Zindzi Mandela

Zindzi Mandela was born on 23 December 1960 in Soweto, in what was then the Union of South Africa, to Nelson and Winnie Mandela.[8][9] 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.[10] Zindzi was 18 months old when her father was sent to prison.[9] During her youth she was often left in the care of her older sister Zenani Mandela when her mother was imprisoned for months at a time.[11]

In 1977, when her mother was banished to the Orange Free State, Zindzi went to live with her there. Zindzi was not able to complete her education until she was sent to Swaziland.[10] Eventually, her mother was allowed to move back to Soweto.[11] Zindzi's father was offered a conditional release in 1985 by the then-State President, P. W. Botha. Her father's reply could not be delivered by either one of her parents. Consequently, Zindzi was chosen to read his refusal at a public meeting on 10 February 1985.[12]

Her poetry was published in 1978 in the book Black as I Am, with photographs by Peter Magubane,[13] and has also appeared in publications including Somehow We Survive: An Anthology of South African Writing, edited by Sterling Plumpp (1982),[14] and Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Words and Writings by Women of African Descent, edited by Margaret Busby (1992).[15] Zindzi studied law at the University of Cape Town,[10][16] where she earned a BA in 1985.[17]

She served as a stand-in First Lady of South Africa from 1996 until 1998, between her parents' divorce and her father's remarriage, to Graça Machel.[18]

Zindzi was married twice and had four children from her first husband: daughter Zoleka (1980–2023) and sons Zondwa (b. 1985), Bambatha (b. 1989) and Zwelabo (b. 1992).[28] Her first husband was Zwelibanzi Hlongwane.[29][30] She married her second husband, Molapo Motlhajwa, who was a member of the South African National Defence Force, in March 2013.[31]

Mandela-Hlongwane was said to have agreed to arrange a boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao to coincide with her father's birthday in 2011. The match did not take place and the boxing promoter Duane Moody sued successfully for a US court to order that she pay US$4.7m, plus costs, in damages to Moody. Mandela-Hlongwane was expected to appeal.[32]

Zindzi died on 13 July 2020, aged 59, at a hospital in Johannesburg.[1][33] It was revealed that she had tested positive for COVID-19 on the day of her death.[34] She was buried next to her mother, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, at Fourways Memorial Park on 17 July, a day before what would have been the 102nd birthday of her late father, Nelson Mandela.[35]

• In the 2009 BBC telefilm Mrs Mandela, Zindzi was portrayed by Refilwe Pitsoe.[36]
• Bonnie Henna portrayed Zindzi in the film Invictus (2009).[36]
• Xoliswa Sithole portrayed Zindzi in the TV film Mandela (1987).[37]

• Zindzi Mandela at IMDb 
• Carolyne Wangui, "Zindzi Mandela Biography and Family" Archived 13 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Africanmania.com, 16 August 2017.
• Julia Llewellyn Smith, "Zindzi Mandela interview: the father I knew", The Telegraph, 15 December 2013.
• "Talk to Al Jazeera – Zindzi Mandela – 18 July 08 – Part 1" and "Talk to Al Jazeera – Zindzi Mandela – 18 July 08 – Part 2". YouTube video.