The daughter of one of the world’s most renowned political leaders and South Africa’s first Black President Nelson Mandela was laid to rest on Friday. Zindzi, the youngest daughter of Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela, was buried at Fourways Memorial Park in Johannesburg.
She was laid to rest next to her mother, who passed away in 2018.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the Mandela family for revealing that Zindzi had Covid-19 at the time of death. The gesture will “encourage acceptance” of those infected, Mr. Ramaphosa said. “I would like to thank the Mandela family for the very important gesture of sharing this information with the nation. This is a virus that affects us all, and there should never be any stigma around people who become infected,” he tweeted ahead of Zindzi Mandela’s funeral.” The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only a handful of close friends, relatives and South African political figures attended the funeral service.
As South Africa’s ambassador to Denmark, Zindzi Mandela dedicated her life to honoring the legacy of Nelson Mandela, becoming an activist in her own right. She co-founded the Mandela Legacy Foundation and was also the Managing Trustee of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. She leaves behind four children.
Her son Zondwa said his mother’s passing was “an unfortunate loss” to the family and country. “I cannot describe the feeling. It has been an unfortunate loss,” Zondwa told national broadcaster SABC during the live telecast.
Describing her as a person full of love and affection, Zondwa said the family will keep their mother’s legacy alive by continuing with her work. “She survived the most brutal regime at an early age, and we thought that this crisis and this invisible enemy that we are faced with today, she is going to survive because she has seen worse,” said Julius Malema, the leader of the radical opposition EFF party. She added, “We are shattered. We are still in disbelief, but there is nothing we can do. She was fearless. She spoke her mind.”
Zindzi grew up at the height of anti-apartheid struggle. She suffered years of harassment and intimidation by the apartheid regime when her father was imprisoned on Robben Island.
There are only two of Nelson Mandela’s six children who are still alive – Zenani Dlamini, Zindzi’s sister; and Pumla Makaziwe Mandela, a daughter from his first marriage, to Evelyn Mase.
