Nursing training at Johannesburg’s non-European hospital provided Evelyn Mase with her professional foundation during the 1940s. A dedicated practitioner, she balanced clinical responsibilities with a private life that eventually placed her in the center of South African history as the first wife of Nelson Mandela, though her later years were defined by personal autonomy and religious commitment.
Professional Life and Training
Born in 1922 in Engcobo, Transkei, Mase moved to Johannesburg in 1939 to pursue a career in medicine. She completed her formal training at the non-European hospital in Hillbrow. Following her initial qualification as a nurse, she sought to advance her expertise, enrolling at the King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban in 1953 to obtain certification as a midwife. Throughout her career, she maintained a focus on patient care and health services, operating largely outside the sphere of public political activity.
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Mase married Nelson Mandela on 5 October 1944 at the Native Commissioner's Court in Johannesburg. The couple initially resided in a room shared with family members before moving to 8115 Orlando West in the area that became known as Soweto. During their marriage, they had four children: Thembekile, Makgatho, a daughter named Makaziwe who died in infancy, and a second daughter also named Makaziwe. By 1956, the relationship faced significant strain due to conflicting views on political activism and allegations of infidelity, leading to their formal separation.
Later Years and Legacy
After their divorce was finalized in 1958, Mase relocated to Cofimvaba where she operated a grocery store and lived a life largely removed from the public eye. Her spiritual life centered on her dedication to the Jehovah's Witnesses, a faith she embraced during the 1950s. She married businessman Simon Rakeepile in 1998. Mase passed away in Soweto in 2004 due to respiratory illness, and her funeral was attended by Nelson Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and Graça Machel.
Fast facts
- Born: 1922, Engcobo, Transkei
- Died: 2004, Soweto, South Africa
- Occupation: Nurse and midwife
- Marriage: 1944 to 1958 to Nelson Mandela
- Second Marriage: 1998 to Simon Rakeepile
- Faith: Jehovah's Witnesses
- Citizenship: South Africa
Questions readers ask
What profession did Evelyn Mase pursue?
She was a trained nurse and midwife who worked in Johannesburg and Durban.
When did she marry Nelson Mandela?
The couple were married in a civil ceremony on 5 October 1944.
