Nozolile Ma-Myirha Mtirara, the 94-year-old wife of Nelson Mandela’s late cousin Chief Justice Zwelivumile Mtirara died at home at Mqhekezweni Great Pace near Mthatha on Wednesday after a short illness.Zwelivumile Mtirara was the son of Chief Jongintaba Mtirara, the regent king of AbaThembu, who raised Mandela as a son.
It was at Mqhekezweni Great Place where Mandela, as a boy, learned democratic practices among traditional communities during imbizos.
“We, representing the home of Nkosi Jongintaba, at Mqhekez-weni Great Place, humbly inform the world of the passing of our grandmother,” said her grandson, Chief Zanomthetho Mtirara.
Madiba was taken in by the regent-king to Mqhekezweni after the death of his father, Chief Mphakanyiswa Mandela.
The young Mandela formed a close friendship with the regent’s son, Justice, with whom he ran away to Johannesburg – both of them escaping arranged marriages.
Justice later returned home, married Nozolile, and assumed the chieftainship of the area.
After his release from prison Madiba had a smart face-brick home built for Nozolile to thank her for the years she had kept the home fires burning at Mqhekezweni Great Place.
Zanomthetho described his grandmother as a firm, straight-talking disciplinarian and social developer.
“She carried the family, holding it together single-handedly during times of need and despair. She was a rock,” said Zanomthetho.
Mandela’s grandson, Chief Mandla Zwelivelile Mandela, speaking on behalf of the Mandela family, said Nozolile’s passing had brought down the final curtain on a generation of extraordinary people linked to Chief Jongintaba and Mqhekezweni.
A funeral date will be set during this weekend’s meeting of the family and the Madiba clan. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
End of era as Madiba’s cousin’s wife passes on
Zwelivumile Mtirara was the son of Chief Jongintaba Mtirara, the regent king of AbaThembu, who raised Mandela as a son.
It was at Mqhekezweni Great Place where Mandela, as a boy, learned democratic practices among traditional communities during imbizos.
“We, representing the home of Nkosi Jongintaba, at Mqhekez-weni Great Place, humbly inform the world of the passing of our grandmother,” said her grandson, Chief Zanomthetho Mtirara.
Madiba was taken in by the regent-king to Mqhekezweni after the death of his father, Chief Mphakanyiswa Mandela.
The young Mandela formed a close friendship with the regent’s son, Justice, with whom he ran away to Johannesburg – both of them escaping arranged marriages.
Justice later returned home, married Nozolile, and assumed the chieftainship of the area.
After his release from prison Madiba had a smart face-brick home built for Nozolile to thank her for the years she had kept the home fires burning at Mqhekezweni Great Place.
Zanomthetho described his grandmother as a firm, straight-talking disciplinarian and social developer.
“She carried the family, holding it together single-handedly during times of need and despair. She was a rock,” said Zanomthetho.
Mandela’s grandson, Chief Mandla Zwelivelile Mandela, speaking on behalf of the Mandela family, said Nozolile’s passing had brought down the final curtain on a generation of extraordinary people linked to Chief Jongintaba and Mqhekezweni.
A funeral date will be set during this weekend’s meeting of the family and the Madiba clan. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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