Thaindian News

JOHANNESBURG (BNO NEWS) — The 13-year-old great-granddaughter of former South African President Nelson Mandela was killed on Friday while she was returning from the World Cup Kick-Off Concert at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, the Nelson Mandela Foundation said.

Zenani Mandela, 13, was traveling in a car while returning from the concert when the accident happened, the foundation said. “There was only one car involved and no one else was injured,” a spokesperson said.

Zenani had celebrated her 13th birthday on Wednesday and was the eldest child of Zoleka Seakamela and one of Mandela’s nine great grand-children.

A spokesperson said Mandela would not be attending the opening celebrations of the World Cup on Friday, saying it would be inappropriate. “It would therefore be inappropriate for him to personally attend the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening celebrations,” the spokesperson said. “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.”

The spokesperson added to say that it believes the 2010 FIFA World Cup is a ‘momentous and historic’ occasion for the country. “[Mandela] will be there with you in spirit today.”

Mandela was, along with Frederik Willem de Klerk, awarded the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for “their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa. After receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.