Africa-Press – Botswana. Netflix today unveiled the official trailer for The Trials of Winnie Mandela, a compelling seven-part documentary series premiering exclusively on the service on 23 April 2026. Released on the eighth anniversary of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s passing, the trailer arrives as a poignant moment of reflection on her enduring legacy.
Directed by the late two-time Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Mandy Jacobson, the series is told through the perspective of Madikizela-Mandela’s granddaughters, HRH Princess Zaziwe Manaway (née Dlamini)and HRH Princess Swati Mandela-Dlamini, who also serves as a producer. Together, they embark on a deeply personal journey to uncover the essence of their iconic grandmother, lovingly known to them as “Big Mommy.”Through intimate family memories, personal testimony, and historical record, the series pieces together a portrait of one of South Africa’s most influential and contested political figures.
Audiences will hear from the “Mother of the Nation” in her own words as she reflects on her childhood, activism, and relationships as a wife, mother, and comrade. Drawing on never-before-seen footage from the later years of her life, the documentary offers a rare and intimate lens into Madikizela-Mandela’s world.
At the same time, the series confronts the controversies that shaped her public image — from the scandals and headlines that followed her to the persecution she endured under the apartheid regime. It also gives space to the voices of her detractors and some of her fiercest critics, offering a nuanced and unflinching portrait of a woman whose life was lived under extraordinary pressure and relentless public scrutiny.
Featuring a range of prominent voices, the documentary places Madikizela-Mandela’s life and legacy within broader political and cultural context. Contributors include former Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, former President Kgalema Motlanthe, anti-apartheid activist Dr Nakedi Mathews Phosa, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, political analyst and writer Sisonke Msimang, human rights lawyer Yasmin Sooka, visual artists Nkululeko Mahlangu and Loyiso Mkize, newspaper editor Mondli Makhanya, and Madikizela-Mandela’s longtime personal assistant Zodwa Zwane.
The series also includes interviews with members of the notorious Nelson Mandela Football Club, as well as family members of Siboniso Tshabalala and Stompie Moeketsi, who reflect on the lasting trauma of their deaths and Madikizela-Mandela’s involvement. Together, these voices contribute to a layered and thought-provoking retelling that examines both the historical significance and the enduring complexity of her legacy.
