The former home of Nelson Mandela & # 39; s first wife, Evelyn Mase, has fallen into disrepair. The house on the main street of Cofimvaba in the local municipality of Intsika Yethu in the Eastern Cape has been destroyed. People go freely in and out of the building, GroundUp reported.
Nceba Ntlebe, a neighbor, says: "It is sad to see the house of MaMqwati (Mase) look like this, she loved her garden and was a very nice person, now it is full of garbage and filthy. "
The windows and doors are broken. The same applies to the ceiling and the garbage is spread over the rooms and the garden.
Mase lived in the modest L-shaped house from 1972 to 2004, when she died. The house is owned by the Mandela family. The original plot was given to Evelyn by Daliwonga Matanzima, former president of Transkei, according to grandson Mandla Mandela.
The home of Nelson Mandela & # 39; s first wife, Evelyn Mase Mandela, in Cofimvaba. (Wendy Matshaya, GroundUp)
Mase, who was born in 1922, was a nurse of eNgcobo. She was the nephew of Walter Sisulu. She married Nelson Mandela in 1944. They divorced in 1958. The couple had four children: Thembekile, Makgatho, Makaziwe (who died for nine months) and the youngest, also called Makaziwe.
A devoted Jehovah's Witness, Mase moved to Cofimvaba where she opened a grocery store and raised her children.
& # 39; Good memories & # 39;
& # 39; It hurts that our grandmother's house looks like this, but we are adjusting the property to restoring the dignity and importance of our heritage, "Mandla Mandela said.
"The role that my grandmother played is of crucial importance and it is important for future generations to understand the history of this country," he said 19659002] "The restoration of the house will soon begin and the funds will be private are purchased and we hope that the government will play their part. "[1945915] GALLERY: Condition of Winnie Madikizela Mandela's house in Brandfort [19659002] The house has two plots. another was a supermarket that ran Mase for decades.
Granddaughter Ndileka Mandela, who is writing her memoirs, said: "I have many good memories of this house where she has brought me from the age of two to adulthood. "
Intsika Yethu Local municipality Mayor Jongumzi Cengani said that the house is a reflection of the history of South Africa.
" It is part of the heritage route of [liberation] where the development of tourism is intended. .. As the municipality we will play an important role to ensure that our history is not lost. "
KEEP UPDATE on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE newsletter
– FOLLOW News24 on Twitter
Source link