Nelson Mandela Foundation

Mrs Sina Keitsing, who hosted Nelson Mandela at her house in Botswana on his clandestine trip through Africa in 1962, has died.

The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, its Chairperson, Trustees and staff send their deepest condolences to her family and friends.

Mrs Keitsing, the widow of 1956 Treason Trialist Fish Keitsing in 2009 received a national order from President Jacob Zuma. He awarded her the Order of Luthuli in bronze for her outstanding contribution to the struggle and for providing safe passage to many exiled cadres in Botswana during the struggle against apartheid.

Mr Mandela stayed with the Keitsings in their house in Lobatse, Botswana in January 1962 as he prepared to travel throughout Africa to promote the armed struggle of the African National Congress. As the Keitsings were in the process of building their house Mr Mandela slept in the same room as the couple with his comrade Amien Cajee who had driven him to Botswana.

On the same trip Mr Mandela received military training in Morocco with Algerian freedom fighters and in Ethiopia.