"The Nelson Mandela Foundation is deeply saddened at the passing of Ma Nozolile Mtirara. Our thoughts are with the Mtirara and Mandela families at this difficult time," Sello Hatang, CE of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, said on Friday.
Ma Nozolile was the wife of Madiba’s cousin Justice, who played a significant role in Madiba’s early years. As teenagers Justice and Madiba shared a room at the Great Place of Thembu Regent Jongintaba, and later they travelled together from the Eastern Cape to start new lives in Johannesburg.
After his release from prison Madiba maintained close relations with Ma Nozolile and her family. In 2008, she gave an interview to the foundation for its exhibition with the Apartheid Museum to mark Madiba’s 90th birthday. She also contributed a bookcase which Madiba and Justice had used in the room they had shared in the Great Place.
“Ma Nozolile will be missed,” concluded Hatang.