Zenani Mandela-Dlamini

Zenani Mandela-Dlamini
South Africa Ambassador to Argentina
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 2012
President Jacob Zuma
Preceded by Tony Leon
Personal details
Born 4 February 1959

Zenani Mandela-Dlamini (born 4 February 1959) is a South African diplomat. She is the elder daughter of Nelson Mandela and his (second) former wife, Winnie Mandela. She was aged 4 when her father was sent to prison, and she was not able to visit him in prison until 1974, when she was 16 years old.[1]

Mandela-Dlamini studied at Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa [2] and science at Boston University. It is there where she first met Prince Thumbumuzi Dlamini of Swaziland (an elder brother of the reigning monarch of Swaziland, Mswati III[3] and of Queen Mantfombi of the Zulus.[4]), who was studying science at the same university, and the two married in 1973. The couple had four children (Zaziwe (born 1977), Zamaswazi (1979), Zinhle (1980) and Zozuko (1992)), four grandchildren,[5] and are co-owners of Mandela, Dlamini and Associates (International Business Consultants).

She was appointed ambassador for South Africa to Argentina in July 2012 (taking office in October), becoming the first of Mandela's children to enter public service;[6] she succeeded retiring diplomat and former opposition leader Tony Leon.

References

  1. ↑ "Daddy Stayed in Jail. That Was His Job'; Zenani Mandela's Life Without Father". The Washington Post. 8 November 1987. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  2. ↑ Smith David "Waterford school in Swaziland", Southern Africa's first multiracial school celebrates 50 triumphant years, The Guardian, 2013. Retrieved on 23 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "Swaziland prince and princess attend Boston University". WGBH Boston. 13 May 1987. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  4. ↑ Burke's Royal Families of the World, Volume II. London: Burke's Peerage Ltd. 1980. pp. 217–218, 271, 320. ISBN 0-85011-029-7.
  5. ↑ Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. sahistory.org.za
  6. ↑ "Mandela daughter Zenani appointed Argentina ambassador". BBC News. 4 July 2012. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.