Nelson Mandela Foundation

It is with great sadness that we at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory have learned of the death this morning of Ina Perlman, a great South African and a founder of Operation Hunger.

Mrs Perlman, 86, who lost her husband Dr Mike Perlman in 2011, passed away in the Knysna Hospital in the early hours of Thursday 28 June.

On behalf of our Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Founder and staff we send our deepest condolences to her family, friends, her children Rosemary, David, Harriet and John and her grandchildren.

We remember her great work on behalf of the poor and how she helped to feed millions of people throughout South Africa. She also hired Mr Mandela's daughter Zindzi in the dark days of apartheid and assisted Mrs Winnie Mandela in starting a creche after she was banished to a bare and unforgiving existence in the harsh Free State town of Brandfort.

A memorial event will be held at 12.30 on Wednesday 4 July at Temple Emmanuel, 38 Oxford Rd in Parktown, Johannesburg.