Former president Nelson Mandela’s only surviving son, Makgatho Mandela (54), has died of Aids.
Makgatho had been in a critical condition in the Linksfield hospital in Johannesburg since late November, and Mandela had been spending time at his son’s bedside.
Last month, spokesperson Maretha Slabbert could not say what illness Makgatho was suffering from, and referred all queries to the former president’s daughter, Makaziwe Mandela.
Makaziwe then said it was ”a private family matter”.
Diners Club South Africa, where Makgatho had held the position of company secretary, in mid-December said his hospitalisation was unexpected.
Makgatho had tendered his resignation as company secretary in order to continue with other responsibilities within the Standard Bank group.
He had been part of Standard Bank’s legal team, and had worked as a consultant for the group.
Makgatho was Mandela’s eldest child and only surviving son from his first marriage to Evelyn Ntoko Mase, a former nurse, in the 1940s.
Last year, Makgatho’s wife, Zondi, died — reportedly of pneumonia. He leaves behind three sons, Ndaba (21), Mbuso (13) and Andile (11).
The 86-year-old Mandela’s only other son, Thembekile, died in a car accident while his father was in prison. The twice-divorced former president also has three daughters.
The Democratic Alliance has extended its condolences to Mandela and his family.
”We have learned with great sadness of the death this morning of Makgatho Mandela, only surviving son of former president Nelson Mandela,” DA leader Tony Leon said in a statement issued on Thursday.
The South African Communist Party also sent its condolences and sympathy to Mandela and his family.
”His passing is a pain we also feel. We share the family’s grief and sorrow. We extend our hand of support during this hard time,” the SACP said in a statement.
The Inkatha Freedom Party was deeply saddened by Makgatho’s death, Musa Zondi, IFP secretary general, said on Thursday.
”It is a very sad day for the Mandela family and indeed for South Africa as a whole that Madiba’s only surviving son, Makgatho, has passed on at a relatively young age of 54.
”Death is a very cruel and traumatic experience and we have no doubt that the Mandela family is at this point in time gripped by this terrible experience,” Zondi said.
The African Christian Democratic Party said in a statement: ”According to ancient Hebrew wisdom, the hardest thing that a man can do is to say goodbye to his own son. A father of the nation has lost his only natural son and we therefore share his grief. Mr Nelson Mandela has faced many trials in his life, but surely this must be the saddest.”