Five days have passed since Nosekeni Rabia Mandela last heard her husband’s voice, leaving her consumed by worry over his safety. Speaking to News24 on Sunday, she described the period since Mandla Mandela, also known as Inkosi Zwelivelile, chief of Mvezo, was detained in Israel as “sheer hell” for their family.
Nosekeni, who must now address their three children’s questions — Mandela (8) and twins Nonhlanhla and Rolihlahla (6) — said the children often ask: “Will they kill daddy, or will he be okay?”
“There are times when the only honest response to their questions is, ‘We don’t know what will happen, but we are doing everything we can to bring him home.’ I tell them that daddy will return soon, and we are waiting for him together,” she said.
Despite the anxiety, Nosekeni added that the children are doing their best to remain strong and composed, though moments arise when they are inconsolable. “Their love for him and belief in his cause keep their spirits alive while we continue to work toward bringing him home,” she said.
Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s grandson, was detained alongside six other South Africans at the Ketziot Negev Israeli Prison facility after Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was on a mission to deliver food and aid to Gaza. The convoy had departed from Barcelona last month in an attempt to break Israel’s naval blockade of the war-torn enclave.
The detained group includes prominent South Africans such as award-winning writer and cultural activist Zukiswa Wanner; community leader Reaaz Moola; occupational therapist Dr Fatima Hendricks; international humanitarian leader Dr Zaheera Soomar; sociopolitical activist Basheerah Soomar; and gender activist Carrie Shelver.
According to the BBC, Israel intercepted the flotilla about 130 kilometres off the coast of Gaza. The Israeli navy reportedly told the boats to change course because they were “approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade.”
Nosekeni said there is no fixed date for her husband’s release but she expects the detainees to be released this week. “We are hopeful it will be sooner rather than later, as Tuesday and Wednesday are public holidays there,” she said.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has reassured families that the detainees are “in high spirits and good health,” which has provided Nosekeni with some relief.
However, she admitted the uncertainty remains agonising. “After learning about the harrowing treatment endured by young Greta Thunberg of Sweden and the shocking testimonies of other detainees who have since been released, it was gut-wrenching to imagine my husband having to face those conditions: wondering whether he can eat, sleep, or simply survive. The reports of widespread ill-treatment are also a source of deep anxiety for me,” she said.
Al-Jazeera reported Turkish journalist and flotilla participant Ersin Celik saying that he saw climate activist Thunberg being tortured by Israeli forces and “dragged on the ground” and “forced to kiss the Israeli flag.”
Despite these fears, Nosekeni said her husband’s resilience gives the family hope. “What comforts me most is knowing how strong my husband is, both in character and mind. No matter how severe the torture or mistreatment, I am confident he will never break. His resilience gives us hope and strength throughout this ordeal.”
Mandla Mandela has now been away from home for over a month, but Nosekeni described the first few days of his capture as particularly harrowing. “It felt like a nightmare, mirroring the daily reality that the wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters of Palestine endure under occupation and relentless bombing.”
She vowed that the family would continue demanding the release of every detained participant in the Global Sumud Flotilla. “They were a group of ordinary people who could no longer stand by and witness the genocide and mass starvation of all those in Gaza. We will continue raising our voices until Palestine is finally free. Though the battle seems endless, my husband’s unwavering devotion to the Palestinian cause is something we all share and promise to carry forward,” she said.
The Global Sumud Flotilla has also been providing counselling for affected families. Yet, Mandela’s absence has left a massive void at home. “It left a hole that we are still struggling to fill. Each day we cling to the knowledge that he is alive and staying strong, while we wait for the moment when we can hear his voice and feel his presence again,” Nosekeni said.
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