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Mandela cancels WC attendence

  1. Posted on Friday 11 June 2010 - 12:24
    Mernat
    Image of Mernat
    Mernat Mafirakurewa
    Johannesburg - Former president and global icon Nelson Mandela will nolonger attend the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup later today following the death of his great granddaughter in the early hours of this morning.
    According to the Nelson Mandela Foundation Mandela and his family are grieving the death of great grandchild Zenani.
    "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."
    Zenani was killed in a car crash while returning from the Soccer World Cup kick-off concert in Soweto on Friday morning, the Nelson Mandela Foundation said.
    Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza said that 13-year-old Zenani Mandela, the grandchild of Zindzi Mandela, was travelling with Winnie Madikizela-Mandela when their car overturned on the M1 near the Selby off-ramp outside the Johannesburg city centre.
    Kweza could not confirm if Winnie Mandela was injured, but said she had been taken to hospital.
    The teenager had been attending the opening concert at Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
    The driver was arrested and police were investigating a case of culpable homicide, he said.
    Zenani, one of Nelson Mandela's nine great grandchildren, celebrated her 13th birthday on June 9. She was the eldest child of Zoleka Seakamela.
    The foundation said the family had asked for privacy.
    End

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