Makgatho Lewanika Mandela was the son of Nelson Mandela and his first wife Evelyn Mase. Makgatho Mandela is sometimes wrongly referred to as the older son of Nelson Mandela, but his brother Madiba Thembekile “Thembi” Mandela was born in 1945.

Makgatho Lewanika Mandela was the son of Nelson Mandela and his first wife Evelyn Mase. Makgatho Mandela is sometimes wrongly referred to as the older son of Nelson Mandela, but his brother Madiba Thembekile “Thembi” Mandela was born in 1945.

Makgatho Mandela’s cause of death: What happened to Nelson Mandela’s son?

Makgatho Lewanika Mandela died of AIDS on 6 January 2005 in Johannesburg. When Nelson Mandela announced the cause of his son’s death, he said, Let us give publicity to HIV/AIDS and not hide it.

Because the only way to make it appear like a normal illness like tuberculosis, or cancer, is always to come out and say somebody has died because of HIV/AIDS, and people will stop regarding it as something extraordinary.

Makgatho was married twice. His first wife was Rose Rayne Perry. His second wife was Zondi. He had four sons, Zwelivelile “Mandla” (1974), Ndaba Mandela (1982), Mbuso Mandela (1991) and Andile Mandela (1993)