Zindziswa "Zindzi" Mandela (23 December 196013 July 2020), also known as Zindzi Mandela-Hlongwane, was a South African diplomat and poet, and the daughter of anti-apartheid activists and politicians Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Zindzi was the youngest of Nelson Mandela's daughters, including sister Zenani Mandela.

She had served as her country's ambassador to Denmark, until her death in 2020, and was due to take up a post as ambassador to Liberia.Chutel, Lynsey (13 July 2020), "Zindzi Mandela, Activist in South Africa and Ambassador, Dies at 59", The New York Times. She served as a stand-in First Lady of South Africa from 1996 to 1998.

Her collection of poems, Black As I Am, was published in 1978, with photographs by Peter Magubane.

Early life

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.Zindzi Mandela born, South African History Online, 16 March 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2016. Zindzi was 18 months old when her father was sent to prison. 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.

Career 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. Eventually, her mother was allowed to move back to Soweto. 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."Zindzi Mandela reads her father’s rejection to PW Botha in 1985", SABC Digital News, via YouTube, 30 January 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2016.

Her poetry was published in 1978 in the book Black as I Am, with photographs by Peter Magubane,Mandela, Zindzi, Black As I Am. Photographs by Peter Magubane; foreword by Andrew Young. Los Angeles Guild of Tutors Press, 1978. . and has also appeared in publications including Somehow We Survive: An Anthology of South African Writing, edited by Sterling Plumpp (1982),Mandela, Zindzi, "Drink from my empty cup", in Sterling Plumpp (ed), Somehow we survive: An anthology of South African writing, Thunder's Mouth Press, 1982, p. 27. . and Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Words and Writings by Women of African Descent, edited by Margaret Busby (1992).Mandela, Zindzi (Zindziswa), "I Waited for You Last Night", in Daughters of Africa, Jonathan Cape, 1992, p. 915. Zindzi studied law at the University of Cape Town,Jackson Jr., William E. (11 December 2013; updated 10 February 2014), "Madiba: In the Presence of Greatness", The World Post, HuffPost. Retrieved 31 July 2017. where she earned a BA in 1985."Zindzi Mandela" , Who's Who Southern Africa; accessed 13 July 2020.

In 1987, she participated in the CBS documentary, Children of Apartheid, by Walter Cronkite, who profiled young South Africans, including Mandela and P.W. Botha's daughter, Rozanne Botha. Die Burger, an Afrikaans pro-government newspaper, ran a front-page report, alleging the younger Botha had been "misused" in the documentary. In response, the South African Department of Foreign Affairs lodged a complaint with the US network. The newspaper claimed that the documentary-makers constructed a narrative to make it appear that Miss Botha and Miss Mandela "lived on separate planets.""S. Africa complains CBS misused Botha's daughter". The Washington Times, 8 December 1987South Africa Warns It May Punish CBS Over Documentary The Los Angeles Times. 12 December 1987Pretoria Complains to CBS On Making of Documentary The New York Times. 8 December 1987

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.

Ambassadorship Zindzi was appointed South Africa's ambassador to Denmark in 2014. She first arrived in Denmark in June 2015.Hamilton, Ben (26 June 2015), "Mandela finally in Denmark", CPHPost. Retrieved 5 May 2016. In June 2019, while Ambassador to Denmark, Mandela's Twitter account sent a series of increasingly strongly worded tweets, where she discussed "trembling white cowards who are the thieving rapist descendants of Van Riebeck [sic]", and "uninvited visitors who don't want to leave" that caused significant controversy. Mandela-Hlongwane had previously that month expressed her "deep, pure unconditional love and respect" for "CIC" (leader) of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema.

While being investigated by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) for breaching their social media policy, Mandela remained defiant, tweeting that "I am not accountable to any white man or woman for my personal views. No missus or baas here. Get over yourselves #OurLand". She was ordered by foreign minister Naledi Pandor to "conduct herself as a diplomat" and to adhere to the department's social media policy, and concern about her views was expressed by former president Thabo Mbeki, and her views were described as hate speech by ANC veteran Mavuso Msimang, while her opinions drew support from the EFF and the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Sihle Zikalala.Meth, Oliver (23 June 2019), "Thabo Mbeki wants action to be taken against Zindzi Mandela", Sunday Tribune. Her tweets came close to the end of her four-year term as ambassador to Denmark.De Lange, Jan (23 June 2019), "The end of Zindzi Mandela’s term may have driven tirade", City Press.

At the time of her death in Johannesburg, she was designated to take up a post as ambassador to Liberia, a posting described by family members as a "punishment" for her controversial tweets the previous year.Mokone, Thabo (19 July 2020), "Niece says Zindzi's deployment to Liberia was 'punishment' for land reform tweets", Sunday Times.

Personal life and death Zindzi was married twice and had four children - daughter Zoleka (1980–2023) with Oupa Seakamela and sons Zondwa (b. 1983) with Mbuyiselo Mboya, Bambatha (b. 1989) with Sizwe Clayton Sithole and Zwelabo (b. 1992) with her first husband, Zwelibanzi Hlongwane."Nelson Mandela Family Tree", South African History Online. Retrieved 24 November 2016.Pope, Hugh (8 March 1995), "Mandelas will divorce, says daughter", The Independent. She married her second husband, Molapo Motlhajwa, who was a member of the South African National Defence Force, in March 2013.Louw, Poppy, and Leonie Wagner (6 March 2013), "Mandela's daughter marries MK veteran" , Daily Dispatch. Retrieved 5 May 2016.

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.

Zindzi died on 13 July 2020, aged 59, at a hospital in Johannesburg. It was revealed that she had tested positive for COVID-19 on the day of her death. 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.

Portrayals In the 2009 BBC telefilm Mrs Mandela, Zindzi was portrayed by Refilwe Pitsoe.; Bonnie Henna portrayed Zindzi in the film Invictus (2009). Xoliswa Sithole portrayed Zindzi in the TV film Mandela (1987).

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links

Carolyne Wangui, "Zindzi Mandela Biography and Family" , 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.