FORMER president Thabo Mbeki is deeply saddened by the passing of Zindzi Mandela.
In a statement sent out by his foundation on Tuesday, Mbeki paid tribute to the fallen struggle icon and daughter of Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
“We convey our condolences to her sister Zenani, her children and the rest of the Mandela and Madikizela families,” the foundation said in a statement.
“The Board, the Council, the Patron, President Thabo Mbeki, and the Staff of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation received with shock and sadness the news that Ambassador Zindzi Mandela had passed away.”
“Ambassador Mandela’s untimely and unexpected passing has deprived our country of an activist for liberation, democracy and a better life for our people who was destined to contribute further to the achievement of these goals.”
“The immense challenges thrown up by the Covid-19 pandemic emphasise the importance of the duty to pick up her fallen spear. Quite correctly and fortunately, the media has made it a point to remind us of the contribution she made further to inspire the struggling masses of our people when she delivered at the Johannesburg Jabulani Amphitheatre in 1985, President Mandela’s Message from Prison.”
Zindzi passed away on Monday 13 July, in the early hours of the morning in a Johannesburg hospital at the age of 59.
She passed away just a few days before her late father’s birthday.
Zindzi leaves behind four children and husband Molapo Motlhajwa.
South Africa’s former Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark, Zindzi was posted to Denmark in 2015 and had been designated to become South Africa’s Head of Mission in Monrovia, Liberia.
(Compiled by Inside Politics staff)
