Known as the second wife of nelson madela, winnie madikizela-mandela was a south african anti-apartheid activist and politician. She was a member of parliament and had once headed the women's league of the african national congress (anc) party. Being a qualified social worker she always worked as anti-apartheid activist but became a public figure after her husband and fellow anti-apartheid activist, nelson mandela, was imprisoned. In his absence, winnie actively pursued politics and was imprisoned and tortured several times by the police on various charges. The longest time she spent in the prison was 493 days. After stepping out of the prison she became the face of terror as she exerted violence in her anti-apartheid movement in soweto. From kidnapping to torture to murder she tried every tactic to deal with her opponents. She was heavily criticised by the anc for her activities and was eventually dismissed from the party following allegations of corruption. Mandela and she divorced in 1996 following a dispute over mandela's property. After she was found guilty of theft and fraud in 2003, she took a step back from politics only to return a few years later.