EFF leader Julius Malema could not believe the news that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela had died, and later that night wept alone, overwhelmed by grief for the woman who had sparked his passion, defended him and invested her hopes that he would someday be president.
He was in Polokwane at a family lunch for his grandmother when he received the call from Madikizela-Mandela's grandson Zondwa Mandela.
"I was just in denial, that maybe there's some miscommunication," Malema said.
"At night, I got extremely disorganised. I go into crying alone. I didn't want my wife and kids to see I'm in a different space."In an extensive and emotional interview with the Sunday Times, Malema spoke of the mother-son relationship he shared with the struggle stalwart, which began when he was a teenager.
The first time they met, when she came to address a winter school in his township of Seshego, Madikizela-Mandela saw the same fire in him that burned in her, and predicted he would make his mark in politics.
Malema, about 16 at the time, was given the opportunity to speak in her presence.
"When I finished, she had very good things to say to me. She said: 'You've got a very promising future in politics. Just focus on your education. Remain an activist, we see the future in you.'"
The relationship was cemented.
"We just became family. We'd talk about almost everything. We'd talk about our fears, things that make us happy. We'd talk about things that trouble us politically, particularly her," said Malema.The two defended each other through difficult moments in their lives.
Before Malema was expelled from the ANC, Madikizela-Mandela went to speak in his defence before the ANC disciplinary committee. She stood by him when he was arrested and the South African Revenue Service had his belongings confiscated. Malema said she would call him to check how he and his grandmother were coping.
Similarly, Malema stood by Madikizela-Mandela during her troubles.
When she was convicted of fraud in 2003, police carried Malema out of court after he shouted at the judge.
He also rallied support for her when there were no funds to pay for her security personnel and she had no protection, and lobbied for her to be granted a presidential pardon.
"I'm not the type to celebrate people only when they are dead," said Malema. "Where were those ANC Women's League people then to say Julius is right, let's give Mama a presidential pardon? Now they are all pretending to cry for her."
As in any mother-son relationship, there were also reprimands he had to bear.
One of these occasions was when the EFF co-operated with the DA to take over the City of Johannesburg. "You want to stay in a metro that is led by DA, by an opposition? What are you doing?" she shouted at him.
Malema sought the intervention of EFF chairman Dali Mpofu, who still advised Madikizela-Mandela as a lawyer, to help explain to her why it was necessary to remove the ANC from power in Johannesburg.When EFF MPs confronted former president Jacob Zuma and were forcibly removed from the National Assembly by parliament's bouncers, Madikizela-Mandela would call Malema to check if anyone was hurt.
"She never said what we are doing to Zuma is wrong. She wanted Zuma to resign. But she refused to do public statements."
Malema said the only time he avoided her was when he and Floyd Shivambu decided to form the EFF.
"Much, much later, I went to explain to Mama. She said: 'Well, you've got my blessings. As long as these two streams [the ANC and EFF] will at some point meet ...'
"She believed that these are two streams flowing in the same direction and that at some point they will converge."
Malema never asked her to join the EFF and it shocked him when she said "Viva EFF!" at public events.
One of the happiest moments they shared recently was when Madikizela-Mandela attended EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi's graduation party. She enjoyed herself so much that Malema, worrying about her health, eventually suggested that she leave.
He was at her bedside when she was in hospital earlier this year, but did not know she had taken ill over the Easter weekend.
Throughout the mourning period, Malema said he felt as if they were preparing for a rally she would address."For me it was like a rally. We must not disappoint her. When she comes, she must find the stadium full, she must find everything in order," said Malema.
"Only when the coffin came into the stadium, I then realised it is not her coming to address any rally. This is the end of it."
Apart from his campaign to have Cape Town International Airport named after Madikizela-Mandela, Malema also wants her home in Soweto to become a monument.
"We have to take it from here, going forward, knowing that her spirit and her teachings are with us to guide us," said Malema.
But there is one wish Malema is not sure he can fulfil for his "Ma".
She wanted him to be president.
"Her wishes may not be realised through occupation of office of the president, but that which she wanted me to do as president can still be done even if I am not the president. That is to fight for her people."..