WINNIE MADIKIZELA-MANDELA’S daughter Zenani Mandela-Dlamini slammed hypocrisy and sexism in the African National Congress at her mother’s funeral in Soweto at the weekend.

She attacked those who had vilified her mother in life but eulogised her in death, declaring: “Praising her now shows us what hypocrites you are. The pain inflicted on her, lives on in us.”

Ms Mandela-Dlamini questioned why men in the liberation struggle hadn’t been subjected to the same scrutiny as her mother, insisting that "double standards obscure the immense efforts of women" to liberate the country.

"The battle for our freedom wasn't some polite picnic to which you came armed with your best behaviour,” she said.

Tens of thousands of mourners packed out the Orlando stadium before the streets of Soweto were thronged by thousands of residents who sang and cheered as her funeral procession drove to the Fourways Memorial Park.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “Proud, defiant, articulate, she exposed the lie of apartheid. Loudly and without apology, she spoke truth to power.”

He pledged to honour his promise to Ms Madikizela-Mandela to accompany her to Marikana to formally apologise to widows of 34 miners killed there, saying that he would go there “without you, but I will be guided by your spirit.”

Acknowledging ANC failings, the president said: “She bandaged our wounds. We did not do the same for her. Today is a moment to heal those wounds. Today is a time for healing as we put Mama Winnie to rest.”