Zindzi Mandela stood out as a fierce symbol against oppression in South Africa, just like her father Nelson Mandela.
The youngest dughter of former South African president and liberation hero Nelson Mandela, Zindzi Mandela died on Monday in early hours in a Johannesburg hospital. The Mandela Legacy Foundation, said that the funeral on the memory of the Zindzi will be arranged soon this week. The cause of her death was not immediately revealed.
Zindzi served as South Africa’s ambassador to Denmark in 2015. She was posted as the head of mission in Monrovia, Liberia. President Cyril Ramaphosa released a statement expressing sadness at her passing days before her father’s birthday.
Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor said, “Zindzi will not only be remembered as a daughter of our struggle heroes, but as a struggle heroine in her own right.”
The Johannesburg Hospital President appreciated the contributions given by Ms Mandela. ”She became the icon for many South Africans after she worked for the liberation. The task in which we bagan transforming the society and stepping into the spaces., the discrimination we used to face for the opportunity.”
“The 59-year-old daughter of former president Nelson Mandela and struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, passed away at a Johannesburg hospital in the early hours of this morning,” said public broadcaster SABC.
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How Was Zindzi’s Upbringing?
Zindzi was the the sixth child of Nelson Mandela from his second wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. According to Vumani Mkhize, Zindzi grew up facing anti-apartheid struggle, when her father was imprisoned on Robben Island, she tolerated years of harassment and was also bullied by the apartheid regime, along with her sister Zenani, and her mother Winnie.
BBC’s Vumani Mkhize told that Ms Mandela “played a critical role in symbolising the humanity and the anti-apartheid struggle during her life span.”
Zindzi Mandela was the only family member who read out Nelson Mandela’s rejection of then-president PW Botha’s offer for conditional release from prison at a public meeting in February 1985.
Political Career
Zindzi was posted as deputy president of the Soweto Youth Congress. For the African National Congress (ANC) party’s armed wing, uMkhonto we Sizwe she was working as an underground operator.
Pule Mabe, a spokesman of the governing ANC party, paid condolences and said that her death is untimely. ”She had a lot more to do for the African National Congress. Her contribution was not over yet, she needed to transform the society.” It has been reported that she was a vocal supporter for radical land reform in South Africa.
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