Nelson Mandela’s Son Dies of AIDS

Makgatho was Nelson Mandela’s only living son. He was hospitalized at the end of last year, but his illness was not made public. Makgatho’s spouse died of pneumonia in 2003 at the age of 43.

Mandela organized a press conference regarding the death of his son. "I announce that my son died because of AIDS" said Mandela and called for an intensification of the fight against the illness. He stressed that the AIDS disease caused by the HIV virus should not be hidden and should be perceived as a normal disease like tuberculosis or cancer. He said deaths from this illness should be made public. Mandela had four children, including two sons, from his first spouse. Makgatho was one of Nelson Mandela’s four children from his marriage to Evelyn Mase who died last year. His other son Madiba Thembekile died in an accident in 1969. Mandela also had two daughters from his second marriage to Winnie Madikiziela.