Books Black as I am | ||
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Born 23 December 1960 (age 59) ( 1960-12-23 ) Spouse Molapo Motlhajwa (m. 2013) Siblings Zenani Mandela, Makaziwe Mandela-Amuah, Makgatho Mandela, Madiba Thembekile Mandela, Makaziwe Mandela Similar Nelson Mandela , Makgatho Mandela , Zenani Mandela Dlamini | ||
Zindziswa Mandela-Hlongwane (born December 23, 1960) was a South African politician who was serving as her country's ambassador to Denmark when she died. The daughter of anti-apartheid activists Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Zindzi is the younger sister of Zenani Mandela and the third of his three daughters.
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Biography
Zindzi was born on 23 December 1960 in Soweto to Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela. This was the year that the African National Congress launched an 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.
In 1977 her mother was banished to the Free State and Zindzi lived with her. Zindzi was not able to complete her education until she was sent to Swaziland. Eventually her mother was allowed to move back to Soweto.
In 1985 her father was offered a conditional release by the South African president, PW Botha. Her father's reply could not be delivered by her parents and Zindzi was chosen to read his refusal at a public meeting on 10 February 1985.
Release of father and First Lady
When Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990, immediate talks began between the unbanned political party the ANC, and the ruling government the National Party to dismantle the Apartheid system.
With then ANC president Oliver Tambo's health deteriorating, Mandela was elected as the new ANC president and a candidate for the President of South Africa in the upcoming 1994 general elections.
Career
Mandela-Hlongwane reportedly agreed to organize a boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao to align with her father's birthday in 2011. However, the match never occurred, leading boxing promoter Duane Moody to file a lawsuit. A US court ruled in favor of Moody, ordering Mandela-Hlongwane to compensate him $4.7 million, in addition to covering legal costs, for damages. Mandela-Hlongwane was anticipated to file an appeal against the judgment.
In 2014 she was reported to be South Africa's ambassador to Denmark. She first arrived in Denmark in June 2015.
Personal life
Zindzi has been married twice and has four children by her first husband. Her children are Zoleka Mandela, (1980), Zondwa Mandela (1985), Bambatha Mandela (1989) and Zwelabo Mandela (1992). She married her second husband, Molapo Motlhajwa, who was a member of the South African National Defence Force in March 2013.
In popular media
Death
Zindzi died on 13 July 2020 at a hospital in Johannesburg at the age of 59. It was revealed that she had tested positive for COVID-19 on the day of her death.