A new Netflix documentary series, The Trials of Winnie Mandela, revisits the life and legacy of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela ahead of its April release.
A new seven-part documentary series on Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is set to land on Netflix this April.
Titled The Trials of Winnie Mandela, the series premieres on 23 April 2026 and revisits the life and legacy of one of South Africa’s most complex political figures.
Rather than offering a straightforward biography, the documentary is told through the perspective of her granddaughters, Zaziwe Manaway and Swati Mandela-Dlamini. The two set out to understand their grandmother beyond the public image, piecing together a portrait shaped by family memory, archival footage and historical record.
The series includes previously unseen material and first-hand reflections from Madikizela-Mandela herself, alongside commentary from a range of voices across politics, law and culture. Contributors include Dikgang Moseneke, Kgalema Motlanthe, Thuli Madonsela and Sisonke Msimang, among others.
Importantly, the documentary does not avoid the more difficult parts of her legacy. It revisits the controversies, allegations and public scrutiny that followed her, including the events surrounding the Nelson Mandela Football Club and the deaths of Stompie Seipei and Siboniso Tshabalala. These perspectives sit alongside accounts of her role in the anti-apartheid struggle, offering a more layered view of a life that continues to divide opinion.
Directed by the late documentary filmmaker Mandy Jacobson, the series positions itself as both a personal search and a public reckoning.
For many South Africans, Madikizela-Mandela remains a significant and complex figure. A documentary like this opens up broader questions about how history is remembered, interpreted and passed on, and how people come to understand it over time, often revisiting what they thought they knew as new voices and perspectives are added.
The trailer is already out, offering a first look at how the series approaches that tension.
The Trials of Winnie Mandela starts streaming on Netflix on 23 April.
