Evelyn Mase

Evelyn Ntoko Mase, born on May 18, 1922, in Engcobo, Transkei, was a dedicated nurse and the first wife of renowned South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela. Orphaned at a young age, she moved to Johannesburg to pursue her nursing career, where she met Mandela. The couple married in 1944 and settled in Soweto, raising four children together, three of whom—Thembekile, Makgatho, and Makaziwe—survived into adulthood.

As a nurse, Mase furthered her education by training to become a midwife. However, the 1950s brought challenges to her marriage as Mandela became increasingly involved in the African National Congress and its fight against apartheid. Mase, who distanced herself from politics and embraced the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses, found herself at odds with her husband. She accused him of infidelity and physical abuse, claims that were later supported by biographies, leading to their separation in 1956.

Although Mase initially filed for divorce, she did not pursue the legal proceedings, and in 1958, Mandela obtained an uncontested divorce as he sought to marry Winnie Madikizela. Following the separation, Mase relocated to Cofimvaba with their children and opened a grocery store, choosing to maintain a low profile. Despite her desire for privacy, she spoke to reporters when Mandela was released from prison in 1990, marking a significant moment in South African history.

In 1998, Mase married businessman Simon Rakeepile, deepening her commitment to her faith. She passed away on April 30, 2004, after battling a respiratory illness. Her funeral garnered international media attention, attended by notable figures including Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and Mandela's third wife, Graça Machel.