Evelyn Mase Biography and Wiki
Evelyn Mase was a South African nurse who was born in Engcobo, South Africa as Evelyn Ntoko Mase, and she was also named Evelyn Rakeepile. Mase was born in 1922 and died on 30 April 2004. She was the first wife of the anti-apartheid activist and future president Nelson Mandela, to whom she was married from 1944 to 1958.
Mase was orphaned as a child. She moved to Johannesburg to train as a nurse, and there met and married Mandela. Living together in Soweto, they raised four children, three of whom—Thembekile, Makgatho, and Makaziwe—survived into adulthood. She trained to be a midwife while serving as a nurse. In the year 1950s, her relationship with Mandela became strained.
He was becoming increasingly involved in the African National Congress as well as its campaign against apartheid; Mase eschewed politics and became a Jehovah’s Witness. She also accused him of adultery with several women and of being physically abusive, something he always denied.
They separated in the year 1956. She initially filed for divorce but did not go through with the legal proceedings. In the year 1958, Mandela, who was hoping to marry Winnie Madikizela, obtained an uncontested divorce from Mase.
Taking the children, Mase moved to Cofimvaba and opened a grocery store. She generally avoided publicity but spoke to South African reporters when Mandela was released from prison after 27 years in the year 1990. Deepening her involvement with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, in the year 1998 she married a businessman, Simon Rakeepile. She died in the year 2004 following a respiratory illness. Her funeral attracted international media attention and was attended by Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and Mandela’s third wife, Graça Machel.
Evelyn Mase Death and Funeral: How Did she die?
Mase died on 30 April 2004 in Johannesburg, South Africa due to lung and respiratory problems. His burial was attended by Nelson Mandela and his second and third wives.
Evelyn Mase Age
Evelyn Ntoko Mase died at an age of 81 years old, she was born in 1922 in Engcobo, South Africa and died on 30 April 2004.
Evelyn Mase Education
Evelyn trained as a nurse in the city’s non-European hospital at Hillbrow, fulfilling the wishes of her late mother that she would enter that profession. There, she befriended Walter’s girlfriend Albertina, whom he met inthe year 1941 and married in the year 1944.
Mase was a bridesmaid at the Sisulus’ wedding reception at the Bantu Men’s Social Centre. Writing in his later autobiography, Nelson Mandela recounted that the Sisulus treated Mase “as if she was a favorite daughter”. At the hospital, she served alongside Rosemary MDA, the wife of anti-apartheid activist A. P. Mda.
Evelyn Mase Family, Parents and Siblings
Evelyn Mase was born in the year 1922 in Engcobo, Transkei. Her father died when she was a child and her mother was the second wife. She had six siblings while three died while still in infancy. Her mother died when she was 12 years and was left under the care of her elder brother Sam Mase. A devout Christian, Sam had a close friendship with former schoolmate Walter Sisulu; they were cousins, as their mothers were sisters.
In the year 1928, Sisulu moved to the Soweto area of Johannesburg, obtaining a house in the Orlando East township. Sam joined him there and, becoming politicised, encouraged Sisulu to read left-wing literature. In the year 1939, Evelyn joined her brother and Sisulu.
Evelyn Mase Marriage to Nelson Mandela
Mase got married to Nelson Mandela On 5 October 1944, at Johannesburg’s Native Commissioner’s Court. On 23 February 1945, she gave birth to a son Thembekile.
Nelson Mandela was becoming increasingly interested in political activism, adopting an African nationalist ideology. Evelyn became a Jehovah’s witness and separated from Mandela in 1955 after what her husband described in his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, as an irreconcilable conflict between politics and religion.
“I could not give up my life in the struggle, and she could not live with my devotion to something other than herself and her family”, he wrote. “I never lost my admiration for her, but in the end, we could not make our marriage work.”
During the proposal of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. She was angry at the situation, believing that it was being treated like the second coming of Christ and proclaiming “How can a man who has committed adultery and left his wife and children be Christ? The whole world worships Nelson too much. He is only a man.”
Evelyn Mase Husband Simon Rakeepile
Mase was later married to Simon Rakeepile, etired Soweto businessman. The couple had married in 1998.
Evelyn Mase Children
Mase had three children with Nelson Mandela namely: Madiba Thembekile Mandela, Makgatho Mandela and Makaziwe Mandela.
Evelyn Mase Grandchildren
Evelyn grandchildren’s includes: Mandla Mandela via Makgatho Mandela, Ndaba Mandela via Makgatho Mandela, Ndileka Mandela via Madiba Thembekile, Mandela Adjao Amuah via Makaziwe Mandela-Amuah, Dumani Mandela via Makaziwe Mandela-Amuah, Nandi Mandela via Madiba Thembekile, Mandela Kweku Amuah via Makaziwe Mandela-Amuah and Tukwini Mandela via Makaziwe Mandela-Amuah
Evelyn Mase Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Evelyn Mase.
Evelyn Mase Bio and Wiki
- Full Names: Evelyn Ntoko Mase
- Popular As: first wife of Nelson Mandela
- Gender: Female
- Occupation / Profession: Nurse
- Nationality: South African
- Race / Ethnicity: African
- Religion: Christianity
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Evelyn Mase Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 81 years old as of her death
- Zodiac Sign: Taurus
- Date of Birth: 1922
- Place of Birth: Engcobo, South Africa
- Birthday: Not Known
Evelyn Mase Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: Not Available
- Height / How Tall?: 5 feet 1 inch
- Weight: 57 kg
- Eye Color: Black
- Hair Color: Black
- Shoe Size: Not Available
- Dress Size: Not Available
- Breast Size: Not Available
- Waist Size: Not Available
- Hip Size: Not Available
Evelyn Mase Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): To be updated
- Mother: To be updated
- Siblings (Brothers and Sisters): Sam Mase, Kate Mase
- Marital Status: Married
- Husband/Spouse: Married to Simon Rakeepile (m. 1998–2004), Nelson Mandela (m. 1944–1958)
- Dating / Boyfriend: Not Applicable
- Children: Sons (Makgatho Mandela, Madiba Thembekile Mandela) Daughter(s) (Makaziwe Mandela-Amuah, Makaziwe Mandela)
Evelyn Mase Networth and Salary
- Net Worth: Under Review
- Salary: Under Review
- Source of Income: Nurse
Frequently Asked Questions About Evelyn Mase
Who is Evelyn Mase?
Evelyn Mase was a South African nurse who was born in Engcobo, South Africa Evelyn Ntoko Mase, and she was also named Evelyn Rakeepile. Mase was born in 1922 and died on 30 April 2004. She was the first wife of the anti-apartheid activist and future president Nelson Mandela, to whom she was married from 1944 to 1958.
How old is Evelyn Mase?
Mase was a South African national born in 1922 in Engcobo, South Africa.
How tall is Evelyn Mase?
Mase stood at a height of 1.57 m.
Is Evelyn Mase married?
Yes, he was married to Nelson Mandela (m. 1944–1958). Later she got married to Simon Rakeepile (m. 1998–2004)
How much is Evelyn Mase worth?
Mase had not yet revealed her net worth. We will update this section when we get and verify information about the wealth and properties under her name.
Is Evelyn Mase dead or alive?
Mase died on 30 April 2004, having suffered from a respiratory illness. She was survived by Makaziwe and Makgatho, and by her second husband.
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