JOHANNESBURG - South Africa paid tribute to Winnie Mandela's "fighting spirit" on Tuesday as plans were made to mark the life of the firebrand anti-apartheid campaigner and Nelson Mandela's former wife.

She died in a Johannesburg hospital at the age of 81 on Monday, after suffering a long illness that failed to rob of her of the charisma and energy that defined her sometimes divisive character.

Mourners continued to gather at her Soweto home to honor the anti-apartheid fighter after President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that a memorial service would be held on April 11 and a full state funeral on April 14.

Leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters party Julius Malema, who became a confidante of Winnie Mandela in recent years, was expected to visit her modest two-story red brick home on Tuesday.

The EFF paid tribute to Winnie Mandela's "fighting spirit" following news of her death.

"She affirmed both the love and anger of black people; always committed to their right to defend their lives even (with) arms in the face of a deadly apartheid evil," the radical leftist party said in a statement.

The ruling African National Congress party's Women's League, which Winnie Mandela once led, planned a mass march to her home on Wednesday.

The activist died in Johannesburg's Milpark hospital, her family said, adding that she had "fought valiantly against the apartheid state" and that she was known "far and wide as the Mother of the Nation".

Winnie Mandela, who was married to Nelson Mandela for 38 years, played a high-profile role in the struggle to end white-minority rule.

"She died after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the start of the year. She succumbed peacefully in the early hours of Monday afternoon surrounded by her family and loved ones," said her family in a statement.

After her death was announced, Ramaphosa described her as "a voice of defiance and resistance" who "was an abiding symbol of the desire of our people to be free".

"For many years, she bore the brunt of senseless brutality of the apartheid state with stoicism," he said.

"Despite the hardship she faced, she never doubted that the struggle for freedom and democracy would triumph and succeed."

'Sing when we're hurt'

On Monday evening, Ramaphosa returned to her Soweto house as mourners gathered outside, singing struggle-era songs in tribute and praise.

"In African culture, we sing when we're hurt," said ANC Women's League official Winnie Ngwenya, 64.

Most of Winnie's marriage to Nelson was spent apart, with her husband imprisoned for 27 years, leaving her to raise their two daughters alone and to keep alive his political dream under the repressive white-minority government.

During her old age, she emerged as a respected elder who was feted as a living reminder of the late Mandela's legacy - and of the long and celebrated struggle against apartheid.

AFP - AP