Winfrey had the audience dancing to her tune after she took to the podium and said sanibonani (good afternoon).
She recalled having spent 10 days as well as 29 meals at the late states man’s home in Qunu in the Eastern Cape.
“What I learnt in those 10 days and nights and 29 meals was that his goodness, his integrity, his soul, could not be contained in a seven-by-nine cell [Robben Island], and I am here today, to remind us that even now his spirit lives,” she said.
Among those who shared their stories were Josina Machel, who detailed how she was physically assaulted by her then partner and subsequently lost her eyesight.
“When this horror happened to me, you would have though I would have had access to the best treatment in the police, in the hospital. The process to get to court took 18 months because my files kept on disappearing,” she said.
Modiba Matema from Limpopo said she had no regrets travelling to Johannesburg to attend the event.
“I came here with the intention to be empowered and I was. Conversations around gender-based violence are very important. We must tell our stories and wear them like a crown.”
Matema further added that she intended to empower other women in her village who were not able to attend the event.
“Tell your story. There is power in your story, no matter how devastating. There is not one thing that did not happen to you that did not also happen for you,” said Winfrey.
Judy Shiwundlana of Johannesburg said she was impressed by the address by Winfrey.