Panafrican News Agency

Mandela's daughter in trouble over tweets

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – Former President Nelson Mandela’s daughter Zindzi has landed in hot water for issuing a series of tweets relating to race issues.

Mandela who is South Africa’s ambassador to Denmark referred to “white cowards” and “shivering land thieves”. She also referred to whites as “thieving rapist descendants of Jan Van Riebeck,” the first Dutch settler in South Africa.

“Dear Apartheid Apologists, your time is over. You will not rule again. We do not fear you. Finally #TheLandIsOurs,” she said. The tweets have been shared thousands of times.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation, formed to protect the legacy of her former father, on Monday said it is seeking to meet with her to discuss the tweets.

Luzuko Koti, the communications director at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, refused to comment further.

The organisation AfriForum labelled her comments “racist and divisive” and called on Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Naledi Pandor to immediately recall her. However, the Black First Land First party  backed Mandela’s statements.

Mandela is the youngest daughter of Nelson and Winnie Mandela. She was born in Soweto in 1960, three years before her father was sentenced to life imprisonment for treason.

-0- PANA CU/AR 17June2019