She died in a Johannesburg hospital in the early hours of Monday, July 13. News of Zindzi’s death has been confirmed by the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Zindzi Mandela’s son, Bambatha also shared a photo of his mother with the caption “Rest in Peace”.

The deceased who is survived by her husband and four children served as South Africa’s ambassador to Denmark.  She first took up her position as the ambassador to Denmark in 2015.

Zindzi has written poetry and has been published on several occasions. One of her works, Black As I Am, included pictures taken by revered Drum magazine journalist, Peter Magubane.

Graca Machel, who is Nelson Mandela’s third wife, said that she was deeply saddened by the news of Sanusi being relieved of his duties as Emir of Kano and being held by government authorities, expressed hope of her letter reassurring the deposed Emir that he is not alone in the struggle to ‘confront corruption and social ills burdening Northern Nigeria.’

Read the letter below;