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SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa’s ambassador to Denmark Mandela dies aged 59

Zindzi Mandela, the daughter of Nelson Mandela and South African ambassador to Denmark, has died at the age of 59.

Published: 13 July 2020 10:20 CEST
South Africa’s ambassador to Denmark Mandela dies aged 59
Zindzi Mandela. Photo: Uffe Weng/Ritzau Scanpix

South Africa’s government confirmed Mandela’s death on its website on Monday, and the ambassador’s passing was reported by Danish and international media.

Zindzi Mandela was the daughter of former South African president Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela.

No information has yet been released regarding the cause of her death, TV2 reports.

She was appointed as her country’s ambassador to Denmark in 2015 and was the second of Nelson Mandela’s children to enter international diplomacy. Her sister, Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, has served as South African ambassador to Argentina and is currently high commissioner to Mauritius.

 

Zindzi Mandela was active in South Africa's anti-apartheid movement. She is perhaps best known for reading to a packed crowd her father’s 1985 letter rejecting an offer by the then-government to release Nelson Mandela from prison. The offer demanded Nelson Mandela denounce violence perpetrated by his movement, the Africa National Congress, against apartheid, the brutal system of racial discrimination enforced in the country at that time.

She is survived by her husband and four children.

READ ALSO: Mandela's daughter gets Danish ambassador gig

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TRAVEL

Denmark bans travel from South Africa over new virus variant

Denmark said it is barring entry to non-Danish residents of South Africa due to fears over the spread of a new variant of the coronavirus there.

Published: 6 January 2021 13:35 CET
Denmark bans travel from South Africa over new virus variant
Passengers at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, in December 2020. Photo: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

South Africans and other foreign nationals who reside in Denmark will be allowed to return to Denmark from South Africa under the restrictions.

Denmark has not recorded any cases of the new variant, which was detected by South African authorities in mid-December and has since been found in a number of other countries.

The South African variant and another which has emerged in Britain are said to be more infectious versions of the virus, and have prompted widespread concern. The two variants are not the same as each other.

Denmark's decision came into effect Wednesday and will last until January 17th.

“This means that foreigners residing in South Africa generally will be refused entry to Denmark during this period,” the justice ministry said in a statement late Tuesday.

The following groups from South Africa can be exempted and granted entry to Denmark:

  • Primary carers for children under the age of consent (upon documentation of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours of arrival in Denmark)
  • Family or partners to seriously ill or dying persons in Denmark (upon documentation of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 24 hours of arrival in Denmark)
  • Inward travel for the purpose of goods transport

Denmark, which is under a partial lockdown since mid-December, has almost 90 cases of the new British variant.

It has already barred entry to arrivals from Britain except for Danish nationals and permanent residents, who must present a negative virus test.

READ ALSO: Residents of Denmark returning from UK must take Covid-19 test within 24 hours of travel

Authorities said Tuesday they were toughening coronavirus restrictions and urged people to avoid social contacts.

“Stay at home as much as you can, don't meet people outside your household, those close to you,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at a press conference.

 

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