AmaMpondo King Ndamase Ndamase has lauded Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, saying he and his kingdom were "very proud" of the role their "princess played in the fight against the apartheid regime".

Ndamase said that his nation joined the world in mourning the death of Madikizela-Mandela.

"Mandela, the Princess of Amangutyana and AmaMpondo, will be sadly missed by her people of emaMpondweni. As her Nation of AmaMpondo and the kingdom, we are very proud of the role our Princess has played in the fight against the apartheid regime."

Ndamase added that she had not only raised her two daughters, Zindziswa and Zenani Mandela, but she had also raised many destitute children who were subjected to abject poverty by the apartheid system.

"Our nation will remember this social worker for many charity programmes she assisted with in various villages and townships of our country. We will always miss this icon of the struggle - the voice of the voiceless, that remained a watchdog to the ruling party until the end," he said.

Madikizela-Mandela died on Monday at the age of 81.

Madikizela-Mandela was born in Mbizana and comes from a long line of the royal family of the AmaNgutyana clan.