Joe Matthews photographed at an event at the Nelson Mandela Foundation
August 19, 2010 – On behalf of our Founder, Chairman, Board of Trustees and staff we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Joe Matthews, who passed away earlier today.
Matthews, 81, who Mr Mandela once described as “brilliant”, passed away in hospital in Johannesburg this morning.
He was a long-time friend of Mr Mandela’s and one of the early members of the ANC Youth League, which Mr Mandela co-founded in 1944. They took part together in the 1952 Defiance Campaign and were co-accused in the 1956 Treason Trial. Matthews also travelled with Mr Mandela on part of his trip through Africa when he was underground in 1962, and served in Mr Mandela’s cabinet when he was President of South Africa.
The son of ANC stalwart ZK Matthews, who was a lecturer at Fort Hare University when Mr Mandela studied there in 1939-1940, Matthews is the father of Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology.
Mr Mandela regarded Matthews as “a friend” and “a comrade” and remained close to his family throughout and after his imprisonment.