South Africa’s ex-Foreign Minister Pandor to chair Nelson Mandela Foundation

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Prominent public intellectual and South Africa’s former Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor has been appointed the new chair for the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

She will assume the position on Oct. 1, the foundation said in a statement, becoming the third person to run the foundation since it was established in 1999.

The statement recalled that Pandor worked closely with Mandela during South Africa’s first democratic administration in the 1990s and is one of South Africa’s longest-serving members of parliament.

“In a world facing so many complex challenges, mobilizing Madiba’s (Mandela’s) legacy becomes more important than ever. I believe that the Nelson Mandela Foundation is doing critically important work in the social justice space, and I am looking forward to making a meaningful contribution,” said Pandor.

Last December, South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel when Pandor was the foreign minister.

She had become the face of South Africa’s campaign for the Palestinian cause and reportedly received threats after which she sought extra security for her safety.

According to Pandor, the Israeli intelligence agency uses threats to intimidate those who have a stance against oppression.