Zenani Mandela-Dlamini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zenani Mandela-Dlamini
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Princess Zenani Mandela-Dlamini
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| Ambassador of South Africa to South Korea | |
| Assumed office October 2019 |
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| President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| High Commissioner of South Africa to Mauritius | |
| In office May 2017 – October 2019 |
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| President | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| Ambassador of South Africa to Argentina | |
| In office October 2012 – May 2017 |
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| President | Jacob Zuma |
| Preceded by | Tony Leon |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| First Lady of South Africa | |
| In office 10 May 1994 – 18 July 1998 |
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| President | Nelson Mandela (father) |
| Preceded by | Marike de Klerk |
| Succeeded by | Graça Machel (step-mother) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Zenani Mandela
4 February 1959 |
| Spouse |
Prince Thumbumuzi Dlamini
(m. 1977; sep. 1990) |
| Children | 4, including Prince Zinhle |
| Parents | Nelson Mandela Winnie Madikizela-Mandela |
| Relatives | Zindzi Mandela-Hlongwane (sister) Thembekile Mandela (half-brother) Makgatho Mandela (half-brother) Makaziwe Mandela (half-sister) Prince Cedza Dlamini (step-son) Zoleka Mandela (niece) |
Princess Zenani Mandela-Dlamini was born on February 5, 1959. She is a South African diplomat and a member of a traditional royal family. She is the daughter of Nelson Mandela, a famous leader, and his former wife, Winnie Mandela. Zenani is also the sister-in-law of Mswati III, who is the King of Eswatini.
Contents
Early Life and Family History
Zenani Mandela grew up in a family with a long history of leadership. Her father, Nelson Mandela, came from a line of important leaders of the Thembu people. He was meant to become a chief in his hometown of Mvezo. Later, her nephew, Mandla Mandela, took on this important role.
Zenani's early life was affected by the political situation in South Africa. Her mother, Winnie Mandela, was arrested around the time Zenani was born in 1959. When Zenani was just four years old, her father was sent to prison. He stayed there for 27 years. Zenani was 15 years old when she first got to visit him in 1974.
Education and Marriage
Zenani Mandela-Dlamini went to school at Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa. She then studied science at Boston University in the United States. While at university, she met Prince Thumbumuzi Dlamini from Swaziland (now Eswatini). He was the older brother of the current King, Mswati III.
Zenani and Prince Thumbumuzi married in 1973. They had four children together: two daughters named Zaziwe (born 1977) and Zamaswazi (born 1979), and two sons named Zinhle (born 1980) and Zozuko (born 1992). They also have six grandchildren. Zenani and Prince Thumbumuzi are currently separated. They both own a business called Mandela, Dlamini and Associates, which helps with international business.
Diplomatic Career
Princess Zenani Mandela-Dlamini has had an important career in public service. In July 2012, she was chosen to be South Africa's ambassador to Argentina. She officially started this job in October 2012. This made her the first of Nelson Mandela's children to work in a public diplomatic role. She served in Argentina until May 2017.
After her time in Argentina, she was appointed as South Africa's High Commissioner to Mauritius in May 2017. A High Commissioner is like an ambassador, but for countries within the Commonwealth of Nations. In October 2019, Princess Zenani Mandela-Dlamini became the South African Ambassador to South Korea. As of July 2025, she is serving as South Africa's Ambassador to Sweden.
Role as First Lady
After her father, Nelson Mandela, became president of South Africa, he and Winnie Mandela divorced. Zenani was chosen to be the stand-in First Lady of South Africa. She accompanied her father to his inauguration, which is the ceremony where a new president officially takes office. She served in this role until her father remarried on his 80th birthday to Graça Machel, who then became the First Lady.
See also
In Spanish: Zenani Mandela-Dlamini para niños
