Mandela loses gt gran-daughter in accident after concert

[realtrouble]

Mandela loses gt-grand-daughter in car accident after football concert, according to BBC 5live radio. (No links)

[gmoni]

RIP.

[Tbite]

Rest in perfect and undisturbed peace.

[2drama]

R.I.P chei


Prayers to the victims family

[Mr. Piffington]

RIP.

[chendosplastic]

sad!

[cchinukw]

R-I-P

[goke313]

RIP

World Cup 2010 has had its opening marred somewhat by the news that the 13-year-old great-granddaughter of the former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, has been killed in a car crash.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation confirmed that Zenani Mandela was killed on the way home from Thursday night's concert in Soweto which was marking the opening of the tournament.

The fatality is understood to have occurred in a one-car accident with no other casualties.

Tummi Shai, a police spokeswoman, confirmed that a case of probable homicide had been opened, which is not unusual in South Africa where negligence is suspected.

No further details were given by police.

"The family has asked for privacy as they mourn this tragedy," a statement from the Nelson Mandela Foundation read.

Zenani Mandela was one of Nelson Mandela's nine great-grandchildren. She had celebrated her 13th birthday on June 9.

[CMS]

Chei!.. How sad. RIP to the young lady.

[SUYA]

[green4life]

RIP.

[mcal]

Am just speechless....why? was afraid watching that concert, very sad

[Showboy]

What a shame . RIP

[odi]

Very very sad, especially since the concert was such a roaring success.

RIP.

[Comrade Machel]

RIP



Girl in green

[darkviper]

May God Bless her soul.

[maceo4]

Damn, RIP.

[Waffiman]

RIP. The driver was drunk.

[Godfather]

RIP

[African Star]

Mandela relative killed after World Cup concert

By DONNA BRYSON, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 2 minutes ago

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JOHANNESBURG (AP)—Nelson Mandela’s 13-year-old great-granddaughter was killed in a car crash, forcing the former president to forego a hoped-for appearance at the World Cup’s opening game Friday.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation said Zenani Mandela died in a one-car accident after attending Thursday’s World Cup kickoff concert at the Orlando Stadium.

The foundation later confirmed Mandela would not attend the World Cup opening ceremony and first game in Johannesburg, dashing hopes the frail 91-year-old former president would make a rare appearance. Mandela and his family were “torn up” by the accident, the foundation said at its Johannesburg office.
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“Mr. Nelson Mandela this morning learnt of the tragic death in an accident of his great granddaughter Zenani Mandela,” foundation spokesman Sello Hatang said, reading from a prepared statement. “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.”

Johannesburg Metro police spokeswoman Edna Mamonyane said the driver of the car, a man, had been arrested and charged with drink-driving. Mamonyane said the driver, who police would not name, could also face culpable homicide charges.

“The Metro police found that he was drunk,” Mamonyane said. “He lost control of the vehicle and it collided with a barricade.”

Police spokesman Govindsamy Mariemuthoo said the driver would appear in court for a preliminary hearing Friday, after which he would be named.

The Mandela foundation denied reports that the former president’s ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was in the car, but said she was treated in hospital for shock after being told of the fatal accident, and she was discharged after a few hours.

She later attended the opening ceremony, with her two daughters.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter wrote to Mandela to “convey the condolences of the entire football family.”

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who was in South Africa to lead his country’s delegation to the opening ceremony, also expressed condolences, as did South Africa’s governing African National Congress party.

Zenani, who celebrated her 13th birthday Wednesday, was one of the anti-apartheid icon’s nine great-grandchildren.

Mandela, who turns 92 on July 18, has largely retired from public life although it had been anticipated he would make a brief appearance at the World Cup opening ceremony Friday, depending on his health and the weather.

In a statement Thursday, the Foundation said it had been “inundated with requests for meetings, and it will be impossible for Mr. Mandela to accede to even a small fraction of these.” But Mandela met this week with members of the Black Eyed Peas, one of the main acts at Thursday’s concert, and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Carlos Queiroz—the latter a former coach of South Africa.

AP Sports Writer Gerald Imray in Johannesburg contributed to this report.

[okjazz]

This is very sad

[Molue Conductor]

Shame

the WC will never be the same for him and his family

[Tunisian Gooner]

What a tragedy...

RIP