Grieving Mandela won’t attend opening World Cup match
June 11th, 2010 - 5:20 pm ICT by ANIJohannesburg, 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)
- Mandela won't attend World Cup opening ceremony (Second Lead) - Jun 11, 2010
- Nelson Mandela's great granddaughter killed in a car crash - Jun 11, 2010
- Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter killed in car crash after World Cup concert - Jun 11, 2010
- Mandela's great-granddaughter killed in car crash - Jun 11, 2010
- Nelson Mandela's Great-Granddaughter Killed In Car Crash - Jun 12, 2010
- Mandela will not attend World Cup opening ceremony (Lead) - Jun 11, 2010
- Uncertainty over Mandela's attendance at World Cup final - Jul 09, 2010
- Mandela will attend World Cup opening game - Jun 03, 2010
- Euphoric World Cup opening tinged with Mandela tragedy - Jun 11, 2010
- Freeman, Theron among celebs to attend World Cup final - Jul 10, 2010
- Mandela's daughter, grandchildren attacked after his birthday party - Jul 22, 2010
- Thousands to honour Mandela on 92nd birthday by doing good - Jul 16, 2010
- Mandela arrives at World Cup final - Jul 12, 2010
- Football World Cup begins officially - Jun 11, 2010
- Mandela likely to make appearance at the final - Jul 11, 2010
Tags: 11 june, 13 years, celebrations, culpable homicide, fifa world cup, freeway, friday afternoon, great granddaughter, johannesburg, magistrate, mr mandela, mr nelson mandela, nelson mandela, nelson mandela foundation, president nelson mandela, solidarity, south african president, south africans, soweto, tragic death