The widow of a childhood friend of Nelson Mandela‚ Makhulu Nozolile‚ has died at the age of 94‚ the family of Nkosi (Chief) Jongintaba‚ the abaThembu Regent at Mqhekezweni Great Place in the former Transkei in the Eastern Cape‚ announced in a statement. The widow of Nkosi Zwelivumile Justice Mtirara‚ she was the last member of former President Nelson Mandela's generation raised by the abaThembu Regent at Mqhekezweni Great Place.Mandela was taken in by Nkosi Jongintaba at Mqhekezweni after the death of his father‚ Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela. The young Mandela formed a close friendship with the regent's son‚ Justice Mtirara‚ with whom he ran away to Johannesburg to escape their arranged marriages.Justice returned home after the death of his father‚ Nkosi Jongintaba‚ and married Makhulu Nozolile whom his father had chosen for him.“After his release from prison‚ Madiba had a beautiful face brick home built for Makhulu Nozolile to thank her for the years she had kept the home fires burning at Mqhekezweni Great Place.“For many years‚ whenever he travelled to the Transkei‚ the former President went out of his way to visit the widow of his great childhood friend. His wife Mrs Machel continues this tradition‚” the Jongintaba family said.Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela‚ grandson of the former President‚ said: "Makhulu Nozolile's passing brings down the final curtain on a generation of extraordinary people linked to Nkosi Jongintaba and Mqhekezweni. Nkosi Jongintaba not only raised my grandfather‚ and Nkosi Zwelivumile Justice Mtirara‚ of course‚ but also the future King Sabata Dalindyebo‚ and Bazindluvu Holomisa."Funeral arrangements would be announced in due course‚ the family said...