On behalf of the producers of the motion picture titled Winnie, spokesperson, Dezi Rorich, today confirmed that the producers, André Pieterse (of e’Lollipop fame) and writer/director Darrell Roodt, recently initiated a meeting with lawyers representing Ms Madikizela-Mandela, but failed to reach an understanding at that meeting.

The position of the producers is that if a screenplay has to be approved by Ms Madikizela-Mandela, then the film based on that screenplay could possibly be jeopardised as the world may question the credibility of the film.

The producers of the Winnie film acquired the film rights to a book published in 2003 titled, Winnie Mandela - A Life, written by Anné Mariè du Preez Bezdrob. To their knowledge, Ms Madikizela-Mandela has not objected to this book.

The producers of the Winnie film were advised that they do not legally require Ms Madikizela-Mandela's consent in order to produce the film. Nevertheless, they do not intend any disrespect towards Ms Madikizela-Mandela or the Mandela family by not requesting such consent.