Award-winning actress and presenter Thembisa Mdoda-Nxumalo is set to portray struggle icon Winnie Mandela in the stage production The Cry of Winnie Mandela.
The Cry of Winnie Mandela is back, bigger, bolder, and more powerful than ever. Its production is adapted by Alex Burger, from Njabulo S. Ndebele’s seminal novel, and directed by the award-winning MoMo Matsunyane.
Stage play returns to Joburg after Cape Town run
The play is set to reclaim the stage at The Market Theatre from February 26 – March 23 2025, after a successful run in Cape Town.
Mdoda-Nxumalo will lead a powerhouse cast featuring Rami Chuene, Ayanda Sibisi, Siyasanga Papu, Lesley Made, and Pulane Rampoana.
Director MoMo Matsunyane described The Cry of Winnie Mandela as a bold exploration of waiting, resilience, and the sacrifices women make in the face of history.
Powerful, multi-layered figure to explore
“Winnie Mandela continues to be a powerful, multi-layered figure to explore. Her revolutionary spirit, resilient character, and generous heart have become anchors for many women. Women of all generations and identities, each see herself in her legacy. Indeed, she did not die; she multiplied,’’ said Matsunyane.
The play unfolds as four women meet to reflect, joined together by their anticipation of their husbands’ return. Through raw storytelling, humour, and stirring performances, they weave their narratives into Winnie Mandela’s own interrogating the cost of endurance and the price of patience. The result is a deeply moving theatrical experience. One that transcends time, urging audiences to draw parallels between history and the present.
Star’s real-life marriage on the rocks
This second installation is a celebration of the show’s undeniable impact. It also brings into focus the unbreakable spirit of the women whose stories it brings to life.
Meanwhile, Mdoda-Nxumalo’s second marriage is said to be on the rocks. Her husband, Mfanelo Nxumalo, is said to have moved out of their matrimonial home in Fourways last year. He allegedly lives in an apartment in Northcliff, northern Johannesburg.
