The reviews came in thick and fast since the premiere of Netflix’s latest documentary, The Trials of Winnie Mandela, on 23 April 2026.
However, a recent and poignant observation from some viewers is the absence of Winnie’s youngest daughter, Zindzi Mandela.
ZINDZI MANDELA’S ABSENCE SPARKS CONCERN AMONG VIEWERS
The documentary received mixed reviews, with many viewers unsure about its premise.
Winnie’s granddaughters, Zaziwe Manaway and Swati Dlamini, were commended for their bravery in exploring their grandmother’s complex legacy, while others felt that certain details about Winnie’s life were omitted.
The crux of the matter is the absence of Zindzi and her children. Viewers wished they were involved, believing it would provide a more balanced perspective from the Mandela family.
X users questioned whether there was any tension between Zindzi and her older sister Zenani Mandela, considering that it was Zenani’s children who spearheaded the documentary project.
However, some people argued that, in fact, even Zenani rarely appears throughout the series, only making appearances via archival footage.
X user @valavoosh stated that neither Zenani nor Zindzi appeared in “present-day” interviews. She described the omission as a “missed opportunity,” given that Zindzi had a front row seat to Winnie’s life.
MORE ON THE DOCUMENTARY
The Trials of Winnie Mandela is a seven-part Netflix documentary series that unpacks and redefines the legacy of struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
The documentary was directed by the late Mandy Jacobson, and it is the brainchild of Winnie’s grandchildren, who’ve previously starred in a reality TV show called Being Mandela.
In an official statement from Netflix, the streaming platform shared the following regarding the much-talked-about documentary:
“Directed by the late, two-time Emmy Award®-winning documentary filmmaker Mandy Jacobson, the series unfolds from the perspective of Madikizela-Mandela’s granddaughters, HRH Princess Zaziwe Manaway (née Dlamini) and HRH Princess Swati Mandela-Dlamini, who is also credited as a producer, as they set out to find the essence of their iconic grandmother, affectionately known to them as ‘Big Mommy.”
“Through their journey, the story pieces together a portrait shaped by personal accounts, family memory, and public record.”