As we continue to mourn the passing of our Founder, the Nelson Mandela Centre of Foundation remains committed to the work of promoting his legacy through memory.
A crucial part of that work is the research and archiving around his life and times.
This work has led us to a discovery that contrary to widely documented information his father Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Mandela did not die in 1927 when Nelson Mandela was 9 years old.
He passed away in 1930 when Nelson Mandela was 12.
It was then that he was taken on as a ward of the Thembu Regent Jongintaba Dalindyebo.
Historical evidence shows it must have been 1930 as this information is contained both in the original manuscript of Long Walk to Freedom he wrote while still a prisoner on Robben Island and in a document in his own handwriting written in 1963.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation began as Nelson Mandela’s post-presidential office in 1999 and he used his office here until 18 November 2010. The Foundation is honoured to continue delivering on his mandate and legacy.
We remain committed to “Living the Legacy” and our vision and mission.