South Africa Flag of South Africa: Zindzi Mandela the daughter of Nelson and Winnie Mandela, and South Africa's Ambassador to Denmark has passed away at a Johannesburg hospital.
Zindziswa Mandela (23 December 1960 – 13 July 2020), was a South African diplomat and poet who was serving as her country's ambassador to Denmark at the time of her death. Zindzi was appointed South Africa's ambassador to Denmark in 2014. Zindzi studied law at the University of Cape Town, where she earned a BA in 1985.
The daughter of anti-apartheid activists and politicians Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Zindzi was the younger sister of Zenani Mandela and the third of Nelson Mandela's three daughters. She served as a stand-in First Lady of South Africa from 1996 to 1998.
Zindzi Mandela was born on 23 December 1960 in Soweto, in what was then the Union of South Africa to Nelson and Winnie Mandela. The year of her birth was also the year that the African National Congress (ANC) launched its armed wing. Her parents were wanted by the government. By the time her father was sent to prison, Zindzi was 18 months old. During her youth Zindzi was often left in the care of her older sister Zenani Mandela when her mother was sent to prison for months at a time. Zindzi's mother was banished to the Orange Free State in 1977 and she went to live with her there. Zindzi was not able to complete her education until she was sent to Swaziland. Eventually, her mother was allowed to move back to Soweto.
Zindzi was married twice and had four children: Zoleka Mandela (1980), Zondwa Mandela (1985), Bambatha Mandela (1989) and Zwelabo Mandela (1992). Her first husband was Zwelibanzi Hlongwane.] She married her second husband, Molapo Motlhajwa, who was a member of the South African National Defence Force, in March 2013.
Africa Team