Nelson Mandela’s daughter begins role as South Africa’s ambassador to South Korea

Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, new South African ambassador to South Korea, poses for photos with Hong Jin-wook, director-general for Africa and Middle East affairs, at the foreign ministry in Seoul on Oct. 17, 2019. (Yonhap)

Seoul: A daughter of late former South African President Nelson Mandela has formally assumed her post as the new ambassador to South Korea, Seoul’s foreign ministry said.

Zenani Mandela-Dlamini visited the foreign ministry Thursday to meet with ministry officials as part of the diplomatic procedures.

“I’m really happy to be serving in Korea. I think we’ve got a great bilateral relationship between the two countries,” she told reporters. “I will continue to strengthen the relations, and I look forward during my tenure to strengthening them.”

She is expected to soon present her credentials to President Moon Jae-in. She was named the ambassador to South Korea early this year.

Dlamini, 60, is the eldest daughter born to the late political leader and his second wife, Winnie Mandela. She has served as top envoy to Mauritius and Argentina.

YONHAP