President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday sent his condolences to the family of Nozolile Mtirara, the 94-year-old widow of former president Nelson Mandela’s cousin, Chief Justice Zwelivumile Mtirara.
"South Africa has lost another key and highly regarded member of Madiba’s generation," Zuma said in a statement.
"On behalf of government and all South Africans, we convey our deepest condolences to Makhulu Mtirara’s family, relatives and the AbaThembu people at large."
Chief Justice Zwelivumile Mtirara, the son of the regent king of the AbaThembu, Chief Jongintaba Mtirara, raised Mandela as a son at Mqhekezweni Great Place in Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape, following the death of his father, Chief Mphakanyiswa Mandela.
Nozolile Mtirara died at home in the Eastern Cape last week.