Grieving Mandela won’t attend opening World Cup match
By ANIFriday, June 11, 2010
Johannesburg, 11 June (ANI): Former South African president Nelson Mandela will not attend Friday afternoon’s opening World Cup match as his family grieved over the death of great grandchild Zenani, the Nelson Mandela Foundation said on Friday.
“Mr Nelson Mandela this morning learned of the tragic death in an accident of his great granddaughter, Zenani Mandela (13 years old),” said the foundation.
“It would, therefore, be inappropriate for him to personally attend the FIFA World Cup opening celebrations. We are sure that South Africans and people all over the world will stand in solidarity with Mr Mandela and his family in the aftermath of this tragedy”, it added.
Zenani died when the car she was travelling in rolled on Johannesburg’s M2 freeway in the early hours of Friday.
The teenager had been attending the opening concert at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
The driver of the vehicle was expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday to face charges of drunken driving and culpable homicide. (ANI)
