Zelda la Grange was born in Apartheid South Africa. After completing school she obtained a 3 year National Diploma as Executive Secretary. Her career started at the Department of State Expenditure in 1992 from where she applied for a job in the office of the first democratically elected President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.
Fate and circumstance ended Zelda in a position working for the Private Office of President Mandela in October 1994.
In 1997 she was promoted to become one of President Mandela’s 3 Private Secretaries and when he retired from office he chose Zelda to remain working for him beyond his term in office.
The post-Presidential office was started and together with Professor Jakes Gerwel Zelda helped establish the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
She worked for President Mandela until his passing on 5 December 2013. Over the almost 20 years her role changed from Private Secretary to Office Manager, Stakeholder relationship Manager, Spokesperson, Aide-de-Camp and personal assistant.
Zelda la Grange was born in Apartheid South Africa. After completing school she obtained a 3 year National Diploma as Executive Secretary. Her career started at the Department of State Expenditure in 1992 from where she applied for a job in the office of the first democratically elected President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.
Fate and circumstance ended Zelda in a position working for the Private Office of President Mandela in October 1994.
In 1997 she was promoted to become one of President Mandela’s 3 Private Secretaries and when he retired from office he chose Zelda to remain working for him beyond his term in office.
The post-Presidential office was started and together with Professor Jakes Gerwel Zelda helped establish the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
She worked for President Mandela until his passing on 5 December 2013. Over the almost 20 years her role changed from Private Secretary to Office Manager, Stakeholder relationship Manager, Spokesperson, Aide-de-Camp and personal assistant.
In June 2014 Zelda published her memoir, the International best seller “Good Morning, Mr Mandela”.
She has been awarded by several organisations for her dedication and service to the late statesman notably a Frederik van Zyl Slabbert fellow, Pretoria Business chamber Woman of the Year, Rapport/City Press Woman of the Year, Pretoria University of Technology Alumni of the Year and the Paul Harris Fellowship, the highest recognition awarded by Rotary International.
Between 2013 – 2015 she worked part-time for the Foundation for Professional development lecturing on strategic leadership.
In 2018 Zelda co-produced an award winning 6 part documentary series titled “A Glorious Human Achievement” which she narrates, looking at the people and places that shaped the character of Nelson Mandela.
She was a co-presenter for 4 seasons on a woman’s television talk show for a local television channel.
In 2022 she launched a pilot project with the hope of turning it into a fully fledged foundation in time, focusing on assisting and supporting children in foster care to develop to their full potential.
In 2023 she joined the Board of Trustees of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation which works at strengthening democracy and deepening non-racialism in post-Apartheid South Africa. The Foundation is an independent, non-partisan entity charactarised by the values and principles of the Freedom Charter and the Constitution of South Africa. A vocal and critical voice in civil society, it plays an active role in creating a just and equal society through its advocacy specifically targeting the youth.
She is an international keynote speaker sharing her experiences and the legacy of the person she called “Khulu” (grandfather in Xhosa).
In October 2024 Zelda launched her second book titled ‘What Nelson Mandela taught me’. The book documents her life after the passing of Nelson Mandela, putting meaning to the lessons Nelson Mandela embedded with her. It includes anecdotes from her time working as Nelson Mandela’s Private Secretary and navigating the complex modern world.
She has been awarded by several organisations for her dedication and service to the late statesman notably a Frederik van Zyl Slabbert fellow, Pretoria Business chamber Woman of the Year, Rapport/City Press Woman of the Year, Pretoria University of Technology Alumni of the Year and the Paul Harris Fellowship, the highest recognition awarded by Rotary International.
Between 2013 – 2015 she worked part-time for the Foundation for Professional development lecturing on strategic leadership.
In 2018 Zelda co-produced an award winning 6 part documentary series titled “A Glorious Human Achievement” which she narrates, looking at the people and places that shaped the character of Nelson Mandela.
She was a co-presenter for 4 seasons on a woman’s television talk show for a local television channel.
In 2022 she launched a pilot project with the hope of turning it into a fully fledged foundation in time, focusing on assisting and supporting children in foster care to develop to their full potential.
In 2023 she joined the Board of Trustees of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation which works at strengthening democracy and deepening non-racialism in post-Apartheid South Africa. The Foundation is an independent, non-partisan entity charactarised by the values and principles of the Freedom Charter and the Constitution of South Africa. A vocal and critical voice in civil society, it plays an active role in creating a just and equal society through its advocacy specifically targeting the youth.
She is an international keynote speaker sharing her experiences and the legacy of the person she called “Khulu” (grandfather in Xhosa).
In October 2024 Zelda launched her second book titled ‘What Nelson Mandela taught me’. The book documents her life after the passing of Nelson Mandela, putting meaning to the lessons Nelson Mandela embedded with her. It includes anecdotes from her time working as Nelson Mandela’s Private Secretary and navigating the complex modern world.
