Naledi Pandor, a renowned public intellectual and South Africa’s former Foreign Minister, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Pandor will take on the role from 1 October, becoming the third person to lead the foundation since its inception in 1999.
The foundation highlighted Pandor’s close collaboration with Nelson Mandela during South Africa’s first democratic government in the 1990s. As one of the country’s longest-serving parliamentarians, Pandor is known for her dedication to social justice.
Reflecting on her new role, Naledi Pandor said, “In a world facing so many complex challenges, mobilising 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.”
During her tenure as Foreign Minister, Pandor became a prominent advocate for the Palestinian cause, with South Africa even filing a genocide case against Israel in late 2023. She revealed receiving threats, allegedly from Israeli intelligence, over her stance, which led to her seeking additional security for protection.