Good morning, this is Eleanor Ainge Roy bringing you the main stories and must-reads on Tuesday 3 April.

Top stories



Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, a hero of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa but also one of its most controversial figures, has died aged 81. The former wife of Nelson Mandela died at a hospital in Johannesburg after a long illness. Seen as the “mother of the nation” by many who admired her steely leadership, firebrand rhetoric and courageous activism against a brutal racist regime, Madikizela-Mandela was also repeatedly accused of being linked to violence and corruption. Her often negative image abroad contrasted with her deep and long-lasting popularity among many in her homeland.

A statement from her family said the former political prisoner had been “in and out of hospital since the beginning of the year”. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, another veteran of the struggle, said she was “a defining symbol” of the anti-apartheid struggle whose “courageous defiance was deeply inspirational to ... generations of activists”. Her obituary explains the love and loathing she inspired in her homeland, while Ralph Mathekga analyses her legacy.

An urgent review is being conducted by the Western Australian Department of Corrective Services into how an Indigenous woman was left to give birth alone in a Perth prison cell last month. Guardian Australia understands the woman had pressed the cell alarm button and requested assistance, but gave birth before either medical help arrived or custodial staff arrived to unlock the cell. The woman, who was 36 weeks pregnant, had been on remand at Bandyup women’s prison for several months and had been seen by medical staff that afternoon.

Educational inequality has cost the Australian economy more than $20bn, as well as contributing to the widening gap between rich and poor, research has found. The report from the Public Education Foundation found students at the bottom of Australia’s schooling system were falling further behind. Socioeconomic status and their parents’ education remained the key factors. The researcher David Hetherington found students already in the bottom cohort because of factors outside of their control were falling behind their international peers further and faster than those at higher levels.

Australia’s excoriation of Russia shows it still views the relationship as expendable and “severely underestimates” the Kremlin’s increasing projection of power into the Asia Pacific, a close observer of Russian foreign policy has warned. Curtin University’s Alexey Muraviev said Australia’s “China-centric” view was obscuring the growing influence of Russia. Last week Australia expelled two Russian diplomats as part of the international reaction to the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Britain. Muraviev questioned whether Australia would have taken the same action against China.

The underwater melting of Antarctic ice is far greater than originally thought, a study has found. Hidden underwater melt-off is doubling every 20 years, and the Antarctic could soon overtake Greenland to become the biggest source of sea-level rise, according to the first complete underwater map of the world’s largest body of ice. Viewed from above, the extent of land and sea ice in the far south has not changed as dramatically as in the far north. But the study found the bottom edge of the ice sheet, some of which is more than 2km underwater, has been losing five metres every year.

Sport

Morne Morkel took two wickets to restrict Australia to 88 for three at the close on the fourth day of the final Test, after South Africa batted on interminably to set Australia an impossible target of 612. The home side will look to wrap up a 3-1 series victory by taking the remaining seven wickets on the final day.

The Melbourne Rebels’ 50-19 loss to the Hurricanes on Friday night raised the alarming prospect of another trans-Tasman whitewash, but Super Rugby in general and Australian rugby in particular desperately need Australian teams to be competitive with New Zealand sides, writes Bret Harris. And that does not mean losing gallantly, but beating them regularly.

Thinking time

The Riverside Centre in Orange was one of Australia’s last large institutions for people with an intellectual disability. The photographer Cassandra Hannagan visited some of the last residents as they prepared for its farewell ball and their new life in the community. Her photo essay captures the warmth and dignity of the residents – some of whom had been in the centre for more than 30 years – and the strength of their bond with former employees.

It’s 20 years since the establishment of the blockade camp at Jabiluka in Kakadu national park to protest against the proposed uranium mine on the land of the Mirarr people. Scott Ludlam, who joined the blockade with 5,000 others, says it is an important moment to reflect on what can be achieved by peaceful protest. “Those who stood up at Jabiluka, and at the Franklin river, and those who stand today against Adani’s coalmine will be accused of standing in the way of ‘progress’, will be attacked by government and industry, and will cop huge fines for their acts of trespass and nonviolent obstruction … But sometimes, it’s good to know, people grounded in their law and country can prevail.”

The rapper, TV writer, artist, director and producer Coco Solid, AKA Jessica Hansell, is at the forefront of a Polynesian pop cultural takeover. The protege of Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement talks to the Guardian about her latest project, a 12-track hip-hop mixtape that covers everything from her identity as a woman of Māori, German and Pacific heritage, to “declining the pressure to uphold white Pākehā traditions that are irrelevant to me”. “To be modern and to respect my Māori identity are one and the same thing,” she says.

What’s he done now?

When Donald Trump phoned Vladmir Putin after the Russian president’s election victory, he also invited him to the White House, both camps have confirmed. The Kremlin said no preparations had been made by the time the US expelled 60 Russian diplomats last week.

Media roundup

The Australian reports on a Sydney woman’s successful mission to retrieve her two children from Beirut, Lebanon, where they were living with her estranged husband. The Herald Sun says convicted sex offenders are being granted working-with-children permits at an “alarming” rate. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal said three rapists were granted clearence in one year, while five people convicted of molesting children were granted permits. And the ABC reports that fighter jets and drone guns are on standby to protect people at the Commonweath Games, which has turned into the largest security operation in Queensland’s history.

Coming up

A hearing will be held today before the coronial inquest into the deaths of four people killed on the Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld in October 2016. Evidence is not expected to be heard until later in the year.

Australian swimming stars will be prominent on day 99(!) of the Commonwealth Games baton relay, as the Gold Coast gears up for Wednesday’s opening ceremony.

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