really an achievement, but its memories are still painful,” Madikizela-Mandela said.

The house was officially reopened on Thursday by Gauteng Premier Paul Mashatile.

Madikizela-Mandela, her daughters, Zindzi and Zenani, and her grandchildren were there, as were government officials and neighbours.

Former president Nelson Mandela wrote a statement that was read out by Zindzi.

“The heritage of this humble dwelling is, of course, one of struggle and sacrifice, but it is also one that demonstrates the ability of the human spirit to triumph over adversity,” his statement read.

“It is the heritage not only of one family but that of all the people of Soweto — and of our nation — who refused to bow down to tyranny or succumb to bitterness.”

Mashatile said the house served as a political “headquarters of the 1970s generation, including myself”.

Mandela House has been refurbished with large photo-graphs, paintings and video footage of the former president, his former wife and their children during the apartheid years.

Mashatile said he hoped visitors would stream through its doors because tourism “now contributes more than the gold mining industry to our country ”.

Source: The Times